INDUSTRIAL WORKER

O f f i c i a l n e w s p a p e r oF T h e I n d u s t r i a l Wo r k e r s o f t h e Wo r l d

Au gu s t /S e p te m b e r 2 0 0 9 #1718 Vol . 10 6 N o. 7 $1/ £1/ €1

Workers shut Honduras uprising Cadillac workers Bangladeshi worker

down London Tube against coup laid off in Toronto killed
6 7 11 12
Korean Motor Workers Under Police Seige
By Loren Goldner around the question of layoffs.
The Ssangyong Motors strike in As of mid-June, about 1,000 work-
Pyeongtaek, South Korea grows increas- ers have been continuing the occupation,
ingly dire. with their families providing food. The
Ssangyong Motors is 51 percent government and the company bided
owned by China’s Shanghai Automo- their time, in part because of a broader
tive Industry Corporation. In February political crisis of the hard-right Lee gov-
2009 the company filed for bankruptcy, ernment which militated against any im-
proposing a restructuring and offering mediate massive police and thug attack.
the Pyeongtaek plant as collateral for But two weeks later, they felt confident
further loans to re-emerge from bank- to go on the offensive. The workers, for
ruptcy. The court approved the bank- their part, had armed themselves with
ruptcy plan, pending adequate layoffs to iron crowbars and Molotov cocktails.
make the company profitable again. From June 26 to 27, a serious
Following job actions through the government and employer attack be-
spring in anticipation of the layoffs, the gan. They hired thugs, and scabs were
current strike began on May 27, when recruited from the workers not slated for
the company announced layoffs, and firing. Riot police tried to enter the fac-
forced retirement of 1,700 out of 7,000 tory. They secured the main building af-
workers, with immediate additional fir- ter violent fighting in which many people
ings of 300 casuals. The workers slated were injured. The occupying workers
for layoff immediately occupied the retreated to the paint sector, which was Photo: Dave Buccola
NYC IWW members hand out leaflets at Kmart on June 17.
plant, demanding no layoffs, no casual- part of a defensive plan based on the

False Advertising?
ization and no outsourcing. belief that police would not fire tear gas
The Korean Metal Workers Union canisters into the highly flammable area.
(KMWU) supported the occupation but This plan stems from an incident in
tried to channel negotiations strictly Continued on 9
MPG Lays Off Workers While Profits Grow
French Auto Workers To Blow Up Factory? By Diane Krauthamer I’m surviving off unemployment ben-
By “Auto,” libcom.org Workers are claiming that there On Wednesday, June 17, members efits and food stamps.”
CHATELLERAULT, France — are 2 million euros (almost $3 million) of the New York City IWW protested In an attempt to encourage Kmart
Workers at collapsed French car parts worth of parts in the factory and a brand against the callous layoffs at Havas Me- to stop advertising with MPG until a fair
maker New Fabris in Chatellerault, near new machine belonging to Renault of dia Planning Group (MPG), a multi-mil- severance package is negotiated, nearly
Poitiers in central France, threatened to similar value. They are threatening to lion dollar media agency whose clients a dozen IWW members handed out
blow up their occupied factory if they did blow up these parts and equipment if include some of the largest corporations leaflets at a Kmart store in Astor Place
not receive payouts by July 31 from auto they do not receive an acceptable redun- in the world. in the Village. Sears Holdings—the par-
groups Renault and Peugeot to compen- dancy package. MPG recently cut 11 percent of its ent company of both Kmart and Sears,
sate for their lost jobs. “The bottles of gas have already been staff, primarily at its headquarters in and one of MPG’s biggest clients—spent
New Fabris was declared to be in placed at various parts of the factory and New York. But the media giant did $590 million on ads in 2008.
liquidation in April, so the 366 work- are connected with each other,” CGT not anticipate that a former employee, MPG laid off approximately 50 of
ers stand to get no redundancy money, (Confédération Générale du Travail) Joseph Sanchez, would publicize its anti- its 460 employees in New York, Boston
although they are entitled to draw state trade union official Guy Eyermann told worker practices. and Chicago on April Fool’s Day. The
unemployment benefits. France Info radio. “This extremely profitable corpora- company said that it needed to free up
Ninety percent of the work at the fac- “We won’t let PSA and Renault wait tion laid me off just to put extra money resources to support growth. However,
tory is for Renault SA and PSA Peugeot for August or September to pick up their in their pockets,” said Sanchez, who according to a report in Media Buyer-
Citroen, and the workers have demanded stock and machinery... If we get nothing, worked in the client accounting depart- Planner, the CEO of MPG-North
that the companies finance a payment then they won’t get anything at all,” he ment. “Instead of making a living wage, Continued on 11

