• AUSTRALIA $2.00 • BARBADOS $2.00 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA $2.00 • FRANCE FF10 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr10 • UK £1 .00 • U.S. $1 .50 INSIDE All out to sell subscriptions in 'Militant' sales target week! THE -PAGE 7 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 56/NO. 39 OCTOBER 30. 1992

Election won't Britain: support miners' change who runs country, fight against pit closures says socialist BY PAUL GALLOWAY AND TONY HUNT BY PAUL MAILHOT SHEFFIELD, England - "Roy Lynk Millions of workers, farmers, and young and Arthur Scargill should end their quarrel, people have been watching the presidential get round a table, and call us all out on debates hoping to make up their minds about strike," explained a member of the Union of who to vote for. Democratic Miners (UDM) on his way to "One thing is for sure, whoever is elected work at Thoresby CoUiery in Nottingham­ president in the upcoming elections won't shire. He was reacting to the October 13 change who really runs the government of decision by British Coal (BC) to close 31 the United States," commented Socialist mines by March 1993 and throw 30,000 coal Workers candidate for vice-president Estelle miners out of work. As a first step in the BC DeBates in a recent interview. ''Bush's cam­ plan, six mines employing about 5,000 min­ paign is in disarray and William Clinton ers were to be closed October 16 and a seems likely to be the winner. But he's not further six by the end of the month. Roy offering anything fundamentally different. Lynk is the leader of the UDM; Arthur Clinton is today's lesser-evil candidate who Scargill is the president of the National is certain to become tomorrow's greater Union of Mineworkers (NUM). evil." To bolster her point DeBates pointed to In response to this massive assault, min­ ers are trying to figure out how to fight back. the October 19 Wall Street Journal editorial entitled "Read His Lips" that notes, "what A miner at Kellingley in Yorkshire said, "I'd Jove to fight this but will we get the support Continued on Page 6 of other unions? How will we deal with the courts?" Meeting in Sheffield October 15, leaders NOVEMBER 7-a of the NUM decided to mount a campaign New York City to win "public support" against the mine closures. Arthur Scargill said, "we are urg­ A weekend of political activities ing miners and their families to take what action they possibly can to prevent the clo­ Miners protest British Coal's announced layoffs, Birmingham, England, October 16. • PUBLIC FORUM sure of their pits." They also decided to hold a strike ballot. "We will recommend no "economic basis for this pit closur~ pro­ the NUM in opposition to the NUM-led HOW THE 1992 that our members take strike action," gramme" because "British deep-mined J 984-85 national coal strike, staged a sit-in Scargill explained, "but it will only be in coal is the cheapest in the world." underground at Silverhill Colliery in Not­ ELECTIONS HID the event that this government continues to Widespread anger among working people tinghamsbire, scheduled for closure Friday THE REAL refuse to accept the logical arguments that has greeted the closure announcement. Nor­ October 16. Neil Greatorex, a leader of the have been supported by a wide breadth of man Willis, General Secretary of the Trades UDM in Nottinghamshire, had earlier in the POLITICAL ISSUES public opinion throughout the country." Union Congress (TUC), called for the deci­ Continued on Page 12 AND PREPARED ScargiU described the campaign as one sion to be postponed to allow time for a "to save the British coal industry and save "debate" on the future of the coal industry. DEEPENING jobs." In the NUM leader's view there was Roy Lynk of the UDM. which split from James Warren AGGRESSION BY denounces British WASHINGTON coal layoffs !H ear Jack Barnes, ; National Secretary, James Wlrren, Socialist '"brkers can­ Socialist Workers Party didate for US. president, was in Britain New from Pathfinder in English, when British Coal announced its latest • Why the "cultural war" and "political round of massive pit closures and job character" are the real issues in the 1992 elections Spanish, and French cuts. Doring a campaign tour stop in Sheffield, W..rren issued the following • Why the October 1987 stock market statemenL crash and the October 1962 Cuban ''mis­ I would like to extend my solidarity to sile crisis" are not historical anniversa­ CHE GUEVARA the National Union of Mineworkers ries but portents of the future course of world politics. AND THE FIGHT (NUM) and to all miners, their families, and supporters in Britain as they begin the Saturday Nov. 7. FOR SOCIALISM fight to defend their jobs. Like coal miners TODAY in the United States, miners in Britain have Program begins a proud tradition of resistance. The 1984- 6:30p.m. sharp. by Mary-Alice Waters 85 strike against pit closures inspired tens Socialism can only be built by free men and of thousands of working people all over • VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDto women who consciously work together to lay the world as an example of how to fight help collate and pack a shipment of thou- the foundations for a new society, transform­ back. sands of volumes of the collected works of Marx, Engels, and Lenin. These books ing themselves in the process. In the early The decision by the government and were rescued from pulping by a Path­ years of the Cuban revolution Emesto Che British Coal to close 31 mines and layoff 30,000 miners is a reflection of what the finder team that travelled to the former Guevara argued for and led growing num­ ruling rich are seeking to do to working Soviet Union. Anyone wishing to help bers in Cuba to act on that knowledge. The people all over the world. The bosses out should come to the Pathfmder Book­ course he charted remains central for Cuban today are moving to cut jobs and living store, 191 7th Ave., Manhattan. working people today finding the way for­ standards regardless of the impact on the Saturday Nov. 7, ward as they confront the biggest challenges lives of millions of working people and yet in the history of the revolution. Also their families. They make these decisions starting 9 a.m. available in Spanish and French. $3.50 with only their interests and their needs in mind, not ours. • CELEBRATEJhe transforming of British Coal's decision is another example the Charles St. portion of the Pathfinder of why we as working people need to reach Building into a modem factory for the party printshop. Pleaee send me a bundle of CHE GUEVARA AND THE FIGHT FOR SOCIAUSM out to each other internationally, across na­ tional borders, and fight together to defend TODAY at the 50% discount rate ($1.75 per copy). Encloeed Is _____ • CLASSES and social event. (add $3.00 for handling and shipping) for the following order: ourselves against the ravages of the capitalist system as it goes deeper into a worldwide Call (212) 675-6740 for information COPIES IN ENGLISH depression. NAME and location of events. Tbe decision of the NUM to call for a COPIES IN SPANISH strike vote in this fight is an important de­ Sponsomd by branches of lhe Socialist Workers Pany velopment. Whatever action is taken by in Baltimore. Boston. Greensboro. Morgantown, New· COPIES IN FRENCH CITY STATC ZJP ark. New Yortc. Plliladdphia. Pittsburgh. and Wasbing· miners in Britain to fight for their jobs ton. D.C. Send to~. 410WIIst St., New Yoltt, NY 10014, Or\1si1he Pllhllnd« boolcstote nenstyou {addnlsslson Plllt12). should be supported by working people around the world. INBRIEf ______

Millions strike in Italy the former white-run regime of Rhodesia Workers across Italy joined in strikes (now Zimbabwe), Renarno in recent years and demonstrations October 13 to protest has been fmanced and run by the apartheid the government's economic austerity plan, regime in South Africa. Its goal has been to which includes huge cuts in funds spent disrupt the economy through_terrorist acts on social services and tax increases. The and to limit the Mozambique government's government also intends to dismantle the ability to aid the ANC of South Africa. system of linking wages to inflation, Renarno focused its attacks on installations known as indexation. Prime Minister that represented the social progress made Giuliano Amato insists that the tough aus­ by the government, destroying nearly 1,000 terity measures are necessary to rein in clinics and 3,000 schools. The guerrillas Italy's swollen budget deficit of $134 bil­ kidnapped and murdered hundreds of teach­ lion.The labor action, estimated to have ers and health workers. involved 10 million workers, was the latest In addition to the destruction of the coun­ in a wave of protests that have rocked Italy try caused by the long war, Mozambique is since September. the most severely affected nation in south­ The system of indexed wages was abol­ em Africa by the drought that has struck ished in July by mutual agreement among much of the continent. union leaders, the employers' confederation, and the government. "The agreement pro­ Tuberculosis: a killer returns voked a groundswell of protest against the What was once thought to be a nearly union leadership," according to a report in eradicated disease, tuberculosis, is now the Financial Times. Union officials were making a resurgence. Cases of the deadly forced to withdraw their support for the W>rkers in. Milan, Italy, vent their anger during a four-hour strike October 13. lung disease have surged in major urban government measures as a result. areas in the United States -from Los An­ The Amato regime made limited conces­ italism, which unfortunately already exists fraudulent results showing a defeat for hls geles to New York City. Homelessness, sions to the workers following the October here," said Nicolae Constantin, who works group would lead to "immediate war." drug addiction, and the near disappearance 13 general strike. Pension payments are to of preventive-health clinics have all con­ in the personnel office of a large state­ Unita, led by Jonas Savimbi and backed be raised and health benefits will be assured tributed to the growth of TB. owned factory. by the U.S. government as well as South for more families, although coverage for The spread ofthe disease in New York, one Iliescu has managed to disassociate him­ African troops, directed a guerilla war of the most affected cities, comes after two single people will be more limited. self, in the eyes of many workers and farm­ from 1975 to 1990 against the central go­ decades of budget cuts in public-health pnr ers, from price hikes and other harsh eco­ vernment headed by the Popular Move­ grams.ThelasttimeNewYorkCityhad4,000 Germany book fair ba.ns nomic measures by placing responsibility ment for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). cases of TB -in 1967 -more than 1,000 Iranians for them on the prime minister. Itiescu 's A cease-fire was negotiated 18 months beds in municipal hospitals were specifically Iranian publishers were excluded from Democratic National Salvation Front is ex­ ago, following the defeat of the South assigned for tuberculosis patients. Today this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's pected to ally itself with the Chauvinist and African army by Cuban and Angolan sol­ there are fewer than 75. There were 22 full­ largest, when it opened on September 29. Communist parties in Parliament. both of diers at the battle of Cuito Cuanavale in n.ey have been banned from this fair since which lash out at ethnic minorities and the 1988. time chest clinics in the city in 1968, now there are 9. 1989 when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khorneini political opposition as scapegoats for declared The Satanic Verses by Salman Romania's troubles. "Tuberculosis remains primarily a dis­ De Klerk to uphold 'white rights' ease of the poor," according to an article in Rushdie to be blasphemous to Islam and In one of the most hard-line speeches ofhis offered a reward for the death of the author. the October 11 New York 1imes. "It occurs Fighting follows Angola elections presidency October 12, F.W. de Klerk vowed 14 times more frequently among blacks A dozen Iranian publishers operating Heavy gunfire erupted in Luanda, cap­ to never accept a new political order that did than whites, and much more often in the from the Netherlands applied for exhibit ital of Angola, as government forces not safeguard regional and minority rights in space but were denied. nation's largest cities than anywhere else. clashed with soldiers from the National South Africa. The president said hls govern­ People with H.I.V. are particularly vulnera­ Union for the Total Independence of An­ ment would not allow an election for a con­ ble. As many as 40 percent of AIDS patients Iliescu wins Romanian election gola (Unita) in the wake of recently held stitution-writing body until several guaran­ have active TB." Ion Iliescu, the former high-ranking eJections. Preliminary results from the vot­ tees for the 'rights' of whites were agreed to. Communist Party official. was re-elected ing gave President Jose Eduardo dos San­ Among de Klerks's preconditions are: Gypsies, sent back by Germany, president of Romania October 11, ~r tos a decisive lead. but the government has power to be passed on to regional and locaJ face discrimination in Romania vowing to slow the pace of econorruc delayed making them public. Elias units of government; a two-chamber na­ In September Germany signed a treaty change in the country. "I voted for Iliescu Salupeto Pena, a central leader of Unita, tional parliament with a senate to represent because he said he was against savage cap- stated that publication of what he called with Romania allowing Germany to deport regional interests; and a bill of rights to thousands of refugees, mostly Gypsies, to protect individual and property rights. Paul Romania. Germany will pay $21 million in Taylor, writing for the Washington Post Oc­ "return and reintegration aid." tober 13 explained, "All of those conditions German Gypsy leader Romani Rose ac­ -rANT INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN are seen as safeguards for white rights." The cused the German government of using THE MILl I H TO WIN NEW READERS ANC responded that de Klerk had once I Gypsy refugees politically "to divert atten­ again demonstrated "a remarkable inability tion from the real problems we have - Keep up on developments in the to rise to an occasion." high unemployment, housing shortages, Mozambique peace treaty signed health care." labor movement'f~Uound world An October 18 article in the New York the A pact to declare an end to the war in Times gave examples of the kind of abuse Pt'tllft lltll1, .,.,. Mozambique was signed in Rome October 4 and discrimination Gypsies face in Roma­ 10 ...... , by President Joaquim Chissano, and Afonso nia. In 1990 a mob of 1,000 burned down Dhlakarna,headoftheMozambiqueNational more than 30 homes in the Gypsy section ,..,.,4 ... .. Resistance, or Renamo, a guerilla group of one town. Ot:tllkr 13; ...... known for its methods ofmass terror. The war One Gypsy woman described being .,...,., .. ,...., in this southern African nation has lasted for turned away from the local school when she .,.,..,_ more than 16 years, since the country won its went to register her nine-year-old child The independence from Portugal. More than a principal of the school responded that poor s..dA/fb.--*'*-....;, ..... million people have been killed and 4.5 mil­ education is the Gypsies fault. saying that, lion have had to flee the fighting. "they don't have a very serious conception ...... Founded by the military intelligence of of education." -PAUL MAILHOT /oH/1• fi/*/WII ,.,_,..... rll;,., ~, , one-year subscription to P.O. Box 891, ..,..,...... ,...... ,. . The Militant Bridgetown, Barbados. Asia: send $80 drawn Closing news date: October 19, 1992 on a U.S. bank to 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. Canada: send Canadian $75 for ,..,...... Editor: GREG McCARTAN Dtltth..... one-year subscription to Societe d'Editions .,..._! Managing Editor: GEORGE FYSON AGPP. C.P. 340, succ. R, Montreal, Quebec Business Manager: Brian Williams H2S 3M2. Britain, Ireland, Africa: £35 for Editorial Staff: Derek Bracey, John Cox. one year by check or international money Naomi Craine, Estelle DeBates, Frank Forres­ order made out to Militant Distribution, 47 tal, Manfn Koppel, Sara Lobman, Paul The Cut, London, SEt 8LL, England. Conti­ Mailhot, Argiris Malapanis, Brian Williams. nental Europe: £50 for one year by check or Published weekly except for next to last week international money order made out to Mili­ NEW READERS NAME in December and biweekly from mid-June to tant Distribution at above address. Belgium: mid-August by the Mihtant (ISSN 0026- BF 3,000 for one year on account no. 000- 810 111'12111Ua1D 3885), 410 West St, New York, NY 10014. 1543112-36 of 1Mei Fonds/Fonds du l mai, ADDRESS Telephone: (212) 243-6392; Fax (212) 924- 2140 Antwerp. Iceland: Send4,400Icelandic 6040; Modem, 924-6048; Telex, 497-4278. kronur for one-year subscription to Militant, . Pacific edition printed in Wanganui, New P.O. Box 233, 121 Reykjavik. Sweden, Fin­ D 815111'12 waeks ------Zealand, by Wanganui Newspapers. Limited. land, Norway, Denmark: 400 Swedish kro­ RENEWAL Correspondence concerning subsc:rlp. ner for one year. Pay to Militant Swedish giro tions or changes of address should be ad­ no. 451 -32-09-9. New Zealand: Send New CITY STATE ZIP dressed to The Militant Business Oftlce, Zealand $90 to P.O. Box 3025, Auckland, D 827 Ill' 8 ••1111 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. New Zealand. Australia: Send Australian $75 Second-class postage paid at New York, to P.O. Box 79, Railway Square Post Office, 0845111'1 ,_ UNION/SCHOOl/ORGANIZATION PHONE NY. and at additional mailing offices. POST­ Railway Square, S{~:{ 2000, Australia. CLIP AND MAIL TO THE MILITANT. 410 WEST ST., MASTER: Send address changes to the Mili­ Philippines, Pacllk ds: Send Australian NEW YORK. NY 10014. tant, 410 West St., New Yorlc, NY 10014. $75 or New Zealand $100 to P.O. Box 3025, Subscriptions: U.S., Latin America: for one­ Auckland, New Zealand. year subscription send $45, drawn on a U.S. Si~ articles by contributors do not nec­ tt...._ Gllhe .._,OUIIIde .. U.S.:__....-.. Padlo. tAtO • ...... • IMidll, bank. to above address. By first-class (air· essarily represent the Militant's views. 'These ·~· c..dl. c.t1J•c.tlllleM•lalln~ f10• ..... MIII...... mail}, send $80. Barbados: Send $75Bds for are expressed in editorials. £10 • ...... 171. • ,_, fNO • ...... _ f(r1- • NIWZIIIIIIId. Nitti• ...... _-

2 The Militant October 30, 1992 Terrorists based in Florida attack Cuban resort hotel BY JOHN COX has made no arrests. Cuesta said Tuesday with the most recent in­ A commando group belonging to a right­ [October 13] the FBI had not contacted cident, the FBI said f JO S J,) N ( j__;J>A,A(' ( wing paramilitary organization based in him. '' later that they were I\ I Miami attacked a hotel on Cuba's northern On December 29 of last year, three Cuban "looking into this mat­ A "l 91 S IF shore on the night of October 7. Comandos exiles were captured on Cuba's northwest­ ter" in order to "deter­ y / L, an organization of counterrevolutionary em coast. They had been dropped off from mine if there are any Cuban exiles, claimed responsibility for the a boat that then returned to the United States, violations of any stat­ attack. and were caught with "various weapons of utes." Tile commando group fired rifle shots at different types and calibers, as well as in­ Counterrevolution­ the hotel from a speedboat There were no cendiary objects," according to spokespeo­ ary terrorist groups injuries from the attack. A Spanish tourist ple from the Cuban Ministry of the Interior. have been training who was staying at the Melia Varadero The three, two of whom were members openly in the Ever­ hotel, a Spanish-Cuban joint venture that of a paramilitary group called the National­ glades and elsewhere caters primarily to tourists, reported seeing ist Insurrectional Directorate, admitted that in southern Florida for bullet holes in an upper balcony following they planned to place bombs in movie the­ several years. For ex­ the shooting. aters and recreation areas, as well as oil ample, Alpha 66, a Comandos L, in a press release, described refmeries, sugar mills, and other economic group that has also or­ the hotel as a "military objective." Tony targets. They had been trained in southern ganized attacks on Cu­ Cuesta, a leader of the terrorist outfit, ex­ Florida camps in the Everglades National ba, "holds weekend plained that the raid was carried out by a Park. The leader of the attack, Eduardo combat training ses­ Militant/Cindy Jacquith four-man unit and that they returned safely Diaz, was a member of Comandos L. sions in the Ever­ Raiders attacking Cuba's shores have received help from U.S. by boat to their base. Cuesta's press release, In their trial, they stated that they had glades," according to Coast Guard. 1990 Cuban action (above) protested US. Coast which the rightists termed a "war commu­ trained for an armed attack on Cuba with a January article in the Guard attack on Cuban trading ship 'Hermann.' Sign reads nique," added that "these actions will con­ the knowledge of the U.S. government. As New York Times. (in part) "Yankees, pirates of the 20tb and 21st centuries." tinue until Cuba is liberated." A representative of the Cuban Foreign Ministry said that the Cuban government strongly protested the "terrorist activities carried out from U.S. territory by persons Iran stakes claim to Gulf islands supported by the U.S. government.. " BY NAOMI CRAINE officials say they don't have expansionary United States, speaking about the current nus was the latest in a series of terrorist Tile Iranian government has made several plans, but their deeds prove otherwise." situation in Iran and the neighboring ex­ attacks carried out by Comandos L or by moves in recent weeks aimed at strengthen­ 'The issue could become very serious if Soviet republics. other organizations of right-wing Cuban ex­ ing its position in the Middle East. One of the Iranians were to decide to resort to Iran is striving to become a stronger force iles based in southern Florida. It would be these steps has been the virtual annexation force," said acting U.S. secretary of state militarily, and economically, in the region. impossible for such operations to be con­ of Abu Musa, a strategically located island Lawrence Eagleburger. He added that the One reflection of this is that it has recently ducted in this closely monitored region in the Persian Gulf. dispute "should be settled peacefully." purchased three modem submarines from without the knowledge and complicity of Abu Musa is a small island that sits near Tile Washington Post described the Iran­ Russia. The Iranian government will be the the U.S. military. In July of this year, ac­ ian government's claim of total sovereignty first in the Persian Gulf to have submarines. cording to the Miami Herald, "a U.S. Coast the Strait of Hormuz, through which all oi I tankers traveling in and out of the Gulf must over Abu Musa as "eerily reminiscent of Washington was strongly opposed to the Guard cutter ventured into Cuban waters to Iraq's pre-invasion claims against Kuwait in sale and pressured the Russian government rescue four Comandos L members whose pass. It has been jointly controlled by Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 1990." not to go through with it. but Moscow went boat broke down during a secret mission to "ln the early 1970s the shah of Iran. ahead anyway. infiltrate Cuba.'' the early 1970s, along with two smaller islands, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. The Washington's close ally, annexed the is­ The Iranian government has also been U.S. shelves matter Iranian regime expelled about 100 immi­ lands and nobody opposed that," pointed buying bombers from Russia, as well as grants working for the UAE on Abu Musa out Ma'mud Shirvani, speaking at a Sep­ spare parts for Iraqi planes. The planes In response to the Cuban government's in Apri.l, on the grounds that they did not tember 19 Militant Labor Forum in Pitts­ were originally sent to Iran by the Saddam protest over this latest raid, U.S. government have Iranian visas. In May a boat from the burgh. "Now they are starting to complain Hussein regime for safe keeping, during agencies casually shelved the matter, as the that Iran has taken the islands. They're the U.S. assault on Iraq in 1991. Rather following account in the Miami Herald UAE was turned away from the island by Iranian authorities. comparing it to Iraq and Kuwait and beat­ than send them back to Iraq, Iran has makes clear: ing the war drums." Shirvani recently trav­ incorporated the planes into the Iranian Air Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Raf­ "'The State Department referred the com­ eled to Iran and has been on a tour of the force. plaint to the Justice Department, which will sanjani said these actions were dictated by check whether U.S. neutrality laws were security needs. violated, State Department spokeswoman In September, the 2 1-member Arab Julie Reside said. The Justice Department in League condemned the Iranian actions, Pearl Chertov, longtime letider rum asked the FBI to open an investigation. calling them a threat to regional stability. The FBI has been investigating Comandos The Christian Science Monitor quoted one L for months for earlier actions, but so far Arab League diplomat as saying, "Iranian of socialist movement, dies

