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Capitalism Wastes Human Ability, Potential

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Capitalism Wastes Human Ability, Potential AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 1.00 EURO · NEW ZEALAND $1.50 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE Introduction to ‘Are they rich because they’re smart?’ — PAGES 6-7 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 80/NO. 24 JUNE 20, 2016 ‘We’re fed up with two-tier SWP: Capitalism wastes pay,’ say aerospace workers BY MARY MARTIN newer workers and end a two-tier human ability, potential SPOKANE, Washington — Union wage scale imposed by the company members at Triumph Composite Sys- three years ago. They are also oppos- Tenn. worker: ‘We sure need something different!’ tems walked out at the former Boeing ing the company’s proposal to remove BY MAGGIE TROWE plant here May 11, after voting 93 per- the cap on workers’ insurance costs. MEMPHIS, Tenn. cent in favor of striking. The plant produces components for — Campaigners for the The 400 members of International Boeing aircraft interiors. Socialist Workers Party Association of Machinists Local 86 Picketing June 4, machinist Dwight talked with unionists at are fighting to restore pensions for Continued on page 8 the 7 a.m. shift change at the Kellogg’s plant here June 6, where members of the Bakery, Confec- tionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union fought a nine-month lockout in 2013-14. Some remembered that SWP members walked the picket lines and covered the fight in the Militant. “We’re a little more unionized and a little stronger,” said Steve Bo- swell when he pulled his car over to talk. “But Militant/Maggie Trowe we’re still fighting for our John Benson, left, talks with Robin Long while campaigning back pay and benefits.” for Socialist Workers Party in Memphis, Tennessee, June 4. “Kellogg’s thought we’d be forced to accept concessions,” totaling $12. said maintenance worker Todd Par- This response is common, as the nell. “The workforce here is half Cau- Socialist Workers Party campaigns casian and half African American, across the country, from here and Militant/Mary Martin and the bosses thought we wouldn’t Minnesota to Washington state, dis- International Association of Machinists members picket Triumph Composite in Spokane, be able to unify. But we came togeth- cussing and debating the way forward Washington, June 5, demanding end to two-tier wages and pensions imposed in 2013. er. Things are different than they used for working people with workers on to be.” their doorsteps, as well as at picket Parnell subscribed to the Militant, lines and at factory gates. seven workers bought single copies of Teams campaigned here and in Cuban leader at NY conference: End the paper and two made contributions Continued on page 3 US embargo, return Guantánamo! US, Tehran-led Fallujah offensive BY MARTÍN KOPPEL general for U.S. affairs. NEW YORK — The restoration of She was speaking together with diplomatic relations between the U.S. José Ramón Cabañas, Cuban ambas- adds to sectarian conflict in Iraq and Cuban governments was a vic- sador to the U.S., and Jeffrey DeLau- BY MARK THOMPSON on Fallujah, 32 miles west of Bagh- tory won thanks to the steadfastness rentis, U.S. chargé d’affaires in Ha- Military offensives by the Iraqi and dad. All towns and villages on the of Cuba’s revolutionary leadership vana, at a featured workshop during Syrian governments and by Kurdish city outskirts were reported captured “and the resistance and dignity of the this year’s conference of the Latin forces were underway in early June by the end of May. Fallujah, with a Cuban people,” said Josefina Vidal, American Studies Association. Their to capture cities controlled by Islamic predominantly Sunni Muslim popula- the Cuban foreign ministry’s director counterposed remarks underscored State. The government of Syrian dic- tion, was taken by reactionary Islamic Washington’s continuing efforts to tator Bashar al-Assad has backing State forces in January 2014. undermine Cuba’s socialist revolu- from Moscow in the air and Tehran There are up to 1,000 Islamic State After years of tion, as well as the Cuban leadership’s on the ground. Washington is aiding Continued on page 9 determination to defend it. Iraqi and Kurdish forces with air- protests, Chicago More than 6,000 professors, gradu- strikes and some ground forces. The ate students, publishers, writers and Iranian government backs Shia mili- cop who killed others attended some portion of the tias in Iraq. Inside conference, held here May 27-30, Washington has collaborated with Editorial: The political war which featured some 1,400 panel dis- Moscow and Tehran to try to stabilize on the working class 9 Rekia Boyd quits cussions and other events. The large the Mideast in its imperialist interests. BY JOHN HAWKINS