Starbucks Workers Union Expands To Canada

of 30,000 euros ($41,800) for each of continued. A delegation of 150 workers
the 336 workers at the factory, or some visited PSA headquarters. Police also
10 million euros (about $14 million) in declined to comment on the threat by By the Starbucks Workers Union ible, which was convenient for the many
total. PSA and Renault recently funded the workers, who are occupying the New QUEBEC CITY – Steamed over students who work here," said Simon
redundancy packages for 200 workers at Fabris factory. unreasonable new scheduling demands Gosselin, a member of the union in Qué-
another subcontractor, Rencast. Continued on 11 and deteriorating working conditions, bec City. "These policy changes would
Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage
baristas at the Germain-de-Prés Avenue force our six shift supervisors, who are
PO Box 23085 Starbucks filed for union accredita- students as well, to take demotions, and
PAID tion July 13, becoming the first store in a 10 percent pay cut.”
Cincinnati, OH 45223-3085, USA Cincinnati, OH Canada to affiliate with the IWW Star- Once seen as a paragon of socially re-
and additional
bucks Workers Union. The Labor Rela- sponsible business, the coffee giant’s im-
ISSN 0019-8870 mailing offices
tions Commission of Québec will grant age has been tarnished in recent months
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED the union—which stands to be only the as executives have gutted workers’ ben-
second union of Starbucks workers in all efits packages, decreased staffing levels,
of Canada—accreditation after verifying and increased demands on baristas in
their authorization cards in the next few an attempt to shore up sagging profits
days. amidst sharpening market competition
Policy changes related to Starbucks’ and declining sales.
new “Optimal Scheduling” program, one "For many Starbucks workers, the
of a slew of recent schemes intended anti-student, anti-family requirements
to slash labor costs, provided the main of so-called ‘Optimal Scheduling’ are the
impetus for unionization. Under the straw that broke the camel's back," said
new policy, Starbucks requires nearly Erik Forman, a barista and member of
around-the-clock availability from work- the Starbucks Workers Union in Min-
ers, while refusing to guarantee a single neapolis. “Our campaign for secure work
work hour each week. hours, fair pay, and a voice at work is
"Starbucks workers have no job gaining momentum. We welcome our
security and make a poverty wage, but sisters and brothers in Québec to the
at least until now, the hours were flex- union with open arms.”
Page 2 • Industrial Worker • August/September 2009

Creating A New World In The Shell Of The Old

Dear Industrial Worker, that. He did work though, but
First, I would like to say congratula- not in the fields or bean crops,
tions to Fellow Worker Nate Holdren nor did he go to the coffee
on the upcoming birth of his daughter! plantations when the beans
I’m sure I share the feelings of all IWW reddened among the branches.
Letters welcome! members when I say that we are all
there to support you in your fatherhood
No, this man worked plant-
ing trees in the mountain. The
Send your letters to: [email protected]
adventure. trees this man planted did not
with “Letter” in the subject.
FW Holdren’s “Workers’ Power” grow rapidly; all of them took
column, titled “Build a Ship” which ap- entire decades to grow and to
Mailing address:
peared on page 4 of the July 2009 Indus- make all their branches and
IW, PO Box 7430, JAF Station, New
trial Worker reminded me of a story told leaves. The other men laughed
York, NY 10116, United States
by Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos of at and criticized this man quite
the Zapatista National Liberation Army. a bit.
Get the Word Out! The story goes something like this: “Why do you work at
IWW members, branches, job shops and In a certain town, men and women things that you are never going
other affiliated bodies can get the word toiled at work in order to survive. Every to see completed? Better to
out about their project, event, campaign day the men and women went out to work in the fields, which will
or protest each month in the Industrial their respective jobs: the men to the give you fruit in months, and Early IW editors, year unknown. Photo: iww.org
Worker. Send announcements to iw@ fields and the bean crops; the women to not in the planting of trees
iww.org. Much appreciated donations get firewood and water. At times there that will be large when you have already children playing under their shade. But,
for the following sizes should be sent to was work that brought them together as died. You are a fool, or crazy, because if all of us work just for the present and
IWW GHQ, PO Box 23085, Cincinnati, equals. For example, men and women you work fruitlessly.” for just the following day: who will plant
OH 45223 USA. would join together for the cutting of The man defended himself and said: the trees that our descendants are going
$12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide coffee, when its time had come. And so it “Yes, it is true, I am not going to see to need, in order to have shelter, conso-
$40 for 4” by 2 columns passed. these trees full grown, full of branches, lation and joy?”
$90 for a quarter page But there was a man who did not do leaves and birds, nor will my eyes see Continued on 11