BY PAUL MAILHOT Unionists rally in support of Staley Pearl Chertov, a founding member and longtime leader of the Socialist Workers Party, died October 15 in Philadelphia of workers' fight against concessions pancreatic cancer. She was 72 years old. Pearl bec~e active in politics at the age BY PAT SMITH joined the rally after work. of 14. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she DECATUR, Illinois-More than 1,000 AIW members have distributed 50,000 was very much affected by the workers' members of Allied Industrial Workers brochures throughout Decatur explaining struggles of the 1930s to build industrial (AIW) Local 837, their families, and sup­ how the atmosphere in the plant has become unions and organize the CIO (Congress of porters rallied September 30 in front of A.E. confrontational. "Employees are severely Industrial Organizations). As a result of her Staley Mfg. Co. here. Their contract expired disciplined for minor infractions. Over 200 activities Chertov joined the Philadelphia at midnight and workers feared a lockout workers have been penalized with the loss chapter of the Young People's Socialist of 5 to 8 days' pay ... numerous workers Staley wants to gut seniority rights, and League (YPSL). In 1938 YPSLmerged with is asking for "flexibility" on assigning shifts, have been reprimanded, with critical letters two other organizations and formed the So­ strict limits on workers' right to bring griev­ put in their rues ... and there have been 10 cialist Workers Party. ances. subcontracting work, restructuring of firings," states the brochure. In 1940 Pearl met Morris Chertov, also a holidays and vacations, insurance give­ In 1991, the federal Occupational Safety member of the party. Tiley were married and backs, and other concessions which would and Health Administration (OSHA) levied remained companions until his death in safety-violations fines of $1.6 million result in the loss of overtime pay and 150 1981. against Staley's Decatur operation. union jobs. Staley workers continue to work After World War ll Pearl and Morris Union members were to vote on a revised without a contract. moved to Connecticut where they helped to contract offer October 7 and 8 which man­ set up two branches of the Socialist Workers Militant/Charles Ostrofsky "1be company wants a dictatorship," agement calls "a fair package." Union offi­ Party. During a big General Motors strike Pearl Chertov in 1991 stated AIW member Royal Plankenhom. cials recommended a no vote because it will there they recruited the entire strike com­ 'They want to take back everything we've "destroy the union." "If this contact is ap­ mittee at one plant to the party. worked for, for 50 years." A.E. Staley, which proved, decertification of the union is only a of the party for many years and moved to makes sweeteners, is one of Decatur's major few years away," said union president David When the anticommunist witch-bunt set in several cities to build the SWP. She was a employers; some families have worked Watts. The company claims that all changes Morris was blacklisted from jobs, and in 1952 branch organizer in Philadelphia, Chicago, there for generations. The wealthy Staley proposed "are in place elsewhere in the grain­ he and Pearl moved back to Philadelphia. New Orleans, Oakland, California, Wash­ family was one of the original financiers of milling industry." Pearl became well known in the city for ington D.C., and Los Angeles. the Chicago Bears, then called the "Staley The Staley Workers' Campaign for Jus­ her role in many struggles. She worked in A future article in the Militant will feature Bears." Staley's is now owned by British tice is asking supporters to write letters of the committees to defend victims of McCar­ Pearl's life and political accomplishments. conglomerate Tate and Lyle. protest to the company, publish articles in thyism, including Julius and Ethel Rosen­ Memorial meetings to celebrate her long Those attending the protest included newsletters, distribute their brochure, and berg and Martin Sobel!. In the 1960s Pearl years in the struggle for socialism will take members of the United Rubber Workers, the send contributions to AIW Local 837, helped to organize civil rights actions place in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The United Auto Workers, and about a dozen AFL-CIO, 2882 N. Dineen, Decatur. lL against Woolworth's segregated lunch Philadelphia meeting will be on Sunday, other unions. Many in the crowd carried 62526. counters. She also helped to found a Fair Nov. l, at 3 p.m.; the place is to be an­ signs for Democratic presidential candidate Play for Cuba Committee after the triumph nounced. Please call the Pathfmder Book­ William Clinton. Anti-British signs saying Pat Smith is a member of United Transpor­ of the Cuban revolution, and was a leader stores listed on page 12 for specific details "lymies go home," and "protect American tation Union wcal577 and is a brakeper­ of a number of local coalitions that organ­ of the meetings. Messages should be sent to jobs" were also prominent. A contingent of son at the Chicago and North Western Rail­ ized protests against the Vietnam War. Socialist Workers Party, 406 West St, New UAW Local751 members from Caterpillar road. Pearl served on the National Committee York, NY 10014.

October 30, 1992 The Militant 3 Georl.:e Novack Reconstruction Fund Four new titles from Pathfinder Press The George Novack Recon­ War' against Cuba Doesn't End, and the last month of the life of the struction Fund was launched in contains speeches given at the revolutionary leader. The other August at tbe International So­ United Nations by Cuban revolu­ collection is a new edition of By PUDGED PAID "• PAID cialist Conference in Oberlin, tionary leaders Fidel Castro and Che Any Means Necessary. Shwldbe54'J. Ohio. Novack, who died July 30 Guevara; the pamphlet is C he Advance sales for these new UNITED STATES ATlANTA at the age of 86, was a leader of Guevara and the Fightfor Socialism publications have exceeded $5,500 500 9 BALTIMORE 4,500 1,210 tbe socialist movement in the Today by Mary-Alice Waters. 19,000, "the biggest pre-publica­ 27 United States for more than half "These titles on Cuba are ex­ BIRMINGHAM 3,000 255 9 tion sale in our history," com­ BOSTON a century. tremely timely now, with the anni­ 6,000 930 16 mented Michael Baumann, who CHICAGO 6.500 1,745 27 The aim of tbe fund is to raise versaries this month of Guevara's organizes Pathfmder's editorial CINCINNATI 1,500 murder by CIA-trained assassins in 0 0 more than $150,000 by December staff. He mentioned that the titles CLEVELAND 4,200 1,300 31 1. Tbe Novack Fund finances tbe Bolivia and the Cuban missile cri­ on Cuba and the Malcolm X books DES MOINES 3,500 326 10 reconstruction project currently sis," Sandler said. He pointed to the have gotten a "tremendous re­ DETROIT 7,000 1,592 23 taking place in New \brk's Path­ recent television broadcast of a doc­ sponse" at regional booksellers' GREENSBORO 3,000 570 19 rmder Building, which is pictured umentary on the activities of the conferences in Atlantic City, New HOUSTON 6,000 580 10 at the top of tbe graph to tbe right. right-wing Cuban American Na­ Jersey, Boston, Cleveland, and LOS ANGELES 15,000 3,547 24 tional Foundation as another indi­ Minneapolis, as well as the recent MIAMI 3,250 700 22 BY JOHN COX cation of interest in Cuba. Che book fair in Frankfurt, Germany, MOOGANTONN 3,000 670 23 In the next few weeks Pathfinder Guevara and the Fight for Social­ the largest book fair in the world. NEW HAVEN 500 500 100 Press will be producing four publi­ ism Today is being produced in En­ The new publications will be fea­ NEW YORK 15,000 2,204 15 cations that will be "an important ad­ glish, French, and Spanish - the tured in Pathfmder's display in late NEWARK 12,000 1.735 15 dition to the Pathftnder arsenal" of first time Pathfinder has introduced October at the Tokyo book fair. PHILADELPHIA 4,000 1,031 26 PITTSBURGH 4,500 700 16 books and pamphlets, according to a new title simultaneously in all The long-term capacity of Path­ Pathfmder representative Norton three languages. PORTLAND 750 0 0 finder to publish these valuable po­ ST. LOUIS 6,500 2,210 34 Sandler. These wiU include a book Pathfmder is also producing two litical books depends largely on the and a pamphlet on the Cuban revolu­ coUections of speeches by Malcolm SALT LAKE CITY 6,500 2,006 34 success of the reconstruction proj­ SAN FRANCISCO 12,530 5.730 46 tion. 1be book is entitled To Speak X. February 1965: The Final ect being carried out in the Path­ the Truth: Why Washington's 'Cold Speeches includes speeches from SEATilE 6,000 1,105 19 finder building by volunteers from TWIN CITIES 9,500 1,485 16 five different countries. The recon­ WASHINGTON, D.C. 4,950 1,250 26 struction brigade is now confront­ U.S. TOTAL 154,610 33,881 22 I pled(~e ... ing the task of rebuilding and mod­ AUSTRALIA 650 388 60 ernizing the print shop, to bring it BELGIUM 1,100 1,100 100 up to the standards that will enable 0 $1000 0 $500 0 $250 0 $100 0 $other_ BRITAIN 1,860 300 16 it to meet the demand for revolu­ CANADA NAME ______2,905 897 31 tionary literature - the weapons FRANCE 1,030 1,030 100 that fighters will need in the years GERMANY 1,429 1,429 100 ADDRESS------and decades ahead. NEW ZEALAND 710 540 76 li CITY ___ ZIP ____ COUNTRY _____ A total of $7,154 was sent in to PUERTO RICO 100 100 100 PHONE ______the fund last week, bringing the SWEDEN 2,450 1,250 51 TOTAL $166,914 $40,915 25 Send to the George Novack Reconstruction Fund, amount collected to $40,915. 406 West Street, New York, NY 10014 There are now six and a half weeks ., remaining in the drive. Alabama strikers stand up to company thugs

BY DENISE MciNERNEY less than one dollar. The offer was over­ way while local police watched from across pose of these structures. 1be company set BESSEMER, Alabama - Striking wor­ whelmingly rejected by the union. the street As some left the line overcome the "tool boxes" on stilts 12 feet above the kers at the Trinity Industries plant here scor­ On October 12, several hundred strikers by gas, other unionists took their place. ground and manned them with the hired ed a victory October 14 when a county judge turned out on the picket line in response to After a 45-minute standoff the guards in thugs. ruled that the company could no longer use the company's announcement to reopen the the vehicles turned around and left, fol­ After being teargassed, outraged workers hired goons from Special Response Corpo­ plant Strikers gathered at the main gate lowed by the bosses. No scabs or supervi­ toppled the towers to the ground. ration or any other outside security com­ when two vehicles filJed with hired goons sory personnel entered the plant that day. At the court hearing held two days later pany. The ruling carne two days after hired from Special Response Corp. of Maryland Arnie Watts, chairman of the local's witnesses for the company accused the thugs lobbed tear gas canisters onto attempted to enter. Plant supervisors were the grievance committee, told the press, "Ev­ union of organizing violence, claiming picket line. At the same time the judge also lined up to follow them in. Eight guards erything was peaceful when this happened. strikers had set off a ftrebomb and shot at limited the number of strikers on the picket from this outfit were already inside the gate, We were standing outside the gates and the guard towers prior to being gassed. But line to 10 at each of the plant gates, and dressed in riot gear. When the strikers re­ 6 yelling our union chorus when the rental union attorney Jay Smith responded that "it 30 at a lot across the street fused to allow the vehicles in, the guards cops that they brought in from somewhere was the throwing of the tear gas that set off inside the gate lobbed tear gas canisters into Members of United Steelworkers of up North pulled out the tear gas and threw a spontaneous response from strikers that the crowd. America (USWA) Local 9226 have been on it at us." included the toppling of the two observation strike against Trinity since September 19. Workers hold the line Prior to going on strike, some workers towers." The major issues health benefits and are were given the job of welding what they Trinity's chief of security, Jerry Lunday, wages. Workers currently pay up to $56 per Several people were hit by the canisters were told would be steel tool boxes. Strikers testified that while he saw some people week for health insurance. The company's and all of those present were affected by the were incensed when they saw the real pur- Continued on Page 11 last contract offer maintained the high costs gas. Some needed medial attention, includ­ of health benefits and offered only a 3 per­ ing a striker who is four months pregnant. cent wage increase each year for three years. With faces and throats burning and eyes For most workers, the total raise would be tearing, the unionists remained in the drive- 'Your strike is our strike' says head of miners union to Trinity strikers

BY BETSY FARLEY bama state A.FL-CIO convention unani­ BESSEMER, Alabama- United Mine mously approved a resolution October 17 Workers of America (UMWA) president urging all affiliates to actively support the Richard Trumka visited the picket line of strike. striking members of United Steelworkers of The resolution states in part "Whereas, America (USWA) Local 9226 on Friday, the quiet courage, steadfast determination, October 16, to thank the Steelworkers for and militant unity of the Trinity employees their support during the 1989 Pittston miners in the face of difficult circumstances is an strike and extend the UMWA's solidarity example and inspiration to us all; and with their fight against Trinity Industries. whereas, the bitter experiences of the last "Your strike is our strike," Trumka told 12 years has conclusively shown that the the steelworkers. "Your picket line is our only reliable strategy to resist and defeat a picket line. We will support you morally; we determined corporate offensive against will support you financially; and we will workers and their unions is working class support you with members of the United unity and solidarity; now therefore be it Mine Workers." resolved that this special convention of the "You're fighting for decent health care, Alabama AFL-CIO go on record in support which is a right of every worker," he con­ of the struggle of the striking Trinity work­ tinued. 'They try to divide us by getting ers for dignity and economic justice ... " workers who are unemployed and hurting Plans are underway for a united labor to cross our picket lines. But just like a rally to support the striking Steelworkers. UMWA president said in 1908, 'It's not Autoworkers, miners, teachers, postal Italian coal or Slavic coal or Irish coal. It's workers, and Steelworkers from other locals not black coal or white coal, it's just coal. have already joined them on the picket line. And we're just workers.· We've got to stick Betsy Farley is a member of USWA Local together." 2122 at USX Corp. Fairfield Works in Fair­ Pickets surround strike-breakers' car and prevent it from entering the plant Four hundred union delegates at the AJa- field, Alabama.