majority were from the United States, Deeper dependence on the Iranian Books about working-class CHICAGO — Following a year of Canada and Latin America, along rulers’ involvement was a central goal politics do well at Tehran fair 2 monthly protests at the Chicago Police with others from Europe and Asia. of the “nuclear” agreement President Board demanding the firing of Dante A notable feature this year was the Barack Obama reached with Tehran ‘Release report’ on cop Servin, the cop resigned May 17, two largest participation from Cuba ever. last year. One result is fraying of the killing of Idaho rancher 8 days before a hearing to consider According to leaders of the delega- U.S. rulers’ longstanding alliances dismissing him. Servin is the police tion, 260 Cubans were granted visas with the governments in Saudi Arabia –On the picket line, p. 5– detective who shot and killed 22-year- to attend, while 50 were denied by the and Turkey. At the same time, nation- Aerospace strikers stand firm U.S. State Department. al and sectarian tensions continue to old Rekia Boyd in March 2012. against union busting in Quebec “It’s a start,” Martinez Sutton, Several dozen panels took up Cuba- sharpen throughout the region. Boyd’s brother, told the Militant. related topics, including U.S.-Cuba Iraqi government soldiers and Shi- L.A. port truckers, warehouse “Servin is no longer on the force and relations since December 17, 2014, ite Muslim militias, backed by U.S. workers strike, connect fights Continued on page 4 Continued on page 4 air strikes, began an assault May 23 Books about working-class politics do well at Tehran fair BY PETE CLIFFORD decades-long imperialist economic AND CATHARINA TIRSÉN and financial sanctions squeezing the TEHRAN, Iran — “Your books are people of this country. different. They’re engaging and make Visitors came to the book fair me think,” said a visitor to the Pathfinder from all corners of Iran. A student stand at the 29th Tehran International from Mashhad, near the border with Book Fair held May 4-14. The young Afghanistan, traveled some 600 man, from Yazd in central Iran, said he miles by train. He was interviewed returns to the stand each year to get new by Al Jazeera’s Newshour program books. after purchasing a copy of Problems Books from Pathfinder Press, which of Women’s Liberation by Evelyn publishes titles by communist and other Reed at the Pathfinder stand. Asked working-class leaders around the world, by the correspondent why he picked MEHR Newsagency/Hossein Esmaeili have been displayed here since 1992. that title, he replied, “All human be- Hundreds of thousands from across Iran visited 29th Tehran International Book Fair, held May 4-14. The big majority of the more than 200 ings are born equal.” He returned the people who left the booth with books in next day and bought Malcolm X, Black seller. “We want to find out how they Farsi-language hall, top sellers in- hand were first-time Pathfinder readers, Liberation, and the Road to Workers came out of prison stronger,” one of cluded the fourth and final volume of leading to the highest sales in at least ten Power by Jack Barnes, national secre- them said, after reading the back cover. Malcolm X, Black Liberation and the years. tary of the Socialist Workers Party in the Interest in what lies behind today’s Road to Workers Power. Another was Tehran-based publisher Talaye U.S. That book was among Pathfinder’s deep-going capitalist economic and Two Worlds at Night: The Legacy of Porsoo, which translates and sells many best sellers here. political crisis worldwide was regis- Imperialism and the Road to Social Pathfinder titles in Farsi, also reported tered in sales of the Marxist magazine and Cultural Advance by Jack Barnes, increased sales. Farsi is the language Books on the Cuban revolution New International, featuring articles which presents a course to close deep of a substantial majority in Iran, and is Books on Cuba’s socialist revolution such as “US Imperialism Has Lost the economic and social disparities between read or spoken by half the population in were popular. A woman who stopped at Cold War” and “Capitalism’s Long oppressed and oppressor nations as part neighboring Afghanistan. the Pathfinder booth described what she Hot Winter Has Begun,” both by Jack of the fight for power by revolutionary The annual cultural event, held this had learned from The Cuban Five: Who Barnes. Browsing through the latter, workers parties the world over. year at a large new trade-fair grounds They Are, Why They Were Framed, Why an economics student was drawn to As has often been the case, the south of Tehran, attracts hundreds of They Should Be Free, which she had two graphs showing the mounting debt Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and thousands looking for textbooks, novels, bought at the fair last year.
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