Industrial Worker
The Voice of Revolutionary
IWW directory
Industrial Unionism
Australia Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455- New Mexico
Organization IWW Regional Organising Committee: PO Box 1866, 705-749-9694, [email protected] 6608, 772-545-9591 [email protected] Albuquerque: 202 Harvard SE, 87106-5505.
Albany, WA www.iww.org.au Toronto GMB: c/o Libra Knowledge & Information 505-331-6132, [email protected].
Education Svcs Co-op, PO Box 353 Stn. A, M5W 1C2. 416-919- Georgia
Sydney: PO Box 241, Surry Hills. Atlanta: Keith Mercer, del., 404-992-7240, iw-
Emancipation 7392. [email protected] New York
Melbourne: PO Box 145, Moreland 3058. [email protected] NYC GMB: PO Box 7430, JAF Station, New York City
Québec: [email protected]
British Isles 10116, [email protected]. wobblycity.org
Official newspaper of the Denmark Hawaii
IWW Regional Organising Committee: PO Box 1158, Honolulu: Tony Donnes, del., [email protected] Starbucks Campaign: 44-61 11th St. Fl. 3, Long
Industrial Workers Newcastle Upon Tyne NE99 4XL UK, Aarhus / Copenhagen: [email protected]; +45
2386 2328 Island City, NY 11101 [email protected]
[email protected], www.iww.org.uk Illinois www.starbucksunion.org
of the World
Finland Chicago GMB: 37 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607
Post Office Box 23085 Baristas United Campaign: baristasunited.org.uk Upstate NY GMB: PO Box 235, Albany 12201-
Helsinki: Reko Ravela, Otto Brandtintie 11 B 25, 312-638-9155.
National Blood Service Campaign: nbs.iww.org 0235, 518-833-6853 or 518-861-5627. www.
Cincinnati OH 45223 USA 00650. [email protected] Central Ill GMB: 903 S. Elm, Champaign, IL, 61820.
Bradford: [email protected] upstate-nyiww.org, [email protected],
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Burnley: [email protected] IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing Champaign: 217-356-8247. 607-293-6489, [email protected].
www.iww.org
Cambridge: IWW c/o Arjuna, 12 Mill Road, Cam- Committee (GLAMROC): Post Fach 19 02 03, 60089 Hudson Valley GMB: PO Box 48, Huguenot,12746,
bridge CB1 2AD [email protected] Frankfurt/M, Germany [email protected] Waukegan: PO Box 274, 60079.
845-858-8851, [email protected], http://hviww.
General Secretary-Treasurer: Dorset: [email protected] www.wobblies.de Indiana blogspot.com/
Chris Lytle Dumfries: [email protected] Austria: [email protected], www.iwwaustria. Lafayette GMB: P.O. Box 3793, West Lafayette, IN Ohio
wordpress.com 47906, 765-242-1722
General Executive Board: Hull: [email protected] Ohio Valley GMB: PO Box 42233, Cincinnati 45242.
Frankfurt am Main: [email protected]. Textile & Clothing Workers IU 410, PO Box 317741,
London GMB: c/o Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel Iowa
Sarah Bender, Nick Durie, Goettingen: [email protected]. Eastern Iowa GMB: 114 1/2 E. College Street Cincinnati 45223. [email protected]
High Street, London E1 7QX. [email protected]
Jason Krpan, Bryan Roberts, Koeln: [email protected]. Iowa City, IA 52240 [email protected] Oklahoma
Leicestershire GMB and DMU IU620 Job Branch:
Heather Gardner, Stephanie Basile, Unit 107, 40 Halford St., Leicester LE1 1TQ, England. Munich: [email protected] Maine Tulsa: PO Box 213 Medicine Park 73557, 580-529-
Koala Lopata. Tel. 07981 433 637, [email protected] www. Luxembourg: [email protected] , 0352 691 31 99 71 Barry Rodrigue, 75 Russell Street, Bath, ME 04530. 3360.
leicestershire-iww.org.uk (207)-442-7779
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Editor & Graphic Designer : Leeds: [email protected] Maryland Lane County: 541-953-3741. www.eugeneiww.org
Greece Baltimore IWW: c/o Red Emmaís, 2640 St. Paul
Diane Krauthamer Manchester: 0791-413-1647 education@iww- Portland GMB: 311 N. Ivy St., 97227, 503-231-5488.