4 T he Militant October 30, 1992 'Family values': part of rulers' assault

BY DAVID SANDOR people are asking something for nothing, ATLANTA- In a meeting at Emory that we're parasites on society. But the University October 8, Socialist Workers capitalists are the real parasites. The fault vice-presidential candidate Estelle De­ lies with them and their drive for profits. Bates spoke about the "family values" They are not lying when they say there is theme being promoted by George Bush a crisis. The question is who will pay for and William Clinton and echoed by middle it, us or them?" class misleaders in the unions and During her tour in Atlanta, DeBates also women's rights organizations. The meeting campaigned at the afternoon shift change at was sponsored by the Political Awareness Snapper, a workplace organized by the Forum. United Steel Workers of America. She DeBates explained that the family val­ talked with members of the United Auto ues slogan is intended to advance the U.S. Workers union who work at Ford Motor rulers' assault on wages and Living stan­ Company at a bouse meeting organized by dards and their preparations for war. a campaign supporter in the plant. "The Democrats and Republicans are Jerry Caldwell, a worker from Valley, trying to push the burden of the economic Alabama, has been campaigning regularly crisis onto the backs of working people, with the socialists in Atlanta. At a rally in order to put the U.S. ruling class in the held at the Pathfinder Bookstore, Caldwell strongest position to compete against their explained why he has joined the socialist imperialist rivals," she said. "Under the campaign. "In 1988 I supported the Dem­ guise of family values, they want us to ocratic ticket because I believed it was the take more responsibility for the care of lesser of two evils. After watching the children, the sick, and the elderly, rather major party conventions this year, I de­ than putting demands on the government cided they have nothing to offer except and the employers. They say that the root more of the same and getting worse. We of economic crisis and social decay is in need independent working class political Militant/George Chalmers the collapse of the traditional family, that action. We can support Bush or Clinton or Socialist ~rkers presidential candidate James Wlrren and vice-presidential candidate it's because we don't have the right morals. we can support a campaign that really will EsteUe DeBates have been reaching out to young workers and students with their This is simply a form of scapegoating, make a difference." campaign. DeBates spoke to sailors from the U.S.S. Nimitz in Seattle. aimed at drawing attention away from the fact that capitalism is the cause of the crisis. "It is also an attack on working women," the candidate continued. "It's not to drive James Warren addresses Utah youth women out of the workforce, where our low wages are a source of profit for the BY MATILDE ZIMMERMANN clinic defenders throughout the country, and economy? What's the meaning of the right­ employers. Rather it is to get us to not SALT LAKE CITY, Utah- Socialist the fighters against Measure 9 in Oregon," ist mobilizations in Germany? What about think of ourselves as equals, and to accept presidential candidate James Warren ad­ he said, referring to an antigay rights mea­ the budget deficit and taxes? How did the second-class status on the job and in so­ dressed three campaign meetings in this area sure on the ballot in that state. United States get out of the last depression? ciety. The rulers want women to view September 26-30 that drew several dozen "The problem is not whether millions will Didn't public ownership cause the collapse themselves not mainly as workers, but as high school and college students. He spoke resist in the future. The problem is whether of the regimes in Eastern Europe and the mothers. We should really be at home at the University of Utah, the Utah Valley a leadership can be prepared that will be Soviet Union? What does Ross Perot's cam­ taking care of the children. And it's our Community College in the city of Provo, worthy of the fighting capacity of these paign represent? fault if we can't keep a man around to be and the Pathfinder bookstore. millions, beginning now. What our cam­ One question that came up in each meet­ a provider. "The question is not whether working paign is about is reaching out to those who, ing was about the crisis in health care. "Our "They hammer on the theme of family people and youth will resist what we have through their own experiences in the strug­ health program is real simple," said Warren. values," DeBates added, "because they been suffering for the last 12 years," Warren gles going on today, decide they want to be "Open up the hospitals and clinics, which recognize that the gains women have made explained. "We see examples of this resis­ part of this kind of leadership." are already subsidized to the tune of $83 in recent decades are a step forward for tance in the actions of the General Motors About an hour of questions and discus­ billion a year." Applause broke out when the entire working class. They try to make workers, the workers at Alaska Airlines in sion followed Warren's presentation. Ques­ Warren said, "it should be a criminal offense it seem as though by demanding jobs, Seattle, and the drywall strikers in Los An­ tions were of a great variety. What is the to turn anyone away from the best health health care, and decent education, working geles. We see it in the action of the abortion solution to overproduction of goods in the care in the country." A heated exchange of opinions broke out at Warren's University of Utah meeting, concerning the role of the police. 'The New Capitalist Europe cannot unite, says DeBate.s York police riot and the events in Los An­ geles show how the police more and more BY DAVID SANDOR need to fight, we started to talk and under­ during the war we learned that once that claim they stand above the law. They insist BALTIMORE- "The currency cnsts stand each other." happens it's too late to stop it." that the law can't apply to them if they are shows that European unity is impossible, During a campaign swing through Penn­ At the house meeting and again at a cam­ going to carry out their job. The police will that there is no honor among thieves," stated sylvania, DeBates spoke at the University paign rally in Pittsburgh, DeBates addressed be the main base of support for any fascist Estelle DeBates, Socialist Workers candi­ of Pittsburgh, where students organized a students' questions about how to organize. movement," Warren said. date for vice-president during a campaign meeting on campus and a house meeting 'There is no substitute for the hard work of "Understanding the nature of the police visit to Baltimore. "The capitalist class in later that day. At the house meeting, nine building a revolutionary movement," she is important," the candidate said. "They will each country is acting increasingly in its students questioned DeBates about her explained. "You start where you are, by play a more and more openly political role, own interests as depression conditions bring views on world politics and her ideas on talking to your fellow students or your co­ and they are armed." about the crumbling of the old world order how to build a fighting movement of work­ workers. You keep talking, answering their Twenty-five people purchased the Mili­ that came out of World War ll. ers and youth. The discussion revealed di­ questions, arguing, and explaining a revolu­ tant and one person subscribed to the social­ ''They are cranking up their war machines verse experiences that are making youth tionary perspective. And you go to the fights ist campaign newspaper at Warren's meet­ and will use them to settle the conflicts. This more open to a socialist perspective. that are happening today, and convince them ing at the University of Utah and a campus generation will have the task of confronting Randy Collins, a 20-year-old film student to go with you. That is how the fighters fmd table before the event. Eight students who the crisis and resolving it in the interests of at the University of Pittsburgh, met socialist each other and bow we all learn together and beard him there signed up to help out on working people and all the oppressed," said campaigners at a table on campus one week move forward." campaign activities. DeBates. before the meeting. He had already regis­ At Morgan State University in Baltimore tered to vote as a socialist after he learned one student asked DeBates, "given the kind about the Socialist Workers Party through PERSPECTI\TA 1\llJNDIAL of power they have, how can you be so his research for a school project. He and a optimistic about building a movement friend, Kathleen, were active on the campus A socialist monthly in Sptllllsh today? In America, people are confused and in Johnstown, Pennsylvania., organizing op­ tend to identify with the oppressors rather position to the Gulf War. published ·in the interests of tiXW/ting Rf!Ople than the oppressed." Fred Bernardin, a 25-year-old chemical DeBates pointed to the example of the engineering student at Carnegie Mellon The .. October usae iadudes: antiapartheid struggle in South Africa. "Just University, had worked a:s a volunteer in • The SQCialist Workers 1992 a few years ago the apartheid regime might the presidential campaign of Edmund election campajgn; have looked invincible, but look where we Brown Jr. and attended the Democratic are now in the fight against it. We need to national convention. Describing his expe­ • Cubari youth tour of the U'nited States; do what the fighters in the African National rience at the convention, Bernardin said, • ibe fagbt'to defend ~ritisb coal mip'r Congress do, come to grips with the world ''Everything was controlled from the top. Paul Calloway; as it is and fight uncompromisingly to They really weren't talking about any­ • The s~e of Nicaraguan peasants for land; change it. It's only through struggle that thing. There was no politics going on. It • The Euro.pean monetary ·gilis people can learn who are our friends and was a joke." Bernardin had found out who are our enemies. It's only through about the socialist campaign one week • 1965 ·ipterview with Mcilcolm X; struggle that we can overcome divisions before the meeting at a table set up on his • OppoS,iti~ to ,repression in Argentina among working people." campus. A worker from a garment shop, organized Melissa Bloom, 21 , is active in organiz­ IDII'OdactGr~ offer­ by the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile ing relief for refugees in the former Yugo­ ·$6 for 4 months Workers Union, who attended one of slavia. She learned about the socialist cam­ DeBates's meetings, contributed some of his paign when she visited the Pathfinder Book­ Available at PattiQDdei boobtores (~ page 12) experience from a fight that happened on store in Pittsburgh about a month ago. or from Pmpllt,tl11t1 illuntl~l, 410 West Street. the job when the employer tried to withold Some of the discussion was about U.S. New York, NY 10014 pay. "It showed the potential for unity. intervention in Iraq and the challenges of 4 months ol ~ilxl NundJoL· Australil and~ Pacifip. A$8 • B~. SA • ~ Ca'n$9 .­ Where I work, there are so many different organizing against the imperialist war drive. Can'bbean and~~ $6 • EuroJI'; .Nric:a. and the Middl. e East; SS • F~. n,w • languages and nationalities, and normally One student said, "I'm afraid at any minute . lcelan~ Kd200 fOr six JD90ths • NeW Zealand, NUS • SWederi, Kt-40 · we don't talk to each other. But when we the bombs can start flying in the gulf, and October 30, 1992 The Militant s Perot proposes austerity to 'solve' crisis

BY JOHN COX austerity program with the announced pur­ capitalist economic system, the United States draconian measures that Perot prescribes. When Ross Perot reentered the presiden­ pose of eliminating the federal deficit. government, representing the interests of the While disagreeing with this or that specific tial race October I, he stated that "neither Perot attempts to camouflage his anti­ capitalist ruling class, will be compelled, as proposal in Perot's economic program, they political party has effectively addressed the working-class program with a few small it attempts to shore up the system, to pursue support his basic premise: the crisis of the issues" and, further, that the government "is measures against the wealthy, such as an the sort of austerity program that Perot es­ capitalist economy wiU be paid for by those a mess." 'This "mess" is illustrated by the increase in the income tax rate of the richest pouses. 'This goes hand-in-hand with an ac­ who are the primary victims of the crisis, inability of the government to effectively 4 percent of the population from 31 percent celeration of the offensive of the employers the worlcing class and working farmers. The confront the economic and social crisis, to 33 percent. against the rights, working conditions, and degree to which they succeed in imposing Perot has stated over the last several months. Significantly, neither George Bush nor living standard of working people, coupled austerity measures and further driving down The Texas billionaire has formulated a set Wtlliam Clinton have distanced themselves with a continued drive toward war. wages and working conditions will depend of economic proposals that are laid out in a from Perot's economic program. Clinton and Bush understand this and are on what kind of fightback can be waged by book entitled United We Stand: How We Faced with a deepening depression of the prepared and willing to impose the sort of the working class and its allies. Can Take Back Our Country. His program calls for drastic cuts in government spend­ ing, with the stated goal of balancing the federal budget Daniels campaign hopes to reform, He hopes to accomplish this by attacking the social wage - which includes such fed­ erally-funded programs as Medicare and Social Security that in a limited way allevi­ not dismantle, capitalist system ate some of the social iUs wrought by capi­ talism. Many of these social programs were BY DEREK BRACEY paign to build a movement drawing together crisis of capitalism necessitates more sacri­ won by worKing people as a result of strug­ I recently attended a rally to launch U.S. people involved in struggles throughout the fices by working people to survive. This gles waged over the last century. presidential candidate Ronald Daniels country. He mentions the recent Caterpillar means less medical care, less education, Perot proposes an across-the-board 15 write-in campaign in New York. Running strike as an example of the potential to further declines in wages and living condi­ percent cut in federal spending. 'This will under the banner of the Campaign for a New involve workers of whatever skin color into tions. The capitalist class cannot solve their apply to programs other than debt costs, the Tomorrow, Daniels is on the ballot in ten this fight. problems without breaking the backs of military budget, and ' mandatory' programs, states and is organizing write-in campaigns "We don't have to accept violations ofour workers, and this is what they are preparing also called entitlement, which include Medi­ in several others. basic rights," Daniels said in a speech. "We now. As they seek to advance their interests, care, agricultural price supports, and food Daniels is a former co-chair of the Na­ can become ungovernable if it is necessary national divisions will sharpen, which will stamps. These entitlement programs though tional Black Independent Political Party, in the interests of working people." lead to more trade wars and other conflicts. will be cut in other ways. which was formed in 1980 on a platform Daniels points to his campaign as part of These in tum will result in a rise in military Among the programs that would be af­ a necessary struggle to win social gains and confljcts between the capitalist powers. It is fected by this across-the-board reduction are defend ourselves from attacks by the rich in these basic facts about politics today that the Special Supplemental Food Program for this country. This new society can learn Daniels's program ignores. Women, and Infants and Children - a nu­ AS I SEE IT from Cuba, he says. Pointing to Cuba's free This course by the capitalists is not inev­ trition program for low-income families. health care and lack of illiteracy, Daniels itable. Workers will resist these attempts to Perot also suggests major cuts in mass tran­ says, 'They don't have much, but they sure prop up the capitalist system by cutting us that called for a with capitalist parties sit and art programs. He proposes gutting break divide up what they have." down. This resistance has already begun, and for independent political action for farm subsidies by $17 billion over the next His campaign calls for a national health and is visible in countries such as Italy, Blacks. Later, in 1988, he abandoned that five years. His program also advocates lim­ care system, free education through college, Greece, and Thrkey, where massive strikes perspective and became a deputy campaign iting the cost-of-living increase for federal and guaranteed jobs for everyone, using cuts against austerity measures have occurred; manager for Jesse Jackson's fight to win the reti.rees to two-thirds of inflation. to the military budget of at least 50 percent and in Britain, where the National Union Democratk Party nomination. His program includes raising the amount to help finance this program. He also calls of Miners is organizing to combat the bru­ Daniels is now running a campaign based of Social Security benefits subject to taxes for reparations for U.S. Blacks and Native tal assault by the British government on from 50 percent to 85 peteent for those on what he describes as "a progressive vision Americans to compensate for slavery, vio­ the jobs of thousands of coal miners. making more than $25,000 a year as indi­ for a new society." Although he seeks to win lent land grabs, and other abuses suffered by 1n South Africa, the Dominican Republic, viduals or $35,000 per couple. Perot would people away from trying to find a solution these peoples. Haiti, Venezuela, and Ecuador, growing num­ also tax as income employer-paid health within the campaigns of the Democrats and However, Daniels's campaign does not bers of workers and farmers are stepping insurance plans with premiums of more than Republicans, his campaign doesn't represent represent a way forward for working peo­ forward to press for their interests against $135 a month for individuals and $335 for a way forward for working people. ple. His call for creating a new society is those of the governments of those countries. families. He proposes to save $52.8 billion Daniels says his campaign perspective is abstract. The system we live under, capital­ This resistance can also be seen in the over five years by "containing" costs of linked to the National Black Political Con­ ism, does not need adjusting to be made to fights by General Motors workers to defend Medicare and Medicaid, although his book vention held in Gary, Indiana, in March work for working people; it needs to be themselves against the company's assaults, does not specify how this would be done. 1972. 1n a May speech he said, ''1 want to dismantled. as well as by airline workers, meat-packers, Perot advocates a number of regressive quote a few passages from that convention's Daniels sums up his view of the problem coal miners, those who form lines to defend taxes, which disproportionately affect those declaration, because it has been my Bible with the current government by saying that abortion rights, and who are marching with less income. His recommendations in­ for the last twenty years: 'The crises we face it suffers from "flawed values and fatal vi­ against police brutality. clude a 50-<:ent hike in the gasoline tax over as Black people are the crises of the entire sion." However, it is not the vision or per­ Daniels does not point to any of these the next five years and a 200 percent in­ society.... Any truly Black politics must spective of those in political office that is struggles taking place currently. As when he crease in federal taxes on tobacco. Not sur­ begin with this truth: The American system causing the social crisis wreaking havoc on refers to Caterpillar workers, he refers to prisingly, his book also recommends a vari­ does not work for the masses of our people. workers and farmers around the world. It is workers under attack as victims, not as the ety of tax breaks for the major corporations And it cannot be made to work without the natural functioning of the capitalist sys­ fighters who are the only ones who can block in order to "provide the proper incentives to radical, fundamental change.'" tem, with its built-in crises of overproduc­ the plans of the capitalist class and their di­ industry and to the market." Daniels now says that campaigning tion and declining profit rates, that is the sastrous consequences for working people. United We Stand is filled with references within the Democratic Party is useless. Re­ basis of the assaults on labor that we are Instead of Daniels's perspective of pro­ to "our economy" and "our country." "You ferring to Jesse Jackson, he said in an inter­ seeing throughout the world today. gressives fighting for governments with and I are the shareholders of this country," view, "I respect what he has done and if he better vision, those who are looking for a he states. "We own it" Perot may be correct wants to struggle on the inside of the system, Protection for workers way out need to turn toward these fights on one count: as a billionaire, he is among that's fine. But I think that's a futile propo­ Daniels's program is a progressive ver­ and seek to become part of them and those the "shareholders" of this country. But he sition.... If you look at the last decade, sion of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal or like them. The only campaign that orga­ does not speak for the overwhelming major­ with Reaganomics and Reaganism, the most Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs, nizes its supporters to do this is the Social­ ity of the population of the United States, brutal assault on the poor and working peo­ where the government, under the pressure ist Workers campaign of James Warren and who have no control over the economy and ple was cosigned by the Democrats. They of an active workers' movement, enforces Estelle DeBates for president and vice­ who own nothing beyond their personal pos­ could have stood up and said no." some measures to protect workers within president. sessions. His rhetoric about "our country" is . Daniels says his campaign goes beyond this system. calculated to convince the average working the elections, and is a vehicle that seeks to But such reforms are not an option under Derek Bracey is one of the national chair­ person that they have some interest in sup­ "more than anything else, build permanent this system, regardless of the ''vision" of persons of the Socialist Workers 1992 Cam­ porting his proposals, which amount to an organizations." He advocates using his cam- those who are running the government. The paign. Special offer for returning USAir strikers-$5 Election won't change who runs U.S.

Continued from front page the ways Clinton has balanced the budget in Mr. Clinton is saying on the stump is a his own state has been to cut health-care hopeful sign for the Clinton presidency." benefits for poor people and payments to What does the big-business newspaper doctors in the Medicaid program. find so encouraging? The Journal points "Many working people can only stomach approvingly to the recent ad the Clinton and voting for Clinton by talking about how bad Gore campaign has been running heavily in the Bush administration has been," explained Republican strongholds. DeBates. "But the Clinton agenda that the According to the ad Clinton and Gore Wall Street Journal finds so 'encouraging,' represent a new generation of Democrats including his open hostility to Cuba and calls who have "called for an end to welfare as for more aggressive military action abroad, -J'Te read dliJ book we know it." It then switches to scenes of a show that the rich have two parties - the over aad over apia, rally with Clinton surrounded by police of­ Republicans and the Democrats. and I've pta~ it ficers. "They've sent a strong signal to crim­ "The most important choice working peo­ aroaad to a lot of inals by supporting the death penalty," the ple and youth can make is the choice to fight peopte.• announcer proclaims. the devastating economic and social condi­ - Jim Lyle "Clinton's balanced 12 budgets and tions confronting the vast majority of people ---.IDiem.cioDal they've proposed a new plan investing in in the world today. That's the alternative that AMoc:U&iae ol M-d+t• people, detailing $140 billion in spending cuts my campaign, along with Socialist Workers ...,.,. 141 ill Deaoic they'd make right now,"thecommercial goes presidential candidate James Warren, is put­ on. It fails to mention, of course, that one of ting forward."

6 The Militant October 30, 1992 INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO WIN NEW READERS 'Militant' sales target week will give momentum to drive

BY JOHN COX the remainder of the seven-week ture. They have found a great deal For several months the Militant campaign. of interest in books about the Min­ has ·been canying news of the So­ The subscription drive, which nesota Teamsters strikes of the cialist Workers campaign of James began on October 10, is now 1930s, written by Farrell Dobbs, Warren for U.S. president andEs­ scheduled to end on November 28. one of the central leaders of these telle DeBates for vice-president. It has been extended for one week battles. Dobbs was a leader of the With less than two weeks remain­ beyond the original November 21 revolutionary socialist movement ing before the November 3 vote, deadline, as a weekend of political for several decades. campaign activists are going all activities in New York City No­ In Montreal, as in Seattle, Mil­ out to take maximum advantage vember 7-8 (see advertisement on itant supporters have found that of the potential the campaign of­ page 1) will take many Militant distributing the socialist press fers to reach working people, stu­ supporters from the northeastern comes easy when there are strug­ dents, and others who are looking United States out of sales for that gles to relate to. With a referen­ for an alternative to the deadend period. dum on the Canadian constitution policies of the Democrats and Re­ coming up on October 26, the publicans. Sales to fighting airline workers question of how to fight the na­ "The response the socialist candi­ Several workers returning from tional oppression faced by the Na­ dates· have received in these seven the one-week strike at USAir have tive and Quebecois peoples has months indicates the attractiveness picked up subscriptions to the Mil­ been a big topic of conversation today of a fighting, working-class itant and copies of the Pathfinder among workers and youths. "The constitutional "reforms" presented in the referendum continue to deny these peoples' right to self­ determination.

'Nouvelle Internationale' 1 Rosemary Ray in Montreal re­ ports selling two issues of Nouvelle lnternationale, the French- language edition of the Marxist journal New International, to a coworker in the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. She writes that her coworker, "who is Quebecois, is among many in Que­ bec who intend to vote no on the federal government's new constitu­ tional proposals because he thinks it is an insult to the rights of the Que­ becois to decide their own future. The history ofworkers ' and farmers' struggles in Canada explained in Nouvelle No.2 gives people like this coworker a helpful historical analy­ sis to understand the struggles of the Quebecois and Natives today." Socialist Workers campaigners from Miami traveled to Barbados during the first week of the sub­ NEW ZEALAND ..... scription drive, demonstrating the Cfldslchurch SeUing Militont at a raJiy in Portland, Oregon, October 4 to oppose international character of both the Wellington Measure 9, a reactionary anti-gay-rights referendum on November 3 election campaign and the sales ef­ Auckland ballot in Oregon. Socialist campaigners aim to use remaining days of fort. Working with a supporter in election campaign to get out Militant as widely as possible. Bridgetown, the capital city, they sold six subscriptions to the Mili­ perspective. Warren and DeBates Press book, The Eastern Airlines tant and two copies of New Inter­ have been welcomed on picket Strike: Accomplishments of the national. Dan Fein, socialist candi­ "TOTAl 255 2,393 11% 28 514 lines from Chicago to Birmingham, Rank-and-File Machinists, report date for U.S. Senate from Aorida, 329 14% 63 appeared on television while in and have met students and other Militant supporte.rs in Pittsburgh, 2,350 450 young people around the world W.shington, D.C., and Balti­ Barbados. who have gotten involved in the more. In Los Angeles, 21 sub­ Back in Miami, 28 single issues campaign. An example of this re­ scriptions were sold in the past of the Militant were sold at Kup­ sponse was a meeting October 15 week to members of the Interna­ penheimer Clothes in the midst of in Stockholm, Sweden, where War­ tional Association of Machinists a big debate in the plant about the ren addressed a crowd of 300 high (lAM) at USAir, Alaska Airlines, Cuban revolution. Francisco Pic­ school students. "There will be an United, and Northwest. Twelve ado, a worker at Kuppenheimer, article in next week's Militant on copies of the Eastern strike book had helped organize an October 1 this event. were also sold. meeting for two youth leaders from Cuba - the first open, public 1be best way to build on the lAM-organized workers at Ala­ ska Airlines on the west coast are meeting for Cuban revolutionaries 12 40 success of the campaign over the in Miami in many years. preparing for a fight over conces­ 28 110 coming weeks and months will be After Picado was seen in the tele­ 11 45 to place the Militant, Perspectiva sion demands. Socialist Workers candidates Mark Severs and Kathy vision coverage of the meeting, a 4 . t8 Mundial, and New International in 13 Wheeler, along with several sup­ protest was organized at his plant to 80 the hands of workers and young 6 50 porters, went up to Anchorage, intimidate Picado and others from people by selling them subscrip­ 7 90 Alaska, last week as part of a group engaging in activities in support of tions. The Militant will continue to Cuba. While some workers partici­ 2 32 be the best source of information of Alaska Airlines workers and oth­ AC1WU 2 48 ers who joined an informational pated in the demonstration, others and analysis on the revolution de­ defended his political rights and op­ U.S. TOTAL 85 513 veloping in South Africa; the crisis picket line there. posed the attempts to harass him. 72 ~4% in the former Yugoslavia; and de­ SIIOULOIE Severs was invited to address a The announcement by British velopments in the labor movement. post-picket line union open house, Coal that it intends to close 31 1be Militant also makes available along with labor officials and a mines, with over 30,000 thrown out MWU 2 0 1 the legacy and lessons of past strug­ number of Democratic Party candi­ of work, has provoked a response Ofcw 5 •20%• 0 1 gles. Coming issues will feature dates. In his remarks, Severs, who from working people in Britain. EU 5 0% 0 '1 material from the paper's coverage works at Alaska Airlines in Seattle, (See article page l ). Miners and N.Z.TOTAL 2 12 17% 0 3 30 years ago of the so-called Cuban stressed the importance of reading others attending a demonstration StlOUlD IE 2 0 missile crisis. the Militant each week, and study­ against the closures in Chesterfield With this issue Militant support­ ing the Eastern strike book to get bought 27 copies of the Militant. ers around the world are engaging ready for this fight. Eight workers Another 22 Militants were sold off in an international sales target bought Militant subscriptions, and tables in London and Doncaster. week, which will run from October five copies of the Eastern book 24 to November 1. The goal of this were sold. Contributing to this article were: special week, which coincides with Socialist Workers campaign Chris Hoeppner and Harvey Mc­ the last days of the socialist election teams in Seattle also report that Arthur in Seattle; Laura Garza in ACTWU - Amalpmated Clothing ;and T~xtik! WOI'k~rs Union; EU - Engineers Union; lAM - International Association of Machinists; ILGWU - lnt~mational Udies' Garment campaign, is for Militant supporters three unionists employed at Alaska Miami; Chris Rayson in Morgan­ Wodl~rs· Union; MWU -Meat Workers Union; OCAW-Oil, Chemical and Atomic to get ahead of schedule in the sub­ Airlines there have recently joined town; Joanne Kuniansky in Pitts­ Wodl~rs; UAW-United Auto Wodl~n; UFCW (U.S.) - United Food ;and Commercial scription drive. This intense effort the Pathfinder Readers Club, which burgh; Rob Higley and Marin Hill WOOlen; UFCW (New Z~aland) - United Food ;and Chemical Wolters; UMWA- United Mine Workers of America; USWA- United Steelwork~n of Amrrica; UTU- United should help provide the momentum enables members to get a 15 per­ in London and Rosemary Ray in Tramportation Union needed to remain ahead throughout cent discount on Pathfmder litera- Montreal.

October 30, 1992 The Militant 7 Natives in Canada oppose new changes to constitution BY ROBERT SIMMS and white ancestry who for decades have TORON'IO - Opposition among Cana­ lived in their own communities, often adja­ da's Native people to the so-called Char­ cent to Indian communities - and Inuit in lottetown Agreement on Canadian constitu­ the far north live in the most poverty­ tional amendments is growing rapidly. stricken conditions in Canada. Unemploy­ Mohawks in Ak:wesasne, Kahnawalce, ment rates on the reserves are disastrously and Kanesatalce say they plan to boycott the high, often between 50 percent and 90 per­ October 26 national referendum on the ac­ cent. Life expectancy for Natives is eight cord, and to bar Quebec enumerators from years less than the national average. They drawing up voters' lists on their lands. have the lowest income levels and the high­ Scores of Indian band chiefs are taking est suicide rates in Canada. their distance from the deal. Manitoba's 61 Bantustan-like reserves band chiefs voted overwhelmingly October Militant/Cheryl Pruitt 8 against the proposed constitutional amend­ Indians who live on reserves whose iso­ 1990 demonstration in Montreal backing Mohawks' defense of land rights ments, many of which affect Native people. lation from economic life compares to the Alberta's chiefs are split everuy and the apartheid-created Bantustans in South Af­ Union of British Columbia Chiefs, one of rica are governed by the Department of grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba "Our leaders drive new cars, live in the two provincial organizations, opposes the Indian Affairs through a system of band Chiefs. best houses ... but band deficits run into deal. councils, which are nominally elected on the The Native Women's Association of Can­ the millions and there is no money for The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) reserves. These are totally funded and con­ ada opposes the deal as well. They seek to education, health, housing .... If our lead­ chiefs, representing 635 bands, refused to trolled by Ottawa. The department regularly ensure that Canadian courts and the Cana­ ers are willing to give up control of the land, take any vote in support of the accord at overturns or prohibits any band initiative not dian Charter of Rights - which are part of resources, and water, what will be left for their general meeting on the constitution to its liking. The department and the oppres­ the 1982 constitution whose provisions us to govern-welfare?" October 16. Ottawa and AFN Grand Chief sive Indian Act are to remain in force while were used to attack Quebec's national rights Mirroring the middle-class Native Ovide Mercredi had expected majority sup­ negotiations proceed. - will be able to override laws and actions leadership's opposition to recognizing the port. Manitoba chiefs, in turning thumbs of what they say are "male-dominated" band national rights of Quebec is the furious Michel Prairie, Communist League can­ down on the accord, cited the potential councils. opposition of some Quebec nationalist didate in the November I St-Jacques pro­ weakening of historic treaty rights and the spokespeople, led by the capitalist Parti vincial by-election in Montreal is campaign­ provisions allowing Ottawa and the prov­ Native government administrators Quebecois (PQ), to Native rights. ing for a 'No' vote on the referendum, ar­ inces to override Native government ac­ The capitalist rulers of Canada envisage PQ leader Jacques Parizeau has cam­ guing that the accord represents no progress tions to preserve "peace, order, and good Native self-government as the transfer of paigned against the accord, claiming that for Native and Quebec rights and is a basis government." administration of Native education, health, the sections on Native rights threaten for continuing violations of their right to Many also argued that including Metis and other social programs to Native band Quebec's national rights. Parizeau cites the self-determination . and non-status Indians in the agreement may councils, which would entail the creation of need to defend Quebec's "territorial integ­ Prairie states: "Quebec's national rights weaken existing rights and living standards a broad layer of Native government admin­ rity" by rejecting Native land claims in cannot be defended without defending Na­ of status Indians since there is no provision istrators. Quebec and Native governments' auton­ tive rights, and Native rights cannot be won to increase funding for Native social pro­ But many Indians in the cities and on the omy from Quebec laws. in opposition to Quebec's national rights. grams. Under the Indian Act, Ottawa gave reserves see little chance for significant The leadership of the Quebec Federation "We can unite the working class to pursue itself the power to decide who is and is not change in their living conditions or expec­ of Labor (FfQ) completely echoes the line our common interests to win jobs, and de­ an Indian. Tens of thousands of Indians and tations with the Charlottetown Accord. of the PQ in its anti-Native aspects. At a fend our unions and living standards oruy their children lost their Indian status, often On the Commentary program on CBC special October 2 convention on the consti­ by all workers joining the fight for affirma­ through marriage with whites. Ottawa ex­ Radio September 30, Danielle Woodward, tutional referendum, the FrQ leadership tive action in jobs and national rights for the cludes non-status and Metis from its meager an Indian activist in Saskatchewan ex­ circulated its position. In the section on oppressed nationalities in Canada." Native social programs. plained, "The government through the ... Native rights, they warn, "The FfQ reiter­ Opposition by the Indian chiefs reflects Some Manitoba chiefs have stated that removal of our traditional leadership and the ates that part and parcel of the sovereignty growing dissatisfaction among the Native Quebec is being given too many rights. funding of provincial and national organiza­ of Quebec is its territorial integrity and the population as a whole with the constitu­ "This latest deal confirms Quebec's desire tions has created an 'Aboriginal Middle supremacy of its democratically elected Na­ tional package. for superiority," said Philip Fontaine, Class.' tional Assembly." The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs issued a statement explaining how the constitu­ tional package denies Native's right to self­ determination. "The Charlottetown Agree­ Supporters renew campaign to win freedom ment is not a recognition ... of our distinct Nations, with rights to protect and use our territories and control of our destinies." for Philadelphia activist on death row Many Indians argue that the agreement does not restore a single inch of stolen Indian BY NANCY COLE Jamal's.alleged confession was not included according to the Inquirer, "ward leaders, lands. PHILADELPHIA - At a news confer­ in reports made at the time, but only months ward committeemen, failed politicians, the Growing Native opposition to the accord ence and information forum here September later. sons of judges and party leaders, and con­ is having a discemable impact among other 21, the Concerned Family and Friends of At the trial he was prosecuted as much tributors to the judges' election campaigns." layers of the population in Canada, many of Mumia Abu-Jamal launched an interna­ for his political views as for murder, includ­ One ex-judge, who was removed from the whom initially favored the deal oruy be­ tional campaign to win new support for the ing for statements he supposedly made bench for corruption, has handled 65 court­ cause they believed it supported Native release or retrial of Jamal, who now sits on when he was 16 years old and a member of appointed homicide cases over the last two rights. death row at Huntingdon State Prison. the Philadelphia Black Panther Party. years. Journalist and activist Mumia Abu-Jamal While all direct appeals have been re­ 1990 mobilizations Judge Albert Sabo, who presided over the was convicted for the 1982 killing of a jected, noted defense attorney Leonard trial ofMurnia Abu-Jamal, has sentenced 26 Canada's rulers were forced to pay lip policeman. At the time of his arrest, Jamal Weinglass is now handling his petition for people to die - 22 of them Black - more service to Native demands in this round of was president of the Philadelphia Associa­ a new hearing. Equal Justice USA - a proj­ than any other judge in the United States. constitutional talks because of the mobiliza­ tion of Black Journalists. He was particu­ ect of the Quixote Center in Hyattsville, tions of tens of thousands of Natives over Although no one has been executed in larly noted for his probing of the 1978 police Maryland - is helping to organize and pub­ Pennsylvania in 20 years, Governor Robert the past decade to win their national rights assault on the home occupied by the MOVE licize the defense effort on a national level. and improve their social conditions. Casey has signed 14 death warrants, includ­ organization, which left a police officer Speaking at the September 21 news con­ ing one on September 21, the day of the These mobilizations reached a peale in dead. Nine MOVE members were convicted ference was Hika Kleffner, a political activ­ Jamal news conference. Casey is the Dem­ 1990 when Natives joined with Quebecois of that killing and given 30 to I 00-year ist from Germany, who said that Jamal is the ocrat who fought to bring his anti-abortion to stop an earlier constitutional proposal, the sentences. best known U.S. political prisoner in Ger­ stance before the Democratic Party conven­ Meech Lake Accord. This was followed At the scene of the 1982 cop shooting, many and across Europe. Supporters of tion in New York this year. weeks later by massive actions in solidarity Jamal was also shot, although no trial wit­ Jamal in Germany have raised some with two Mohawk communities near Mon­ ness ever claimed to have seen who shot $23,000 for his defense. Recently they or­ Hakeem Ali, representing the Concerned treal that were under siege for defending him. The bullet came from the slain cop's ganized a newspaper ad campaign, gather­ Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, expressed optimism in closing the news their land. gun. ing more than I ,000 signatures of prominent conference and information forum. "We Canada's rulers have touted the proposals While seriously wounded, Jamal was artists, writers, and politicians calling for the the in the deal as a historic step forward. Pro­ beaten by cops who arrived at the scene, and release of Jamal and for the end to capital freed Nelson Mandela from prisons of visions in the accord call for constitutional hospital personnel say he was again beaten punishment in the United States. that ruthless system of apartheid," he said. recognition of "the inherent right of self­ for ten minutes on the waiting room floor. Kleffner linked this German solidarity "It took years, but we did it. We can do it with Mumia." government" of aboriginal peoples in Can­ The police harassed nurses who treated with the organized activity in her country ada and creation of an aboriginal "third Jamal, telling them, "You should let the against racist and neo-Nazi attacks on refu­ For more information, contact the Con­ order of government" in addition to the son-of-a-bitch die." gees and immigrant workers. cerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu­ provincial and federal governments. Jamal had a court-appointed attorney Jamal, P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA. The accord, however, assigns no specific forced on him who openly stated he had Death row in Philadelphia 19143 (215) 552-8985, or Equal Justice content or powers to self-government. This neither the training nor the time to handle A series of recent articles in the daily USA, P.O. Box 5206, Hyattsville, Maryland is to be negotiated with Ottawa and the the case. Oruy $150 was allocated by the Philadelphia Inquirer detail the startling 20782 (301) 699-0042. provinces over the next five years and after court for investigation. context in which Jamal was convicted. Of You can write Mumia Abu-Jamal at that, if agreement is not reached, the courts Some of the prosecution witnesses at the the 145 people on death row in Pennsylva­ AM#8335, Drawer R, Huntingdon, PA will decide the limits of"self-government." trial had prior or pending charges against nia, 80 are from Philadelphia. Of those Phil­ 16652. The so-called "inherent" right actually re­ them at the time of their cooperative testi­ adelphia death row inmates, 85 percent are mains under the control of capitalist state mony. Even so, the testimonies were con­ Black. Almost all are poor. Nancy Cole is a member ofthe International institutions. flicting about who the cop's assailant was. City trial judges appoint defense attor­ Association of Machinists Local 1776 at Indians, Metis - people of mixed Native The murder weapon was never found, and neys for homicide cases, who are often, USAir.

8 The Militant October 30, 1992 Che Guevara and the fight for socialism New pamphlet from Pathfmder explains the relevance of Che's ideas today

The following is the preface to the new ment in Cuba in the mid-1980s was instru­ Pathfinder pamphlet CM Guevara and mental in beginning to reverse the political the Fight for Socialism Today, by Mary­ retreat going back a decade earlier when Alice Wlters. policies of planning and management cop­ BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS ied from the Soviet Union were generalized "Do you have any books by this Cuban throughout Cuba. guy, Che?" Jose, a worker at the Smithfield Further evidence of the interest in the meat-packing plant in Landover, Maryland, challenges facing revolutionary Cuba today asked me last September. He was driving is the turnout for a fall 1992 U.S. speaking his car out of the factory gate when he tour by Cuban youth leaders Ibis Alvisa stopped to talk with a group of young people Gonzalez and Jose Antonio Concepci6n distributing campaign literature for James RM\gel. More than tluee thousand students Warren and Estelle DeBates, Socialist and other young people attended campus Workers Party candidates for U.S. president and community meetings in ten U.S. cities. and vice-president in the 1992 elections. What's more, on October l, for the first time Jose said he was interested in socialism and, in more than thirty years, an advertised although he hadn't yet read anything by public meeting for Cuban revolutionaries Cbe, knew he was "one of the best socialists was held on a Miami, Aorida, campus, to ever come around." where more than two hundred students and 11te next day a team of young supporters others hotly debated the same questions of Warren and DeBates was campaigning at addressed in this booklet. It was a pleasure the University of Maryland. We found the taking part in that meeting and offering same kind of interest among many students \ . books by Che Guevara for sale in English, in books about the Cuban revolution, includ­ Che Guevara (left) witb Fidd Castro. New pamphlet discusses Guevara's ideas on bow Spanish, and French. ing those by and about Ernesto Che to organize workers and farmers to make tbe transition to socialism. But it's not only in the Americas that I've Guevara. discovered the attraction of-and the contro­ versy arOWld-Che Guevara and the Cuban ''Who was Che?" asked Robert, a student At a congress of the Communist youth of Revolution, the most comprehensive single­ revolution. Interest was also high among the helping out at the campaign table for the first Colombia in Bogota a few months later, volume collection of his writings and more than one thousand students and workers time. He had just taken part in several long speeches. participants purchased every copy we had discussions on Cuba with other students at a summer 1992 conference of youth from 11te author of this booklet, Mary-Alice brought with us of the Spanish-language the Balkans and other European countries from Lebanon and Ethiopia. "Is it true there edition of New International no. 8 off a Waters, is the editor of the Marxist magazine called to protest military intervention in the isn't a dictatorship in Cuba? Why did the Pathfinder literature table, as well as all the New International and of the recent Path­ former Yugoslavia by the U.S., German, and Stalinist regimes shatter in the Soviet Union fmder book, To Speak the Truth: Why copies of Socialism and Man in Cuba by and Eastern Europe? Won't the same thing other imperialist governments. Following the Washington's 'Cold War' against Cuba Che (and several more were ordered by conference, held in northern Greece at the happen in Cuba as in Russia?" Doesn't End, a collection of four speeches mail). Afterwards, representatives of youth This pamphlet discusses the ideas of Che border with Yugoslavia, I traveled to Bel­ by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara presented organizations from throughout the Americas grade, where knowledge of the Cuban revo­ Guevara on how to organize workers and over a span of two decades before the United affiliated with the World Federation of farmers to make the transition to social­ lution is minimal compared to neighboring Nations. Democratic Youth met in Bogota and de­ capitalist countries. Nonetheless, several stu­ ism-and how to make sure that "the same cided to organize a continent-wide youth thing" doesn't happen in Cuba, and all the dents at the University of Belgrade wanted * * • brigade to Cuba at the end of 1992 . to fmd out how Che's ideas were relevant to future Cubas, as happened in Russia. Brigadistas will work alongside Cuban vol­ For Che, this was not a matter of arm­ Hundreds of thousands of workers, peas­ their fight to end the carnage in that country ants, students, and others poured into the unteers as part of the effort by the Cuban and to begin its genuine transfonnation into chair speculation. Che was an Argentine­ people to achieve food self-sufficiency. born revolutionary who joined the struggle streets of Sao Paulo and other cities in Brazil a truly human society. in the fall of 1992 demanding the ouster of As discussed by Waters, this accelerated 11te reach ofChe's words, and the exam­ to overthrow the Batista dictatorship in food program, involving hundreds of thou­ Cuba in the mid 1950s and became one of the country's corrupt president, Fernando ple of his deeds, extends to Asia, too. The Collor de Mello. University students led sands of Cubans in voluntary work brigades, Socialist Youth of Japan, for example, has the centra1leaders of the revolutionary gov­ was launched by the government of Cuba in ernment that triumphed in the Caribbean many of the marches, which were a factor undertaken to translate a number of 1990 when trade with its former major trad­ island in January 1959. He was kiUed by in Collor's fal l. Guevara's works into Japanese from the Should young people look to some other ing partners-the Soviet Union and Eastern English-language Pathfinder editions. U.S.-trained troops in Bolivia in October European countries--began to collapse. The 1967 while leading a guerrilla struggle section of Brazil's "national bourgeoisie" for During a U.S. speaking tour this year, a way out of the economic and social catas­ youth leaders in Bogota gave the interna­ Peter Mokaba, president of the African Na­ whose goal was to overthrow the tyrannical tionalist brigade a fitting name: the Ernesto regime there. trophe facing working people there? Can tional Congress (ANC) Youth League, working people, by joining in the unfolding Che Guevara Youth of the Americas Brigade hailed revolutionary Cuba's consistent sup­ This pamphlet explains the current rele­ in Solidarity with Cuba. vance of the perspectives Che lived and struggles, forge a revolutionary party that can port for the South African freedom struggle. fought for to the challenges confronting the lead them in taking power out of the hands of Guevara was the foremost proponent of A victorious revolution in South Africa, Cuban revolution in the world of the 1990s. thecapitalistclass and establishing a workers' voluntary work as a way working people can Mokaba said, would mean, in a qualitative These perspectives are important not only and peasants' government? Even if so, how fight to cease being the objects of blind new way, that "Cuba is not alone"-the goal for the Cuban people-who are struggling can they then begin to build a society that will economic laws and begin instead to collec­ for which Che Guevara, too, was fighting through tremendous economic difficulties put human needs before profits that enrich tively shape their own living and working when he was brutally murdered in Bolivia today--but for youth and working people only a tiny handful of already wealthy fami­ conditions and social relations, and change a quarter century ago. the world over. lies? What can workers learn from the Cuban themselves in the process. Waters describes how the revival of the voluntary work move- October 8, 1992 Will Cuba survive the economic pro~ revolution? Why did Che so strongly oppose !ems it faces? Is socialism the cause of these the economic policies of the Stalinist regimes difficulties? What about the thirty-plus-year in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet U.S. trade embargo against Cuba? Is it still Union? possible to fight for socialism today? lltese questions are being hotly debated 'Militant' supporters launch lltese and other questions discussed in at meetings, marches, and rallies not just in this pamphlet by Mary-Alice Waters are Brazil but throughout Latin America. which campaign to sell new pamphlet ones I've been posed with time and again, remains mired in an economic depression. not only as I've campaigned for the socialist The viewpoint explained in this pamphlet­ BY NAOMI CRAINE former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and alternative in the 1992 U.S. elections, but based on the experience of thirty-three years Supporters of theMilitant are going on China. also as I've traveled to many countries over of the Cuban revolution-is becoming more a campaign to get the new Pathfinder There is considerable interest among the last two years as a representative of the relevant than ever as working people resist pamphlet Che Guevara and the Fight for fighters for social justice in learning more Young Socialist Alliance attending meetings the devastation of their livelihoods wrought Socialism Today: Cuba Confronts the about Cuba and the challenges facing the sponsored by the World Federation of Dem­ by capitalism. More than seven hundred World Crisis of the '90s into the hands of revolution today. This bas been height­ ocratic Youth (WFDY) and other organiza­ marches have taken place this year against workers and young people who want to ened by recent coverage in the media on tions. I've found young people who've in­ the Venezuelan government's austerity mea­ learn from the Cuban revolution. the 30th anniversary of the "Cuban mis­ sisted on discussing these questions in Jeru­ sures, for example. Strikes and demonstra­ The pamphlet contains Mary-Alice sile crisis." salem and other towns in the West Bank and tions erupted in Ecuador in September 1992 Waters's introduction to the new French­ The success in holding a public forum the Gaza Strip; in Nicosia, Cyprus; Athens, after the government devalued the currency language edition of Che Guevara: Eco­ for Cuban youth leaders Ibis Alvisa Greece; Belgrade, Dubrovnik, and Sarajevo by nearly 30 percent, causing prices of many nomics and Politics in the Transition to Gonzalez and Jos6 Antonio Concepci6n in the former Yugoslavia; and Mexico City, basic goods to double. Socialism by Carlos Tablada. The preface Rangel at Florida International University Sao Paulo, and other cities in Latin America. Many topics Waters deals with here were to the pamphlet appears above. In the pam­ in Miami, and the subsequent public de­ 11te contents of this pamphlet first ap­ those I heard discussed over and over dUring phlet Waters explains how the communist bate it generated, is another indication of peared as the introduction to the 1992 a June 1992 conference of political parties course Guevara argued for and acted on is the increased openings to get out this French-language edition, published by Path­ from the Americas held in Argentina. The thewayforwardforCuba'sworkingpeople pamphlet finder, of Che Guevara: Economics and meeting marked the sixty-fourth anniversary to meet the greatest challenges yet to con­ Che Guevara and the Fight for Social­ Politics in the Transition to Socialism by of Guevara's birth and was held in his native fronttherevolutioil.Sheexplainsbowtbese ism Today is available in English, French, Cuban economist Carlos Tablada. This is the city, Rosario. Just after the conference, thou­ lessoos are crucial to the woddwide strug­ and Spanish. Militalll readers are encour­ companion volume to Pathfinder's English­ sands of students demonstrated against gov­ gle for socialism. aged to join the campaign and take a goal language edition published in 1990; the enunent education cutbacks in the streets of The pamphlet addresses Guevara's be­ to sell the pamphlet to coworlcers, stu­ Spanish-language edition was issued in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital. Both in lief that socialism can be built only by dents, and others. Those ordering five or Cuba in 1987. Pathfinder also publishes sev­ Rosario and at the student protests, dozens of free men and women who transform more copies of the pamphlet in any lan­ eral works by Che Guevara, including So­ young people and others bought copies of themselves as they collectively change guage can receive a discount of 50 percent cialism and Man in Cuba-in English, Pathfinder books with speeches by Guevara. their conditions of life and work. off the cover price of $3.50. Spanish, French, and several other lan­ Interest was particularly high in the exchange Guevara's internationalist course is the In addition, anyone who buys a subscrip­ guages; Che Guevara Speaks, first pu~ of views on "Che Guevara, Cuba, and the opposite of the one imposed on working tion to the Militant or Perspectiwz Mundial lished in 1967, within weeks of Guevara's Road to Socialism" in issue no. 8 of the people by the bureaucratic regimes in the can receive the pamphlet for $2.50. murder; and Che Guevara and the Cuban Marxist magazine New International.

October 30, 1992 The Militant 9 Cuban youth leaders meet Miami Haitians BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS forcibly returning to Haiti tens of thousands MIAMI- "From !he first slave revolt in of refugees fleeing repression, to that of the Haiti two centuries ago working people in Cuban government Haitian refugees are Cuba have felt deep identification with your welcomed, housed, fed and provided with struggle," said Ibis Alvisa GonzaJez, ad­ free medical care as long as they stay in dressing a meeting of 200 on October 2, Cuba. "Your fight is our fight. Internation­ organized by the Haitian community group alism is the soul of the Cuban revolution," Veye Yo. Alvisa said, bringing a cheering audience to Alvisa, a researcher for the Center of its feeL Studies of Youth in Havana, was on the last There are shortages of basic goods, in­ stop of a 10-city tour in the United States, cluding meat and ot.her foods, since Cuba's along with Jose Antonio Concepci6n trade with Eastern Europe and the former Rangel. The two Cuban youth leaders had Soviet Union carne to a virtual halt, the spoken at a public forum at the Aorida Cuban youth leader said. "The economic International University (FlU) south cam­ hardships of what we call a special period pus the day before, where an often-heated in peacetime are aggravated by the 33-year exchange took place with a number of U.S. blockade," she added. Cuban-American students opposed to the Alvisa explained that more than 600,000 Militant/Theresa Kendrick Cuban revolution. News of the FlU event Cuban youth have volunteered in agricul­ Alvisa (center) and ConcepciOn (rigbt) speak at meeting organized by ~ye \b. had been broadcast on the major Spanish­ tural work brigades in the last few months language television channels several times and are fighting to achieve food self-suffi­ prior to the Veye Yo meeting. ciency. "But unlike what you see throughout "Do you need a lot of money to go to the are not eternal but the revolution will last "It was a big victory having the debate Latin America and in the streets of many hospital?" another questioner asked. Concep­ as long as working people are involved in we did at AU," Alvisa said. "Here, with you, cities I visited in this country," Alvisa said, ci6n responded that universal free medical the fight for socialism." Alvisa said. "Today I feel we can have a discussion among "there are no homeless or people without care, one of the central conquests of the rev­ millions of youth in Cuba would rather die friends," she said to loud applause from !he clothes in Cuba." olution, as well as free education throughout than bow to the blackmail of U.S. imperi­ overwhelmingly working-class audience. At certain points the meeting sounded the university level, remains the case even alism," she said, causing a standing ovation Later in the program, Alvisa introduced An­ more like a rally. "Bush helped take Aristide during the present period of economic diffi­ from the audience. "That's where the future thony Thomas, an usher at the FlU forum down and he hates Cuba," commented culties. leadership of the revolution will come who was punched by right-wing student somebody from the audience. "That's a "What will happen when Fidel Castro from." Marcel Felipe at the end of the evenL good enough reason for me to defend the dies? The media here says that will be the Participants at the meeting donated $215 Thomas asked for support for his fight to Cuban revolution," he said to applause and end of the revolution," asked a fourth towards the tour of the two Cuban youth defend free speech and get Felipe prose­ many people shouting "Yes!" speaker from the audience. "Human beings leaders. cuted. "We had the opportunjty and honor to participate in a demonstration of 10,000 Haitian people in New York demanding the return of Aristide," Alvisa said. World youth federation will organize The September 29 march to the United Nations demanded an end to the continued repression by the military rulers in Haiti and America-wide youth brigade to Cuba the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide to the presidency. A similar demonstration of BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS people can use to gain confidence in them­ the Russian government of Boris Yeltsin 5,000 took place in Miami the following BOGOTA. Colombia-" 1992 is the selves and begin solving social problems after the August 1991 coup in Moscow. The day. most difficult year for the Cuban revolu­ during the transition to socialism. majority of the leadership of Komsomol A lively discussion for more than one tion," said Alejandro Aguilar, a leader of the Eleven organizations from 10 countries voted subsequently to dissolve the organi­ hour followed her brief presentation, which Union of Young Communists (UJC) of took part in the Bogota gathering. They in­ zation. A minority, which supported the was simultaneously r:ranslated into Creole. Cuba. "At the same time most Cuban youth cluded leaders of the Communist Youth Fed­ leaders of the coup, refounded the group at "They say here in the media people don't stand finner than ever in their determination eration of Argentina, JR-8 and the Union of a congress in May 1992. have clothes or food in Cuba," said the first to defend the revolution." YoungCommunistsofBrazil,theCommunist Youth leaders in Bogota also decided to speaker from the audience. "Is that true? He was speaking at a meeting of youth League youth of Canada, the Communist step up solidarity with the unfolding revo­ Will Cuba stop supporting Third World organizations from the Americas affiliated Youth (JUCO) of Colombia, the Young So­ lution in South Africa. WFDY affiliates and counr:ries because of economic difficulties?" to the World Federation of Democratic cialist Alliance (YSA) of the United States, friends will be organizing tours in their re­ 'Your fight is our fight' Youth (WFDY). The September 2 1-23 and the Communist Youth of Venezuela. spective countries of representatives of the event was the second regional meeting of The Union of Communist Youth of Spain African National Congress (ANC) Youth "Cuba continues to provide medical help, affiliates and friends of the youth federation and Komsomol from the former Soviet League. The ANC is leading the struggle teachers, and other assistance to Third in the continent this year. Union also sent observers. Komsomol was against the apartheid regime in South Africa. World countries," the Cuban youth leader Aguilar said that the economic difficul­ the youth organization affiliated to the Com­ The next regional meeting of WFDY will said, "despite economic difficulties." She ties stem from the tightening of the U.S. munist Party, which was declared illegal by take place in the Caribbean, early next year. described her experience in Angola in 1988 embargo against Cuba and the collapse of where she joined thousands of volunteers to trade with the fonner Soviet Union and help the Angolan people defeat the South Eastern Europe, which has led to "what we African invading armies. call a second blockade." In response, hun­ Student newspaper defends Cubans' Alvisa contrasted Washington's policy of dreds of thousands of young people have volunteered to take part in agricultural work right to speak at Miami campus - CALENDAR brigades in an effort by the Cuban people to achieve food self-sufficiency. BY NAOMI CRAINE A cartoon was printed in the same issue "International solidarity has also grown," "Who's afraid of free speech?" asked the showing Cuban president Fidel Castro read­ MICHIGAN Aguilar said. Thousands of young people headline of an October 14 editorial in the ing a newspaper with the headline "Students Detroit from around the world carne to Cuba this Beacon, the student newspaper at Florida beaten because of their views" and saying, RaJiy ror the Socialist Alternative to tbe Two summer and participated in 16 work bri­ International University (FlU) in Miami. "So much for democracy." Parties or War, Racism, and Economic Depres­ gades in the fields. The editorial is part of an unfolding discus­ sion. Speakers: Michigan Socialist Workers can­ Participants at the WFDY meeting dis­ The Beacon also printed a letter that ex­ sion in the wake of the October 1 public plained, "At thls meeting, students peace­ didates for Congress and Detroit School Board. cussed how to step up solidarity with Cuba. forum at FlU where Cuban youth leaders Sun., Nov. 1, 4 p.m. 5019 1/2 Woodward Ave. They fleshed out plans to organize a conti­ fully debated and questioned the two Cuban Ibis Alvisa Gonzatez and Jose Antonio youths." The letter was signed by several Tel: (313) 831-1177. nent-wide youth brigade to the Caribbean Concepci6n Rangel spoke. island at the end of the year. individuals supporting the right of the meet­ The editorial in the Beacon took a stand ing to take place, including three AU grad­ NEW YORK More than 100 brigadistas from Latin in defense of free speech. In part, it read: uate students and the local vice-president of Manhattan America, the Caribbean, and North America "Free speech is something that most people the National Organization for Women. The What Socialists Stand For: A Discussion on the will arrive in Havana between December 23 would agree is their basic right. However, letter appeared under the title "If you punch Communist Manifesto. Wednesday Oct. 28, 7 and 26. They will take part in the year-end some of those same people who claim Amer­ Tony, you assault the Constitution." This p.m. 19 1 7th Ave. Tel: (212) 675-6740. celebrations of the 34th anniversary of the ica is great because it is the land of the free, triumph of the revolutionary forces against referred to the attempt by a group of right­ etc., have a problem when these basic rights wing Cubans to disrupt the meeting and WASHINGTON Batista's dictatorship in 1959. They will then apply to certain groups such as the Socialist prevent a free and open discussion from work with Cuban volunteers in the fields for Seattle party, Gay-rights activists, hate-mongering taking place. After the event ended, one of Support the Socialist Alternat.ive in 1992! Hear two weeks. Brigade members wiU stay in organizations, and now, in the Hispanic com­ the disrupters, Marcel Felipe, punched An­ the Socialist Workers candidates: Mark Severs Cuba for three weeks until January 15. munity, a pro-Castro youth group. thony Thomas, an usher at the meeting. for U.S. Senate; David Warshawsky for Con­ Representatives of the October 8 Revolu­ "Outraged by last week's pro-Castro lec­ gress, 7th District; Kathleen Wheeler for Gover­ tionary Youth (JR-8) and other WFDY affil­ ture, the Hispanic media claim that the uni­ The letter went on to say, "Felipe claims nor. Sat., Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. 1405 E. Madison. iates in Brazil, and of the Communist Youth versity should not have invited two Cuban that he was 'defending' himself against Donation: $3. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Translation Thomas. Objective witnesses, campus se­ to Spanish. of Colombia will coordinate building and youth leaders to speak. organizing thls brigade from an office in Sao "What they fail to realize, however, is that curity officers, and video tapes, including • Paulo, Brazil. "The effort to build the bri­ the university's primary objective is to pro­ one shown on Channel 51, tell another story. gade will go hand in hand with standing up vide a forum where a menagerie of ideas Felipe was behind Thomas' back. ... Felipe to the 33-year U.S. embargo against Cuba," can be discussed and debated, not to endorse slugged Thomas from behind his back with­ BRITAIN said Aguilar. one view or another." out provocation or explanation. London Youth leaders in Bogota named the bri­ The Beacon concluded by saying, "don't "We cannot tolerate this violent assault on Pathfinder Bookshop Invites You to an Open gade the Ernesto Che Guevara Youth of the dismiss different perspectives because you our right to free speech and assembly. Marcel House. Video, slide show, special offers on Path­ Americas Brigade in Solidarity with Cuba. simply disagree with it. Opposing ideas not fmder titles, refreshments. Sat., Oct. 24, 4 p.m. Felipe must be punished through full civil and Guevara was one of the central leaders of - 6:30 p.m. Followed by Militant Labor Forum only make us think, but they keep our con­ university sanctions. We must oppose any celebrating the life of George Novack. 47 The the Cuban revolution. He advocated volun­ victions from becoming stale, dogmatic pro­ reprisals that would limit Tony Thomas's par­ Cut, SE 1. Tel: 71-928-7993. tary work as one of !he major tools working paganda." ticipation in the FlU community."

10 The Militant October 30, 1992 China opens diplomatic ties with S. Korea

BY NAOMI CRAINE South Korea's decision to recognize ernment of Rob Tae Woo has violated the tion of sites in North and South Korea " in China's rulers moved to cement their China meant ending relations with Taiwan trust and trampled on international justice," order to verify the de-nuclearization of the growing economic ties with South Korea by since China does not maintain diplomatic said Taiwan's foreign minister, Fredrick Korean peninsula." Washington and Seoul opening formal diplomatic relations on Au­ ties with countries that recognize Taiwan. Chien. Only 29 countries now give formal have long accused the North Korean gov­ gust 24. This step cuhninated a four-day Taiwan, an island off the coast of main­ recognition to Taiwan. ernment of working to develop nuclear sununit meeting between South Korean land China, was created as a separate coun­ North Korean foreign minister Kim weapons. president Rob Tae Woo and Chinese presi­ tty by the regime that ruled before the 1949 Young Nam said on September 29 that his The North Korean government has said dent Yang Shangkun September 27- 30. revolution in China and that still claims to government was not worried by the agree­ that it has no intention of building nuclear Trade between China and South Korea be the legitimate government over all of ment. He said that China and North Korea weapons. The International Atomic Energy has been expanding. It amounted to $5.8 China. The agreement between South Korea continue to exchange visits and "keep each Agency was permitted to inspect North billion in 1991, up from $3.8 billion in and China requires Taiwan to turn over its other informed." Korea's nuclear facilities three times this 1990, and stands at $6 billion for the first embassy in Seoul, worth some $800 million, At the China-South Korea summit, Seoul year. Washington has said that is not half of this year alone. South Korean in­ to Beijing. obtained the agreement of the Chinese re­ enough. vestment in China currently totals some Taiwan responded to the announcement gime to pressure North Korea to allow more It has long been an open secret that the $500 million and is growing, with plans by ending diplomatic ties with South Korea, extensive inspection of its nuclear facilities. U.S. has had hundreds of nuclear weapons to invest in a $90 million joint-venture as well as severing air links and withdraw­ A representative of the Chinese foreign min­ stationed in South Korea. Last December, steel mill in Pudong. ing preferential trade agreements. 'The gov- istty said Beijing "is willing to make efforts South Korean president Roh Tae Woo de­ to promote continued relaxation of the situ­ clared that all U.S. nuclear weapons bad ation and stability on the Korean peninsula." been withdrawn from Korean soil. There Yang reportedly stressed that the Chinese has never been an independent inspection 'Granma' is essential source government still prefers to use "persuasion, to confirm that this has occurred, however. and not pressure," in its relations with North In addition, Roh himself has said that U.S. Korea. submarines armed with nuclear tipped mis­ of information about Cuba In an address to the United Nations siles continue to patrol the waters around General Assembly on September 29, North the Korean peninsula. Korean foreign minister Kim Young Nam There are currently 37,400 U.S. troops said that Washington's refusal to allow based in South Korea. In a joint statement North Korean inspections of U.S. military October 8, the U.S. and South Korean gov­ bases in South Korea is the main obstacle ernments announced that no further reduc­ to improving North-South relations. A De­ tion of U.S. forces on the peninsula would cember 31 accord calls for mutual inspec- be made. PATHFINDER AROUND THE WORLD BOB SCHWARZ

Pathfinder, located in New York with the United States, Britain, Sweden, and distributors in Australia, Britain, and Germany. Big draws at the Pathfinder Canada, publishes the works of work­ booth this year were speeches of Mal­ ing-class and communist leaders of the colm X and Woman's Evolution, Evelyn worldwide struggles against exploita­ Reed's materialist explanation of tion and oppression. Pathfinder book­ women's role in the development of civ­ stores are listed in the directory on page ilization. Importers and wholesalers from 12. around the world stopped by the booth or were visited at their booths as part of Pathfinder supporters around the the focus on expanding circulation of United States report a good response Pathfinder titles in bookstores around the from USAir and other airport workers to world. The Eastern Airlines Strike: Accomplish­ Book fair participants from many ments of the Rank-and-File Machinists countries also visited the Pathfinder and Gains for the Labor Movement. Last booth. A young Japanese student stopped Militant/Seth Galinsky week's Militant reported sales of 11 cop­ to pick up a catalog for a friend back At volunteer youth agricultural camp in Cuba. Recent issues of Granma have reported ies to airport workers in Los Angeles. home who has already purchased Path­ how Cuban working people are taking on battle to produce food and other basic needs The Pathfinder bookstore there has had finder titles. He was pleased to learn that in face of virtual cutoff in trade with Russia and Eastern Europe. to order another 15 copies to meet the Pathfinder books are now being sold in demand. ''The book is very relevant to Japan. A number of young Germans who what's on these workers' minds," accord­ stopped by the booth were apparently BY MICHAEL BAUMANN mandating a state monopoly of foreign ing to Betsey Stone, who works for attracted by the pictures of Malcolm X As rulers in Washington step up pressure trade. United Airlines. What interests them from some of the book covers. Granma International offers a selection against the Cuban revolution and seek to about this book, she continued, is that it Following the book fair, Pathfinder rep­ deepen Cuba's economic isolation, more of news and features carried by the daily demonstrates "the potential power of the resentatives Alan Harris from London and than ever it is important to know the truth Granma, published by the Communist Party rank and file when they get organized." Bob Schwarz from New York visited about Cuba and the role the Cuban revo­ of Cuba. The weekly, published in English, The Seattle Pathfinder Bookstore hasalso bookstores in Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mu­ lution plays in the world. One of the best Spanish, and French editions, is an essential had to reorder. A team of Pathfinder backers nich, and Stuttgart. Ten stores placed or­ ways to do this is through the pages of the source of information about Cuba and the from there traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, ders for a total of 162 books. Managers in weekly Cuban newspaper Granma Inter­ Cuban revolution. to participate in a picket line organized by more than a dozen other stores took cata­ national. Subscriptions cost $40 a year and can be Alaska Airlines workers, members of the obtained through Pathfinder Press, 410 West logs and were encouraged to order through Recent issues have reported on bow International Association of Machinists wholesalers. Cuban working people are confronting the St., New York, NY 10014. Order yours now (lAM}, who are fighting for a new contract for news about the Cuban revolution you challenge of the "special period"-the bat­ against company-demanded concessions. * tle to produce sufficient food, fiber, and won't find anywhere else. Four lAM members bought copies of the * * manufactured goods in face of a virtual book, and another was bought by an airport Malcolm X may now be available at cutoff in trade and assistance from Cuba's worker in Seattle. your local K-Mart store. Seventy-three former trading partners in Russia and East­ Alabama steel strike USAir workers in several other cities stores across the United States with ern Europe. How Cuba just produced 7 mil­ took advantage of the special $5 offer Readers' Market book sections have or­ lion tons of sugar, a vital export crop, with Continued from Page 4 for this book. Books were sold outside dered Malcolm X Talks to Young People less than a third of the material resources of coughing after the gas was released, many meetings to discuss the new contract in and Malcolm X on Afro-American History. previous years is explained in the September people at the gate were unaffected by it. Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Morgantown, This is the first order by K-Mart of Path­ 13 issue. Arnie Watts then brought into the court­ and at New York 's La Guardia airport to finder titles. Gramna International also provides room, as evidence, three canisters that had USAir workers picketing during the summaries and at times the full text of been thrown onto the picket line. Less than strike. Many of these workers are veter­ * * * important political documents and two minutes later the courtroom had to be ans of the Eastern Airlines strike as well, How are U.S. workers fighting the speeches by Fidel Castro and other leaders cleared because everyone present, including either as former Eastern workers or as attacks on them? What do they think of of the Cuban revolution. A recent issue, Lunday, reacted to the stench of the gas. workers who organized in solidarity with the Democrats and Republicans? Why for example, reports on Castro's speech After the judges' ruling strikers cele­ the Eastern strike. A USAir striker in are U.S. trade union officials so pro-cap­ September 5 in which he explained why brated the strength of their picket line on Pittsburgh who bought one of the books italist? These were among the questions Cuba has halted construction on the October 12 as well as the injunction against had recently transferred from an Indiana asked at a Pathfmder table at the inter­ countty's sole nuclear power plant. the company's use of the security thugs. airport where there had been Eastern national Conference in Support of the Issues also include reports of political 'They thought they could break us with that flights but no unionized Eastern workers. Cuban People, held September 26 and debates and developments, such as recent tear gas," said Alfonso, a welder at the plant. The Eastern picket lines at this airport 27 at the electrical workers' union haU discussions in governmental bodies and ''They underestimated us. If we had run were maintained by a group of USAir in Mexico City. Trade union activists and economic agencies on what balance to strike from it, the strike would have been over." workers during the March 1989-January leaders from Brazil, Canada, Guade­ between state ownership of the means of Striker Annie Ragland stated, "Every 1991 strike. loupe, Haiti. Mexico, and the United production and efforts to increase the num­ worker in this state is going to be watching States attended the conference and many ber of foreign corporations that participate what we do now. We have a responsibility * * * of the 300 participants were attracted to in joint economic ventures in Cuba. The July to stay out as long as it takes to win and Among more than 8,000 booths from the Pathfmder table. Books and pam­ 19 Granma International, for example, re­ when we go back to work, it won't be like I 00 countries at the Frankfurt Book Fair phlets in Spanish and French on Cuba, ports on the discussion and vote by the it was before. We' ll be stronger." earlier this month was Pathfinder Press. South Africa, and the U.S. labor move­ National Assembly of People's Power to Denise Mcinerney is a member of USWA The booth was staffed by volunteers from ment were bought. eliminate the section of the constitution Local9226.

October 30, 1992 The Militant 11 British miners to -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS------lose 30,000 jobs CALIFORNIA representative of Socialist Workers Campaign. St., Surry Hills. Donation: $3. Tel: 02-281 3297. Los Angeles Sat., Oct 24. Dinner, 6 p.m.; forum, 7:30 p.m. Continued from front page 5019112 Woodward Ave. Donation: $5. Tel: (313) Columbus, Capitalism, and the Conquest of 831-1177. BRITAIN week caHed for a "general strike" to resist the Indians. Speaker: Juan Villagomez, Socialist the closures. Workers candidate for U.S. Congress. Sat., Oct. London While Kellingley has not been scheduled 24, 7:30 p.m. 2552-B W. Pico Blvd. Donation: NEW YORK Celebrate the Life of George Novack. Sat., $4. Tel: (213) 380-9460. Translation to Spanish. Manhattan Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. 47 The Cut, SE l. Tel: for closure, British Coal is calling for 400 71-928-7993. redundancies there, which would be layoffs San Francisco 500 Years Since Columbus. Speakers to be an­ with no rights to be recalled. This is also Solidarity With tbe United Farm Workers nounced. Sat., Oct. 24,7:30 p.m. 191 7th Ave. true at Thoresby. For the first time redun­ Union. Speakers: David Martinez, national sec­ Donation: $4. Tel: (212) 727-8421 CANADA dancies will be compulsory if not enough retary-treasurer of United Fann Workers. just Montreal miners volunteer to become unemployed. returned from tour of Singapore and Hong Kong PENNSYLVANIA to organize grape boycott; Ned Measel, Socialist Solidarity with the Nationair Flight Atten­ Selection for compulsory redundancy will Workers Party, member United Auto Workers Philadelphia dants. Speakers: Micheline Durivage and Chris­ Support the Socialist Alternative in 1992. be made on the basis of "attitude, ability and Local 2244. Sat., Oct. 24. 7 p.m. 3284 23rd St. tian Duval, workers locked out by Nationair, attendance,'' not seniority. The government (near Mission). Donation: $3. Tel: (415) 282- Speakers: Socialist Workers candidates for U.S. members Canadian Union of Public Employees has allocated £1 billion (£1 = $1.65)for 6255. Translation to Spanish. Senate and Congress. Sat., Oct 24. Reception, 4026; Annette Kouri, member International As­ redundancy payments of up to £37,000 per 6:30p.m.; program, 7 p.m .. 1906 South St. Do­ sociation of Machinists Lodge 712. Sat., Oct 24, nation $3. Tel: (215) 546-8196 miner depending on age and length of ser­ 7:30 p.m. 6566, boul. St-Laurent. Donation: $4. FLORIDA Tel: (514) 273-2503. vice. BC has warned that any miner partic­ Miami ipating in a fight to defend their job will WASHINGTON, D.C. Vancouver Join the Fight to Defend Free Speech Today. Aid To Somalia Now! Speaker: Margrethe forfeit these payments. Speakers: Anthony Thomas, Aorida Interna­ The Socialist Alternative to W.r, Economic Siem, Socialist Workers candidate for District of Depression, and the Oppression of Quebecois Some miners are tempted by the big pay­ tional University (FlU) graduate student who was Columbia Council, Ward 2. Sat., Oct. 24, 7:30 ments. "My heart says stay but my head says punched while ushering a FTU forum with youth and Native People. Speaker: Michel Prairie, p.m. 523 8th St. S.E .. Donation: $3. Tel: (202) Communist League, member of Amalgamated go," one Kellingley miner commented. Oth­ from Cuba; William Aviles, vice-president FlU 547-7557. National Organization for Women chapter, and Clothing and Textile Workers Union and editor ers are looking for a way to fight back. " Its of Nouvelle lnternationale. Sat., Oct. 24, 7:30 about time we got off our knees.'' was the president of Frontlash; Francisco Picado, Social­ ist Workers Party, and member Amalgamated WEST VIRGINIA p.m. 3967 Main St. (between 23rd and 24 Ave). view of another miner at Kellingley. Some Clothing and Textile Workers Union Local 694; Morgantown Donation: $5. Tel: (604) 872-8343. NUM and UDM miners at Thoresby began others to be announced. Sat., Oct. 24, 7:30p.m. Columbus and the European Conquest of the singing "Here we go" -the anthem of the 137 N.E. 54th St. Donation: $3. Tel: (305) 756- Americas. Sat., Oct 24, 7:30 p.m. 242 Walnut NEW ZEALAND 1984-85 strike - on their way out of work 1020. St. Donation: $4. Tel: (304) 296-0055. October 16. Auckland Jim Spaul, an NUM activist at Kellingley MARYLAND • Struggles of \\Orkers and Youth in the US. and veteran of the 1972, 1974 and 1984-85 Thday. Speaker: Tom Fiske, a leader of the Baltimore Socialist Workers Party in the U.S. Sat., Oct. 31, coal strikes, pointed out that "because of From US Air to Cate.rpillar: \\brkers Resist the AUSTRALIA their crisis the capitalist rulers in this coun: 7 p.m. La Gonda Arcade, 203 Karangahape Rd. Employers' Offensive. Speakers: Fred Owens, Donation: $3. Tel: (9) 379-3075. try are determined to see through these clo­ Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way at Amtrack; Sydney Mounting \\brld Tensions and the Growth of sures and the only way they can be stopped Edwin Fruit, Socialist Workers Party, member International Association of Machinists Local \\Urking Class Resistance. Speaker: Joel is if we fight and if we fight together -both Britton, Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. SWEDEN NUM and UDM miners." One delegate to 846. Sat., Oct 24, 7:30 p.m. 2905 Greenmount Ave. Donation: $3. Tel: (410) 235-0013. Senate in California, member Oil, Chemical and Stockholm the NUM meeting October 15 who was Atomic Workers union. Wed., Oct 28, 7 p.m. 66 Germany Two Years After Reunirtcation: Eye­ quoted in the Financial Times called for the Albion St., Surry Hills. Donation: $3. Tel: 02-281 witness Report. Speakers: Carl-Eric Isacsson, union to " unashamedly" wrap itself in the MICHIGAN 3297. Maria Hamberg, and Dag Tirsen, Militant report­ Union Jack as it campaigned against pit Detroit Columbus, the Americas and Capitalism: The ers who traveled to Germany. Sat., Oct 24, 4 closures. "That approach would be a disas­ Come Hear About the Socialist AJtemative in Marxist View. Speaker: David Rosenfeld, Com­ p.m. Vtkingagatan 10 (T-bana St Eriksplan). Tel: ter," said Spaul. '92. Speaker. John Cox, Militant staff writer, munist League. Sat., Oct. 31,6 p.m. 66 AJbion (08) 31 69 33. "We have to see this as part of an inter­ national fight," Spaul continued. "Workers in other countries are facing the same vi­ cious attacks from the bosses as miners and UN council bans military flights over Bosnia others are here.'' Continued from page 16 ington and its European imperialist rivals. An October 7 statement released by the 'No market for coal' Beirut bombings and no Vietnams." Military Bosnian Serb military command said that the Strategic Bosnian city captured BC, which is owned by the government, intervention in Yugoslavia would not be a seizure of Bosanski Brod had shown "that the claimed the mines had to close "because guaranteed success, so he is opposed to it. In Bosnia, the Serbian rightist militias are Serbs are invincible and that they alone will there was no market for the coal they mine." Powell reassured his critics that "whatever is continuing their drive to seize land and re­ determine their fate, and not somebody in This follows a decision by the electricity decided" about military action in Yugoslavia, sources. Bosanski Brod, a strategic city on the Geneva," referring to the ineffective peace generating and distribution companies, who the "armed forces will be ready, willing and border between Bosnia and Croatia, was cap­ talks held in that city. The Serbian rightists buy most of BC's output, to shift towards able to accomplish the mission." tured by Serbian forces October 6. It had been now control some 70 percent of Bosnia. using more imported coal and to build gas­ Washington's allies also have reservations thelastmajorcityinnorthernBosniatoremain The heavy shelling of Sarajevo is also con­ fired power stations. about direct military involvement. U.S. pres­ under the control of the Bosnian government. tinuing. Exactly six months after the start of Conservative government minister Mi­ ident George Bush had earlier called for a The capture of Bosanski Brod opens com­ the siege, the city came under intense fue chael Heseltine claimed that it was no longer no-fly zone backed up by U.S. fighter planes. plete! y the conidor of tenitory held by Serb­ October 5. At least 21 people were killed and possible to subsidize the coal industry to the London and Paris objected to this, however. ian Democratic Party forces in Bosnia to the scores injured that day. High rise apartment tune of £100 million a month and that the Both have troops in Bosnia as part of UN so-called "Serbian Republic of Krajina," a buildings have been one of the main targets massive cuts were necessary to make British "peacekeeping forces," and expressed con­ region in Croatia occupied by Radovan of the attack. cern that these troops would be drawn into the Coal "more competitive.'' The government Karadzic's troops. Anger among working people ofall nation­ fighting in Bosnia if the U.S. starts shooting is hoping to sell the company to private The not-so-openly-advocated goal of the alities, who are defending Sarajevo, has re­ down Serbian planes. The current resolution, investors next year. Milosevic regime in Belgrade for a "Greater cently built up against Bosnian government which places ''monitors" at airfields within Since the 1984-85 strike there has been a Serbia" encompassing the majority of Bosn­ officials. Most ministers of the Alija the former Yugoslav republics to enforce the sustained assault on miners' jobs and condi­ ian tenitory and chunks of Croatia is now lzetbegovic regime have fled the city or or­ flight ban, is a compromise between Wash- tions, with over 150,000 jobs being cut while an accomplished fact on the ground ganized to gettheir families to othercountries. output per miner has more than doubled. The recent decision to close pits comes as the British economy slides deeper into - IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP recession. The government announced Oc­ Where to find Pathfinder books and NEW YORK: New \brk: 191 7th Ave. Zip: Tel: 07 1-928-7993. tober 15 an increase in the unemployment I 0011. Tel: (212) 727-842 I; 167 Charles St. Zip: rate to I 0 percent. Companies such as Brit­ distributors of the Miliklnt, Perspectiva Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehi.ll. Postal 10014. Tel: (212) 366-1973. code: M44AA. Tel: 061-8391766. ish Aerospace, Ford, and Lucas have an­ Mundial, New lntertUitional, Nouvelle l n­ ternationale, and Nueva lnternacionaL NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: 2000-C Sheffield: 1 Gower St., Spital Hill, Postal nounced substantial layoffs recently. A S. Elm-Eugene St. Zip 27406. Tel: (919) 272- code: S47HA. Tel: 0742-765070. knock-on effect on industries related to min­ UNITED STATES 5996. ing is also expected. Robin Cook, Trade and ALABAMA: Binningham: 1I 1 21st St. OIDO: Cincinnati: P.O. Box 19484. Zip: CANADA Industry spokesperson for the Labour Party, South. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079, 328- 45219. Tel: (513) 221-2691. Cleveland: 1863 W. Montreal: 6566, bout. St-Laurent. Postal 3314. estimated that an additional 70,000 jobs 25th St. Zip: 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. code: H2S 3C6. Tel: (514) 273-2503. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2552-B W. could be lost. This includes 5,000 rail­ OREGON: Portland: 2310 NE 8th #1. Zip: Thronto: 827 Bloor St. West. Postal code: Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460, 97212. Tel: (503) 288-0466. M6G lMI. Tel: (416) 533-4324. workers employed by British Rail to move 380-9640. San Francisco: 3284 23rd St. Zip: coal from the mines to the power stations. PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 \Ucouver: 3967 Main St. Postal code: V5V 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. South St. Zip: 19146. Tel: (215) 546-8196. Pitts­ 3P3. Tel: (604) 872-8343. Reflecting the anger amongst working CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing ad­ burgh: 4905 Penn Ave. Zip 15224. Tel: (412) people, and the continuing crisis of the gov­ dress: P.O. Box 16751 , Baybrook Station, West 362-6767. ICELAND ernment, several conservative Members of Haven. Zip: 06516. Tel: (203) 772-3375. TEXAS: Houston: 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Reykjavik: Klapparstfg 26. Mailing address: Parliament (MPs) have been outspoken in FLORIDA: Miami: 137 N.E. 54th St. Zip: Tel: (713) 522-8054. P. Box 233, 121 Reykjavfk. Tel: (91) 17513. their opposition to the pit closures. Winston 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. UTAH: Salt Lake City: 147 E. 900 S. Zip: MEXICO Churchill described it as a "kick in the GEORGIA: Atlanta: 172 Trinity Ave. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 355-1124. 30303. Tel: (404) 577-4065. Mexico City: Apdo. Postal27-575, Col. Roma teeth.'' Elizabeth Peacock, MP for Batley WASHINGTON, D.C.: 523 8th St. SE. Zip: Sur. Mexico D.F. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 545 W. Roosevelt Rd. 20003. Tel: (202) 547-7557. and Spen near Leeds in Yorkshire, explained Zip: 60607. Tel: (312) 829-6815,829-7018. she was "totally opposed to the wholesale WASHINGTON: SeatUe: 1405 E. Madison. NEW ZEALAND IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave. Zip: Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 Karan­ closure of British mines, particularly York­ 50311. Tel: (515) 246-8249. WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: 242 gahape Road. Postal Address: P.O. Box 3025. shire coal mines.'' MARYLAND: Baltimore: 2905 Greenmount Walnut. Mailing address: P.O. Box 203. Tel: (9) 379-3075. The NUM's campaign against the job Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (410) 235-0013. Zip: 26507. Tel: (304) 296-0055. Christchurch: 593a Colombo St. (upstairs). losses is taking the form of demonstrations MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 780 Tremont Postal address: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 365- outside the mines scheduled for closure. The St. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. AUSTRALIA 6055. MICHIGAN: Detroit: 501911.2 Woodward Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills, Sydney union has also called a demonstration and W!JUngton: 23 Majoribanks St., Courtenay Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 831-1177. NSW 2010. Tel: 02-281-3297. mass lobby of Parliament for October 21. Pl. Postal address: P.O. Box 9092. Tel: (4) 384- MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: 508 N. Snelling 4205. The TUC has called a national demonstra­ Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) 644-6325. BARBADOS tion for London October 25. MISSOURI: St. Louis: 1622 S. Broadway. Bridgetown: P.O. Box 891. Tel.: (809) 436- 7723. SWEDEN Zip: 63104. Tel: (314) 421-3808. Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10 (T-bana St Paul Galloway is a member of the NUM at NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. Zip: BRITAIN Eriksplan). Postal code: S-113 42. Tel: (08) 31 the Thoresby Colliery in Nottinghamshire. 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SEl 8LL. 69 33.

12 The Militant October 30, 1992 GREAT SOCIETY------Except when beating your head Sofia, and President Felipe Gon­ this, we know that God doesn't that the Bush administration consid­ Presidential timber - A Ne­ - At a press conference on the re­ za.Iez met with Fidel Castro when make mistakes."-Jerry Falwell, ers a fetus a person, a Aorida couple vada outfit offered a 900 number cent New York racist cop riot, the the Cuban leader was in Spain last founder of the defunct Moral Ma­ has gone to court after being denied which you could call for $3 if you acting police commissionerdeclared summer and that they had urged jority, whose church/school empire the right to deduct their unborn child were for Perot and another, also $3, him to resign the Cuban presidency is $73 million in hock and, appar­ on their federal tax return. if you weren't for him. And, 72 as a step toward "democracy." ently, on the verge of collapse. hours later, a third number to call (Translation: "capitalism"). He said Still going wrong way - Frank for the poll results, also for $3. Harry the queen spoke to Fidel "like a 'Natural' disaster - A draft Lorenzo, whose unsuccessful drive mother would talk to a son." But, federal report said that poor design to smash the Eastern Airlines strike Proud legacy-The U.S. gov­ Ring like many a good son, Fidel said no. and substandard construction of flushed the company down the tube, ernment hopes to bury 300,000 housing contributed significantly to was stopped by a cop while driving barrels of radioactive waste from Planned chaos? -Pundits are the massive damage from Hurri­ the wrong way on a Houston, Texas, nuclear weapons in New Mexico pondering the meaning of the new cane Andrew. The damage was street Lorenzo pleaded no contest to salt bed caverns. Since the waste that cops would be subject to firing slogan of the Chinese government: compounded, the report said, by a a drunk driving charge and took two will remain dangerous for 10,000 for using racist epithets, "except the building of a "socialist market shortage of building inspectors, in­ years probation and a $750 fme. years and, realizing that current under extreme emotional distress." economy." spection supervisors, and poor languages may be extinct by then, training of inspectors. Greenasa$bill-Ecosport, the experts are pondering how to warn Parental types-Juan Carlos, God canceled his credit card? environmental folk, offer clothing future generations of the contami­ king of Spain, said that he, Queen - "While we don't understand They've got a point - Noting made from organically grown cotton. nation threat Clinic defenders back down anti-choice forces BY JON HILLSON 'The abortion rights activists ranged from violated the new injunction on September posts were jostled by the rightists, several ROBBINSDALE, Minnesota - For the area college and high school youths, who 19, placing 75 people at the edge of clinic of whom chased a pro-choice senior citizen first time since a court injunction was issued took major responsibility to publicize the property. two blocks until he ducked into a nursing September 17, right-wing opponents of action, to local unionists, a farm couple from The restraining order limits their side­ home. abortion complied with a Hennepin County southern Minnesota, and veteran clinic de­ walk-only presence at the site to 12, with Arriving police refused to take the el­ restraining order prohibiting their "rescues" fenders from Fargo, North Dakota. others kept at a block's distance. derly man's complaint. at a clinic performing abortions in this Min­ A huge banner reading "We kicked you The order also applies equally to pro­ On October 2, antiabortion leaders at the neapolis suburb. out of Fargo, Buffalo, Houston and ..." choice forces. clinic announced they'd rented an adjacent On October 1, in the face of non-enforce­ symbolized the experiences and determina­ for-sale building. the building and Kid-gloves treatment by cops Because ment of the injunction by local cops, a tion of the clinic defenders. its parking lot are "private property," pro­ Hennepin County judge rebuked police and The August action was the largest pro­ Cops informed clinic escorts that the visions ofthe injunction limiting the size of threatened abortion foes with stiffer provis­ choice mobilization since early June, when rightists would be given "time to ponder" protest gatherings do not apply. ions of the court order should they continue a similar declaration by Operation Rescue the injunction to allow it to sink in. Antiabortion ranks have been beefed up was met by 350 clinic defenders, who This kid-gloves treatment resulted in the to defy it. by veterans of continuing clinic sieges from thwarted some 75 antiabortion rightists. token arrest of four rightist leaders, one of The injunction, sought by administrators Milwaukee to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in­ That mass defense marked a change in a whom is a former Las Vegas, Nevada, po­ of the Robbinsdale Clinic, was issued Sep­ cluding thugs who have stalked the longstanding clinic policy of discouraging liceman. tember 17, following a spirited, militant Robbinsdale facility in the evening. clinic defense mounted by 450 abortion pro-choice actions in front of the medical Robbinsdale cops then chauffeured one rights fighters on August 30. center. of the arrested Operation Rescue leaders to These ultrarightists also organize the movement of a cadre of up to 15 teenagers The emergency action was called by In July, escorts physically removed right­ the clinic after his release. from Mission to the Prebom who recently clinic defense organizers to counter plans ists from the path of cars entering the clinic On September 26, antiabortion forces ap­ participated in clinic attacks in Milwaukee announced by antiabortion forces to mobi­ parking lot, and defended themselves peared to comply with the order, maintain­ and Baton Rouge. lize 700 rightists to shut down the facility, against bodily attacks. ing a small picket. They were outnumbered long a central target of abortion foes in This prompted Robbinsdale cops, who by escorts on clinic grounds. Some of the rightists are campaigning for Minnesota. routinely fraternize with the rightists, to But at 12:00 noon, with most of the es­ James "Bo" Gritz, the presidential candi­ The rightists mustered barely 100 would­ limit the auto-blockade tactics of abortion corts gone, a newly gathered bloc of Lambs date of the Populist Party, a fascist group be "rescuers." foes, as well as the escorts' defense efforts. of Christ and Operation Rescue supporters that distributes neo-Nazi and Ku Klux Klan The five hour confrontation ended with But when a clinic security marshall was marched down the street, encircling the Uterature. antiabortion forces dispersing, unable and thrown by right-wingers onto the hood of a edges of clinic property. And recently, rightist cadres have begun unwilling to attempt to penetrate lines of moving car that was leaving the lot and was PoUce then disappeared for an bour. shouting "Christ killer" and "Judases" at predominantly young pro-choice marchers hurled, stunned, to the pavement, nearby The handful of escorts who held their clinic defenders they identify as Jewish. and the rows of yellow-shirted escorts who police refused to make an arrest. linked arms behind them and formed a sec­ The cops likewise turned a blind eye to ond phalanx at the clinic doors. antiabortion marchers when they massively -30 AND 50 YEARS AGO-- The title of the "25 AND 50 YEARS people appear as a threat to the security of AGO" column has temporarily changed, the powerful USA. They surround tiny Socialist campaigners win victory in order to focus on the Mililani's re­ Cuba with a mighty armada in preparation sponse to the Cuba missile crisis 30 years for further acts of aggression calculated to for democratic rights in New Jersey ago. restore American capitalist domination over that island. BY MARTY PETTIT New Jersey. There was also quite a bit of Support public demonstrations against JERSEY CITY, New Jersey - City offi­ discussion about the cop riot that had oc­ TH£ the Cuban blockade! cials were forced to back off from their curred in New York City a few days earlier. Halt Kennedy's insane drive toward war! Hands off Cuba! harassment of socialist campaigners here. In Volunteers Devin Oldendick and Susan a victory for democratic rights, the New MILITANT Zcirate had been campaigning for about a Published in lhe lnleresl of lhe Working People Jersey Socialist Workers campaign received half-hour when cops drove up and summa­ October 29, 1962 Price tor a letter signed by acting corporation counsel THE MILITANT rily wrote out two tickets. The tickets carry fiUM.ItoNI• • ""ttntusn or'"' ...... oPLa of Jersey City Paul Mackey stating that a fme of $100 each. President Kennedy's blockade of Cuba N!.YYOU. N.Y. campaigning is "protected by the First brands him as aggressor before the eyes of The council was unanimous in supporting Amendment and cannot be regulated under the world. He has violated the rights of October 31, 1942 peddler's licenses such as the one adopted the socialist campaign's request for the letter Cuba, the Soviet Union and other countries. by Jersey City . . . the Socialist Workers confirming their right to distribute literature. He has invited military retaliation in self-de­ A general strike of the workers of the Campaign Committee is not required to Councilman Jaime Vazquez said, "We're fense by his order to the armed forces to fJ.re textile city of Ahmedabad, where some 27 maintain a peddlers license to conduct its dealing with something other than vending upon ships of other nations which refuse to per cent of India's textile mills are concen­ activities on the streets of Jersey City." here ... The police may not agree with what submit to search and seizure. trated, is still going on after ten weeks. The [the socialists] are saying, but [the socialists] Jane Harris, SWP candidate for Congress Cuba is not a threat to the people of the strike, a political one in protest against the in the 13th District, and several of her sup­ have a right to their point of view." Vazquez United States in any way. All the Cubans arrest of the All-India Congress leaders, porters requested such a letter at the Sep­ was referring to the fact that the socialist want is to be left free from attack while they began on August 9, the day they were jailed tember 30 Jersey City council meeting, fol­ campaign table posted a sign saying "Stop concentrate on completion of the social rev­ by the British authorities. lowing the ticketing of two of her supporters Police Brutality." olution in their country. We can be sure that the workers, with September 20 on charges of violating the Assistant corporation counsel Thomas When the Cubans abolished capitalism considerable experience of political and city's peddling ordinance. Fodice, who was present at the meeting, was they also put an end to exploitation of their trade union struggle on returning to the vil­ Harris led a team of campaign volunteers forced to admit, "In general, political mate­ country by American monopoly corpora­ lages become leaders in arousing the peas­ to Jersey City's Asian Indian community rial is protected even if there is a charge for tions. In putting human welfare above cor­ ants to refuse to pay rents and taxes. September 20 after three men were fmally that material." porate profits, the Cuban revolutionists That the Stalinists have throughout been indicted for violating federal civil rights committed an unpardonable sin in the eyes playing the role of strikebreakers is quite Carmen Mendiola of the city law depart­ laws in the brutal beating five years earlier of the capitalist rulers of the United States. openly admitted in a dispatch mailed from ment affmned on October 1 that the police of 28-year-old Dr. Khausal Sharan. The The big capitalists, who run the United Bombay and published in the Oct. 27 Daily are "tearing up" the citations. crime against Dr. Sharan came in the midst States through their Democratic and Repub­ Worker. It says: of a series of violent attacks against Asian Jane Harris commented, "This is an un­ lican puppets, are determined to smash the "Now and then the owners of the factories Indians in the summer of 1987. Among the qualified victory. The American Civil Lib­ Cuban revolution. manage to incite a strike in one or two mills. victims were Bharat Kanu-Bhai Patel, who erties Union had agreed to represent us in a 'They have long been trying to strangle "The next day or as soon as the mill gates was beaten by youths with a tO-pound alu­ civil liberties lawsuit. On the day of the city Cuba with an economic embargo. Last year open the Communists send the workers back minum rod; students Vikas Aggarwai and council meeting former Jersey City mayor they used counter-revolutionaries for an in­ to work for the country's defense and their Syed Shukaib Hasan, who were attacked in Gerald McCann reported to prison to serve vasion attempt that was beaten off by the own livelihood." Hoboken by teenagers wielding baseball a sentence for corruption, so the city was Cuban masses. The reference to the strikes as "incited" bats; and Navroze Mody, who died of his not in a strong position to fight this. My Now the parties of Kennedy and Eisen­ by the owners is of course the merest sub­ injuries after being beaten on a Hoboken campaign supporters plan to take full advan­ hower, who share responsibility for the hos­ terfuge. The naked fact stands out - the street. tage of this opportunity to reach working tile acts that forced the Cubans to arm in workers go on strike and the Stalinists at­ The campaign volunteers passed out a people in Jersey City with the socialist al­ self-defense, resort to a new smear cam­ tempt to break the strike in the name of the statement issued in response to an escalation ternative in the remaining weeks of the cam­ paign. They try to make defensive measures "country's defense," i.e., in deference to of police violence in neighboring Newark, paign." taken by a little country of seven million British imperialism. October 30, 1992 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS The 1987 stock market crash An outrageous attack on Cuba October 19 marks the fd'tb anniversary of the 1987 stock market crash. Tbe following excerpt from a So­ The attack that took place against the Melia Varadero cratic Party presidential candidate William Clinton prom­ cialist \\brkers Party resolution adopted by the SWP Hotel was an outrageous affront to the sovereignty of Cuba ises to deepen this campaign if elected, criticizing the Bush convention in August 1988 outlines the scale of that and to the safety of its people and visitors to that country. administration for not taking strong enough measures event. This attack could only have taken place with the knowl­ against Cuba. Clinton endorsed the reactionary "Cuban edge and complicity of U.S. government agencies. Democracy Act," which will tighten the embargo against The terrorist group that organized the attack, Comandos Cuba, six weeks before Bush threw his support behind it. The October 19, 1987, crash on the New York Stock L, is based in Miami. In December of last year, a group of Clinton has also gone out of his way to meet with and gain Exchange was the steepest plunge in stock prices in this three terrorists from the same group were captured after the support of ultra-right-wing Cuban exile leaders in century, a larger and faster drop than the 1929 crash that landing in Cuba with arms, including a submachine gun, Miami, who appreciate his position on Cuba, which is signaled the coming Great Depression. Between Wall and explosives. During their trial, the three testified that more openly aggressive than the current administration. Street's opening and closing bells October 19 there was a they had prepared for an armed attack on Cuba with the 23 percent plummet in average stock prices, resulting in For his part, Bush hypocritically boasts of his role in roughly $500 billion in losses. The Chicago stock futures knowledge of the U.S. government. "ending the cold war" but maintains and seeks to extend United States government officials have reacted noncha­ market fell even more sharply, diving 36 percent in 10 the U.S. blockade of Cuba-one of the most prolonged hours over two days. The crash culminated a stock market lantly to news of the October 7 attack on the hotel. But and vicious blockades in history -while insolently allow­ imagine the response of Washington if an armed group set slide that had begun in late August; overall, share prices ing "private" armed attacks against Cuba from U.S. shores. fell by more than one-third over that period. This came on out from Cuba, opened fire from speed boats on a luxury If left unchallenged, these probes pave the way for more top of a collapse in the bond market, with prices of U.S. hotel on the coast of Aorida, and returned safely to Cuba, serious attacks. where the government said it might look into the problem! government securities falling 26 percent between late While maintaining its thinly-disguised charade, the U.S. imperialism's undying hostility to Cuba stems from March and October 19. United States govenrnent is fully aware of the activities of the fact that Cuban working people have made a social Unlike the 1929 crash, the dive on Wall Street did not right-wing terrorist gangs like Comandos Land Alpha 66 revolution that sets an example for the oppressed millions pause at the U. S. borders. With explosive computerized that train in southern Aorida. In some cases, government of Latin America and throughout the world. Cuba's un­ rapidity, it spread to every other stock market around the agencies have openly aided counterrevolutionary armed compromising and internationalist foreign policy- de­ world over the next 24 hours. Hundreds of billions more forces. In July, a group of Comandos L members whose fending Angola from South African invasions and de­ dollars in paper values were destroyed. This reflected the boat broke down were "rescued" in Cuban water, by the nouncing the U.S.-led war against Iraq-has also earned tightening interlinkages, especially since World War n, of U.S. Coast Guard and returned safely home. it the hatred of the U.S. rulers. the U.S.-dominated imperialist world system of capitalist Comandos Land other right-wing terrorist outfits above Supporters of Cuba's right to live in peace and to monetary relations. credit, production, and trade. Rather than all fmd encouragement from the unrelenting bipartisan sovereignty should loudly condemn the recent attacks and buffering the shocks from the crash in New York. stock campaign of the U.S. government against Cuba. Demo- the role of the U.S. government in giving cover to them. markets from London to Hong Kong, from Tokyo to Toronto, from Sydney to Mexico City helped drag each other down. The most devastating decline hit the exchanges in semicolonial countries. The Hong Kong stock market ended trading altogether for a week. Shares on the Mexico City exchange dropped 75 percent in October, setting off a loss of nearly one-third of the peso's value and a capital Lift ban on Iranian publishers! flight of more than $2 billion from Mexico over the next two months. The organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, country's government? Why not ban U.S. publishers be­ the largest book fair in the world, have for the fourth cause of the role of Washington in organizing the slaughter 'Meltdown' consecutive year banned publishers from Iran from partic­ in Iraq last year? Or publishers from Israel as punishment The October 19 crash verged on what business-page ipating. This undemocratic ban is presented as a way of for that government's oppression of the Palestinians? commentators, borrowing from the vocabulary of nuclear expressing opposition to the death warrant that was issued This ban comes in the context of a wave of right-wing catastrophe, termed a "meltdown" of the capitalist in February, 1989, by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini attacks on foreign-born workers and asylum-seekers in world's stock exchanges. More importantly, given the and other top Iranian government officials against British Germany over the last two months. The Bonn degree to which trading on the stock, bond, commodities, novelist Salman Rushdie. Rushdie is the author of The government's answer to the violence is to push for a and futures markets depends on massive infusions of Satanic Verses, a novel deemed "blasphemous" by the constitutional amendment making it easier to deport work­ borrowed funds, this meltdown threatened capitalism's reactionary Iranian leaders. ers who come to Germany from other countries. The international banking network as well. Major securities But this ban against Iranian book publishers in no way majority party in parliament, Helmut Kohl's Christian flTmS, suffering staggering losses as the day went on, advances the stated goal of combating the death warrant Democratic Union, campaigns with the slogan "No to false borrowed frantically to buy up stocks in hopes of halting against Rushdie; quite the opposite. This move strengthens asylum-seekers!" The ban on Iranian publishers reinforces the free-fall of share prices and thus the cash value of the hands of the censors and tyrants the world over by and promotes the xenophobia and nationalistic hysteria their own assets. When this effort failed, the big Wall closing down democratic space to exchange ideas. It gives that have fueled these violent attacks. Street houses were left deeply in debt, with piles of the Iranian capitalist regime, for example, an excuse to bar AU working people and supporters of democratic rights devalued stocks. Major banks, suddenly fmding them­ German publishers, or publishers from other countries, should oppose the reactionary move by the organizers of selves with mounting bad debts, began turning down from events like the Tehran Book Fair that took place the Frankfurt Book Fair. Equally, the demand that the requests for further credit. To head off disaster, the U.S. earlier this year. If this ban is allowed to pass without Iranian regime drop its reactionary campaign and its death government directly intervened. The Federal Reserve protest, publishers of working-class and revolutionary lit­ threats against Salman Rushdie must be maintained. Any Board flooded the banking system with money on Oc­ erature can expect to be targeted in the future. moves to close down political and democratic rights or to tober 20 and credit lines were prevented from squeezing The hypocrisy of the ban should also be exposed. Why whip up racism and bigotry should be repudiated in the shut. A complete collapse was narrowly averted .... ban Iranian publishers because of the policies of that strongest manner. Capitalists' confidence in the stability of the stock market has still not recovered .... At the same time, however, the exploiters' ceaseless quest for the highest returns will eventually force them to pour money capital back into stocks, sending volumes and prices soaring once again. Under capitalism, the blind laws of the market are ultimately more powerful than the might­ Miners' fight is international iest state in matters of values and prices. And in a world where almost everything is a commodity, that is powerful "You 're ft.red! " That's what British Coal plans to tell The concern this government minister has is for the capi­ indeed. 30,000 mine workers in the next few months. And not only talist class he so slavishly represents. His only worry about miners will be affected when the govenunent-owoed coal coal miners is whether they will be able to wage a struggle Mountain of debt industry closes 31 pits by March 1993. Many thousands strong enough to defeat the government's plans. The near meltdown on October 19 also further exposed of mine-machinery manufacturing workers and rail work­ In that struggle miners can look to other workers in the vulnerability of the capitalist world to the towering pile ers will be hit hard. Mining communities across Britain Britain as well as internationally for support Mine workers of government and private debt that has built up worldwide will be devastated. in the United States, as in other countries, are also facing since the early 1970s. The indebtedness of the oppressed Actions are being called in Britain to halt the pit clo­ attacks from their bosses. At the same time as British countries of Latin America. Africa. Asia, and the Pacific sures. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has Coal's pit closure plan is supposed to wind up in March accelerated at a dizzying pace in the 1980s as these nations planned protests at the mines scheduled to be closed. The 1993, miners in the U.S. will be facing off against the coal suffered the combined blows of exploding interest rates at miners', union and the Trades Union Congress have also bosses as their national contract expires. What the British the opening of the decade; the deep 1981-82 recessions announced national actions in London to halt the govern­ government is able to take away will certainly have an that rolled through the United States and several other ment moves. Even leaders of the Union of Democratic impact on the struggle of mine workers in other parts of capitalist countries; and the sharp drop in the prices of most Miners, who opposed the 1984-85 strike against pit clo­ the world. raw materials and other commodities sold by Third World sures, have voiced support for action. These protests de­ The speed and magnitude of the job cuts in Britain have countries on the world market. serve the support of working people throughout Britain caused even some of the most conservative members of The total debt owed by the capitalists and governments and around the world. government to voice opposition. They fear the social up­ of these countries to the wealthy families that own the The heroic struggles of mine workers in ·Britain and in heaval that working people may organize to stop the pit major imperialist banks reached the almost unimaginable other parts of the world have helped to elevate the condi­ closures. Conservative Party Member of Parliament Teddy figure of$1.2 trillion by the end of 1987, more than twelve tions of the working class far beyond mining communities. Taylor expressed it this way, "If the government continues times its level in 1973. Much as bankers in the United The year-long battle against pit closures waged by the to show little sympathy but near contempt for people losing States goaded farmers into bigger and bigger debt loads NUM in 1984-85 remains one of the most important their jobs at a time of acute recession, they will simply throughout the 1970s, the massive borrowing that resulted examples of labor resistance in the past two decades. lose the support and sympathy of the population." in today's Third World debt was initiated. pushed, and The decision made by British Coal, without regard to sustained by finance capital, which stood to profit mightily the effects on miners, their families, and mining commu­ Even before these announced pit closures Britain had off the interest payments. entered into its 29th consecutive monthly rise in unem­ nities, is the same decision capitalist enterprises and the Mounting international debt slavery has not only meant governments that represent them are making around the ployment. Nearly 3 million workers are now without jobs. What the British rulers hope for is division among working economic and social devastation for hundreds of millions world. The capit.alist system is in crisis and the only answer of peasants and workers; it has also increased the instability for the wealthy class that benefits from the exploitation of people-what they deeply fear is the solidarity that can be organized among workers. of the entire imperialist banking system. The so-called labor is to attack our living standards and lead us into war. Third World debt crisis is in fact a dance of death between Commenting on the mine shutdowns, Michael Hesel­ Supporting the actions of miners in Britain against pit the capitalists in the imperialist countries and those in the tine, the British cabinet minister responsible for coal, said, closures and job losses is one of the most pressing matters semicolonial world, in which the primary victims of an "the social and employment consequences cause me deep not only for workers in Britain, but for workers around the international monetary calamity will be the working people concern." But no statement could be more hypocritical. world as well. of both the oppressed and oppressor countries. 14 The Militant October 30, 1992 Striking Yellowknife gold miners fight frame-up

This column is devoted to re­ after 10:00 a.m.? nurses, hospital workers, and sup­ weeks earlier 96 percent of these In April, two workers from the porting the resistance by working "Why has the NWf government porters rallied outside Christchurch machinists had voted to authorize a refmery approached OCAW Local people to tbe employers' assault refused to conduct an inquiry? Public Hospital. strike. 8-234 requesting help in organizing on their living standard, working "Why did Royal Oak Mines fly The protesters marched to the cen­ The new contract includes a one­ a union at Chevron. A core in-house conditions, and unions. out all replacement workers who tral city. Banners included, "Health year wage freeze after the payment committee of a dozen workers ~ invite you to contribute were not local residents, 44 hours cutsdon'theal,""Yestounions,"and of a 30 cent cost of living (COLA) came together to lead the organiz­ short items to this column as a after the blast? "Reduce pay - no way." adjustment There are 3.5 percent ing drive. They recruited a large way for other fighting workers "Why have specialized forensic In Wellington, 1,000 nurses and pay increases in the second and layer of workers on numerous around tbe world to read about post-blast investigators not been supporters marched through the city. third years. crews and areas of the plant to help and learn from these important summoned? The employers have ''woken a sleep­ There is also a lump-sum pro­ win others to the union. struggles. Jot down a few Unes to "Why did the police announce the ing tiger that wiU be hard to quiet," ductivity bonus of 12 percent in the "Management had taken advan­ let other MiliUutt readers know day after the blast, that it was 'delib- said nurses •delegate Jeanette Colins. ftrst year, to be paid just before tage of everyone," said Denis Contracts for nurses employed at Christmas. Stefano, president of OCAW Local public hospitals are being renegoti­ Entry level wages for the lowest 8-234. 'They had no regard for ated region by region. Area health pay grade have been lowered from anyone's requests. They had a 'rule ON THE PICKET LINE boards, which administer the hospi­ the current rate of $11.39 per hour book' that they would just add and tals, have been pressing demands for to $9.72 per hour. The length of the subtract from as they saw fit. Man­ pay progression steps have been erately set' when Ottawa RCMP In­ cutbacks in pay rates and conditions. agement was squeezing everyone." about what is happening at your A particular target has been penal spector Don Watson, head of the increased from the present five work place or in your union. If rates (extra payments for working years to seven and a half. Union supporters produced "One there is an interesting political post-blast team, said he hadn't yet Voice," a newsletter where workers concluded it was intentionally set? overtime, night-time shifts, week­ Most members were unaware of discussion going on at work, we ends, or public holidays). any of these takebacks until they expressed their opinions on why would Uke to bear about that too. "Why was almost 1,100 kilo­ According to the Nurses Associ­ arrived to vote. At the contract rat­ they needed a union. grams of blasting powder delivered ation, nurses' real incomes have ification meetings, the union lead­ "I feel that we don't have any to the same level of the mine where More than 30 issues of the news­ fallen by 6 percent in the last three ership made no recommendation to the blast occurred, an hour after the letter were distributed at the plant constitutional rights in Yellow­ years. knife," explained Harry Seeton, the members on how to vote on the gates from June through September blast? In Wellington, the area health proposed contract. The new wage president of the Canadian Associa­ by Chevron workers and other "Why was the mine opened Sep­ board had been seeking to extend scales for new hires were not tion of Smelter and Allied Workers OCAW members. Meetings to dis­ tember 25 with so many questions work shifts from 8 to 10 hours, and printed or explained in the eight­ (CASAW) Local4 in Yellowknife, cuss the union organizing drive unanswered?" to remove the Nurses Association page contract summary handed out Northwest Territories (NWT). were held twice a week. The CASAW Ladies Association from the contract as a party to ne­ at the meetings. "The Royal Canadian Mounted By the last plant-gate distribution for Strike Support (CLASS) has put gotiating future changes in working "They don't recommend we ac­ Police (RCMP) has been question­ out a call for organizations and more than 75 workers demon­ ing our members and their wives conditions. cept it. They don't recommend we strated their support for the union. union locals to adopt a striking fam­ During the ftrst strike by nurses, strike. Then what are we supposed about the September 18 explosion ily. Send messages of support and The company filed objections to at Royal Oak's Giant mine that in Taranaki in September, employ­ to do? The offer is mediocre at donations to CASAW Local4, P.O. best," stated Jack Johnson, an air­ the union election claiming "un­ killed nine miners," continued ers mounted a strikebreaking effort, Box 1628, Yellowknife, NWT, plane structures mechanic. "At lawful conduct by the union before Seetcin. "The questions don't just transporting in several dozen nurses X1A2P2. employed through an agency. least we didn't lose our medical, and during the election." They deal with the explosion but deal our COLA, or get hit with a medical charged the union with marking yes with picket-line activity and rea­ The striking nurses responded New Zealand nurses take with militant picketing against the copayment" sample ballots, and that "the gen­ sons for the strike. They're trying strike action "People are scared," said stores eral conduct of the union made free hard to pin the blame on somebody. strikebreakers outside their hotel and at airports. Threats by other clerk Calvin Clegg. "They've got choice impossible." On September Who else are they questioning other Morethan5,500nursesinthe Wel­ li.Qgton, Nelson-Marlborough, and hospital boards to hire replacement mortgages to pay, Boeing put a lot 25 when the company was to pro­ than our union members?" duce supporting evidence for these The 240 members of CASAW Canterbury regions of New Zealand staff during strike action were sub­ of money up front, 12 percent, to try to sell this contract." charges more than 100 workers Local 4 have been on strike against held 24-hour strikes on September sequently dropped. 29 and October 1. In Canterbury, Others felt differently. Dave were out in front of the refinery Royal Oak's demand for conces­ protesting the company's actions. sions, and the use of replacement some 700hospital workers - order­ Machinists at Boeing Goldman from the Auburn, Wash­ workers. The main issue in the lies, cooks, and cleaners - also ratify new contract ington plant voted against the offer. Chevron workers have continued "1bere were two reasons. One was strike is health and safety and an joined the strike action. A new contract covering 43,000 to organize. As a unit of OCAW attempt by the company to gut se­ The nurses were protesting at­ aerospace workers at Boeing Co. the wages - nothing in the first Local 8-234, they've established a niority rights. One hundred and ten tempts by regional health boards to was voted up Oct 2. The pact cov­ year. The second was what they did "Committee for a Fair Contract," of the strikers face criminal charges impose changes to their contracts ers members of the International to the new hires. That alone was which has signed up 70 workers as for picket-line activity. that would mean reduced wages Association of Machinists and enough for me to vote against the members. A hysterical frame-up campaign and longer hours. Aerospace Workers (lAM) working contract" by the mine bosses that is promoted Nurses in Wellington struck again in the Seattle area; Portland, Ore­ The following people contributed to by the cops and the big-business October 6, but returned to work after gon; and Wichita, Kansas. Oil workers vote union at this week's column: Ned Dmytry­ media has, without a shred of evi­ employers agreed to a temporary Three years ago the lAM carried Philadelphia refinery shyn, member of International dence, blamed the striking miners contract maintaining existing condi­ out a successful 48-day strike In September refinery workers Brotherhood of Teamsters Local for this tragedy. tions. Canterbury nurses settled their against Boeing that won new pro­ employed by Chevron in Philadel­ 213 in Vancouver, Canada; Agnes A September 28 article in the contract the following day. tection against forced overtime, and phia won an important victory Sullivan in Christchurch and Mi­ Vancouver Sun poses some impor­ During the one-day stoppages substantial wage increases. The when they voted 276-154 to be rep­ chael Tucker in Wellington, New tant unanswered questions that ex­ spirited pickets were set up outside gains won in the previous contract resented by the Oil, Chemical and Zealand; Bob Bruneau, member of pose this frame -up: public hospitals. On September 29, have been eroded by the new agree­ Atomic Workers union (OCAW ). /AM District 751 Local A in Renton, "Why was the explosion at 8:35 protest marches and rallies were ment. This successful organizing drive Washington; and Kathy Mickells. a.m. only reported to police and the also held. The contract was approved by a was the fifth such try at the Chevron member OCAW Local 8-901. in mine inspection and safety branch In Christchurch, more than 500 71 -to-29 percent margin. 1\vo facility since 1980. Philadelphia. --LETTERS------Excellent coverage those who lost their relatives at this had no plans for issuing a paper­ barbaric act WfDY expresses its back edition. The publisher has just Keep up the excellent coverage grief on the calamity that has be­ released the book in paperback and on events in Yugoslavia and the fallen you. The callousness of the it retails for $12.95 Canadian. Itcan depth of the world recession. I slaughters of mankind shall reach a be ordered from the publisher, Lit­ would like to see more articles like definite end and banners of peace tle Brown and Company, 148 York­ the one on Swedish austerity and and progress shall fly high again. ville Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5R on how the coming depression so­ To the ANC supporters, your strug­ 1C2. cially affects working people in gle is our struggle. the developed countries and devel­ The book tells the story of the oping ones. We wish to express our heartfelt dramatic fight in 1990 of the Mo­ condolences to the bereaved com­ hawk Indian people to defend their I regularly depend on the Mili­ rades, relatives and friends. Yester­ lands against violent attacks by the tant to cut through all this bourgeois day Boipatong today Bisho. Inter­ Canadian and Quebec govern­ crap analysis of the economic re­ national public opinion is very ments. cession. much aware of the involvement of Roger Annis G.K. the South African regime in these Montreal, Canada Bronx, New York inhuman activities. WfDY along with other peace loving forces all Do article on GATT over the world are fast losing con­ Police harassment fidence in the commitment of Mr. At a recent meeting held in the Can you do an article on GAIT in Swansea, South Wales. head teacher reported that when F.W. de .Klerk's government to­ Butetown area of Cardiff, reports (General Agreement on Tariffs & complaints were sent into the police wards transforming South Africa were given of increased police ac­ The investigation into the police Trade), a multilateral trade agree­ has some bearing on the case of The they replied with a completely dif­ ment that sets worldwide trade into a nonracial democratic state. tivity against Black residents. A fu­ neral procession was disturbed, Cardiff Three. These are three men ferent account of the events, even rules? From what I've read so far it Rasheed Kha/afal/a jailed for life for the murder of when there were witnesses. vice president, houses were raided for spurious sounds fascist and scary. Lynette White in the Butetown area Helen Wilkins L.S. World Federation ofDemo cratic searches, and a member of The Cardiff Three campaign. Malik of Cardiff. The families of the three Cardiff, England Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Youth men are campaigning for their re­ Budapest, Hungary. AbduUahi, was held by police for thirty hours. lease and a judicial appeal is due to Tbe letters column is an open South Africa massacre This is in the context of an inves­ be heard on December 7. forum for all viewpoints on sub­ The World Federation of Demo­ 'People of the Pines' tigation into the South Wales police Malik Abdullahi, as a spokes­ jects of general interest to our cratic Youth wishes to express its In my review of the book People force for fabricating evidence in the person for the campaign, has come readers. Please keep your letters dismay over the remorseless per­ of the Pines published in the July DarveU case. The Darvell brothers under increased police harass­ brief. Where necessary they will petual killings in Bisho and other 31 issue of the Militant, I explained were recently released from prison ment be abridged. Please indicate parts of South Africa. that the book was available only in after six years protesting their inno­ At the meeting calls were made if you prefer that your initials be We share the deep sorrow felt by hardcover and that the publisher cence over the murder of a woman for action. Betty Campbell, a local used rather than your full name.

October 30, 1992 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Hundreds in Minneapolis speak out against cop brutality and frame-up

BY MAREA HIMELGRIN vancement of Colored People). The police Nisan. "What we are engaged in is a struggle and what we can do to mobilize against it." MINNEAPOliS- On October 10, more are now selling T-shirts that read "United in which what working people and youth do Nisan argued with the idea put forward than 200 people rallied in North Minneapolis for Police" with a logo of Haafs badge and will be decisive in determining whether the by the press and a range of elected officials against police brutality and in defense of the date of his murder. forces of reaction and racism triumph or and Black community and religious groups targets of a frame-up and slander campaign "The federation and their allies are seek­ not." that a race war is getting ready to ensue. being organized by the Minneapolis Federa­ ing to exploit the murder of officer Haaf to The week before on October 3, 200 peo­ tion of Police. brand as criminals whole sections of the ple had packed the upstairs meeting room at He explained, "Police brutality isn't a race problem. It's a human problem. It af­ Officer Jerome Haaf was shot in the back population in Minneapolis," stated Mel the North Regional Public Library for a fects all working people-some, because while on a coffee break September 25. The Reeves who chaired the October 10 rally "Speak-out against police brutality." they are members of oppressed nationali­ cops then unleashed a reign of terror in their against police brutality. "They seek to place The multiracial and multigenerational ties, more than others. The composition of search for suspects, all of whom are young anyone they label as a 'gang member' out­ crowd at the library cheered Mel Reeves this meeting shows that people of all skin Black men. No one has been charged in the side the bounds of equal protection under when he explained, "If there's one myth colors in Minneapolis are appalled at the shooting, but the police and their supporters the law." that's popped up in the local media in the police brutality we have witnessed in the claim, without offering a shred of evidence, Thanking the crowd for turning out for last few days that we're going to put to rest last week and a half in this city." that a coalition of gangs called "United For the rally, Sharif Willis, president of United today, it is the idea that the crackdown Peace" is linked to the killing. For Peace said, ''This rally has been a means following the murder of Haaf is a question An October 7 news conference an­ The police department, which had to bring people together to support each of 'minority perception' -that just like nounced that more than 50 Minneapolis worked with United For Peace over the last other -it's about every African-American when you saw the Rodney King video - it groups had formed a "Stop the Violence" six months to patrol the streets, broke rela­ and other person of color who walks the was just your perception that he was being coalition and were demanding that within tions with the group. Four members of streets of Minneapolis." beat, right now it's just your perception that five days the police either apologize or United For Peace were arrested for the mur­ Chris Nisan, Socialist Workers candidate the cops are terrorizing people." formally charge United For Peace members der, but then released for lack of evidence. for U.S. Congress and a central leader of for criminal activity. Some 600 people attended an October 9 actions resisting the police crackdown fol­ Democratic discussion The coalition, led by the Urban League, "Rally for Public Safety and Peace" spon­ lowing the murder of Haaf, responded to the Speaking for the ad hoc committee that had has set up two police brutality hotline num­ sored by the Minneapolis police federation. assertion made by some speakers that Min­ pulled together the speak-out. Chris Nisan bers. They aim to meet immediately with Among those speaking at this event were neapolis had been turned into a police state said, "We're going to do something today that police to find ways to help with what they Minnesota governor Arne Carlson and Mat­ and that fascism was at hand. many think ordinary working people can't do call community-oriented policing. The po­ thew Little, a leader of the Minneapolis "If we were living under fascism, we -have a democratic, civilized and sober lice chief rejected the coalition's deadline NAACP (National Association for the Ad- wouldn't be here at this rally today," said discussion on police brutality- what it is out of hand. California drywallers continue to build strike

BY CRAIG HONTS strikers to continue to draw in new support. LOS ANGELES - Four thousand dry­ " ""-:--<- At the September 23 hearing, for instance, wall construction workers in southern Cali­ ._... "" ·~ three of the strikers were released after re­ fornia, who have been on strike for more fusing to answer INS questions on the than 125 days, continue to strengthen and grounds of the Fifth Amendment. Two oth­ advance their fight for justice. More work­ ers were deported however, in spite of pro­ sites have been shut down, as new workers tests by immigrant organizations defending join the struggle in spite of mass arrests and the strikers who explained that the voluntary intimidation by the bosses and the police. departure forms had only been signed under In response to mounting pressure from extreme pressure. the strikers, a growing number of contrac­ A campaign statement issued by Juan tors have entered into negotiations with the Villagomez, Socialist Workers candidate for drywallers. Eight of the contractors have U.S. Congress in the 30th District, called for now signed agreements. On September 23 an end to the deportations and for dropping the Pacific Rim Drywall Association, repre­ the charges against the striking workers, and senting two dozen of the largest drywall stated the labor movement should join in subcontractors in southern California, an­ this important struggle for union recognition nounced that it had agreed to negotiate with and a living wage. Villag6mez explained the union to settle the four-month-old strike. that "the attacks on these workers are an One center ofstrike activity has been Palm­ example of the assault by the bosses on the dale, located in the Mojave desert on the edge entire labor movement to lower our wages, of the relentlessly expanding urban sprawl of our standard of living, and to restrict our southern California. Traveling teams of pick­ Militant/Joel Britton rights. The fight of the drywall workers and ets ensure that housing tracts throughout the Drywall workers' picket line in front of Irvine Co. construction site. other struggles around the world, like the area have no drywalling work being done. heroic fight of working people in South Pickets show up at construction sites and are Africa to end apartheid, is an inspiration for often able to get workers to walk off the job Many of the strikers refused to talk to the officials who threatened to kill him if he all of us and is part of a broad struggle of as a group, with some signing up as regular INS. Others, after being held without food didn't sign the form. workers for justice." pickets. Some of the larger sites, however, or sleep for 24 hours, were pressured into The fact that drywallers have aggres­ have used a heavy police presence to intimi­ signing INS voluntary departure forms. One sively fought INS attempts at intimidation Craig Honrs is a rail worker and a member date workers and continue the construction worker, Albert Maciel, was beaten by INS has been important for the ability of the ofUnited Transportation UnionLoca/1544. work. On October 1,500drywall construction workers picketing one large site on Palmdale Boulevard were attacked by police, and 12 of them arrested. UN council bans military flights over Bosnia Since the strike began in early June, there have been 150 arrests in Orange County, BY NAOMI CRAINE set up in 1943 to investigate Nazi atrocities. criticizing Powell, and complaining that 100 in San Diego County, and 70 in Los The United Nations Security Council Debate on how far to go with military "Americans" should "be getting more for Angeles County. Around 50 of the strikers voted to ban military flights over Bosnia and intervention in the Yugoslav carnage is con­ their money than no-can-do." The Washing­ have been detained by the Inunigration and Herzegovina October 9. The resolution was· tinuing within ruling circles in the United ton Post followed suit, saying that "in a Naturalization Service (INS), and some 25 negotiated between the governments of States. In a September 27 interview with the context in which there is neither broad pub­ of those have been deported to Mexico. Britain, France, and the United States before New York Times, Gen. Colin Powell, chair­ lic support nor a comprehensive plan" for Each and every one of the attempts to being proposed. It states that if any planes man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke intervention, "a small step," like the no-fly deport the strikers has been fought by the do fly, the Security Council will "consider against the United States intervening mili­ zone, is a good move. drywallers. urgently the further measures necessary to tarily in Yugoslavia. His reason was that the Powell answered these criticisms in a On September 23, 200 striking drywallers enforce this ban." It does not call for military political objectives of such intervention are column printed in the October 8 New York picketed the Federal Building in downtown enforcement of the "no-fly" zone at th.is unclear and that the U.S. could get bogged Times. He pointed out his wholehearted sup­ Los Angeles where five strikers were facing time. down in a political and military fiasco. Pow­ port for many recent U.S. military actions, deportation hearings after being arrested July The Security Council also voted October ell argued that only the massive introduction from the 1989 invasion of Panama to the 2 while picketing a site in Mission Viejo in 6 to set up a war-crimes commission to of ground troops might bear fruit, something murderous war on Iraq last year. He said, Orange County. After making a mass arrest, investigate reports of atrocities throughout he does not consider politically advisable at "all of these operations had one thing in the Orange County sheriff's department the former Yugoslavia. The commission was the moment. common: they were successful. There have called the INS office in Westrninister to see if first proposed by Bush and is being com­ The Times responded in an October 4 been no Bay of Pigs, failed desert raids, they wanted to interrogate the workers. pared to the Allied War Crimes Commission editorial, calling for military involvement, Continued on Page 12

16 The Militant October 30, 1992