Athens: Themistokleous 66 Exarhia Athens Street, Baltimore MD 21212, 410-230-0450, iww@
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Printer: Netherlands: [email protected]
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Saltus Press United States 02139. 617-469-5162. Philadelphia GMB: PO Box 42777, Philadelphia, PA
Nottingham: [email protected]
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Reading: [email protected]
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Send contributions and letters Sheffield: [email protected] Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW,
Arkansas Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: papercrane-
to: IW, PO Box 7430, JAF Somerset: [email protected] Po Box 1581, Northampton 01061. [email protected], 610-358-9496.
Fayetteville: PO Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859,
Station, New York, NY 10116, Tyne and Wear: PO Box 1158, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Western Massachusetts GMB: 43 Taylor Hill Rd.,
[email protected]. Pittsburgh GMB : PO Box 831, Monroeville,
United States. Montague 01351. 413-367-9356. PA,15146. [email protected]
NE99 4XL [email protected].
DC
West Midlands: The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison Street DC GMB (Washington): 741 Morton St NW, Washing- Michigan Rhode Island
Next deadline is Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH [email protected] Detroit GMB: 22514 Brittany Avenue, E. Detroit, MI
ton DC, 20010. 571-276-1935. Providence GMB: P.O. Box 5795 Providence, RI
September 7, 2009. www.wmiww.org 48021. [email protected]. 02903, 508-367-6434. [email protected]
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US IW mailing address: Los Angeles GMB: PO Box 811064, 90081. (310)205- 5263.
Scotland Dallas & Fort Worth: 1618 6th Ave, Fort Worth, TX
IW, PO Box 7430, JAF Sta- 2667. [email protected] Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason 76104.
tion, New York, NY 10116 Aberdeen: [email protected] North Coast GMB: PO Box 844, Eureka 95502-0844. 48854. 517-676-9446, happyhippie66@hotmail. Washington
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ISSN 0019-8870 iwwscotland.wordpress.com. Bellingham: P.O. Box 1793, 98227. BellinghamI-
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Periodicals postage Dumfries IWW: 0845 053 0329, iww_dg@yahoo. IU 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain Fabrics [email protected]
paid Cincinnati, OH. co.uk , www.geocities.com/iww_dg/ Job Shop and IU 410 Garment and Textile Worker’s
Tacoma IWW: P.O. Box 2052, Tacoma, WA 98401
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Industrial Organizing Committee; Shattuck Cinemas)
Postmaster: Send address EH7 5HA. 0131-557-6242, [email protected] Twin Cities GMB: PO Box 14111, Minneapolis 55414. Olympia GMB: PO Box 2775, 98507, 360-878-1879
PO Box 11412, Berkeley 94712. 510-845-0540.
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23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934.
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International Subscriptions: $20 Vancouver IWW: 204-2274 York Ave., Vancouver, BC, Denver 80211. 303-433-1852.
V6K 1C6. Phone/fax 604-732-9613. gmb-van@iww. Montana Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson,
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Union dues includes subscription. [email protected].
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Ontario 2662. 840-437-1323, [email protected],
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Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: PO Box www.angelfire.com/fl5/iww
official position. yahoo.com, [email protected] [email protected].
52003, 298 Dalhousie St. K1N 1S0, 613-225-9655 St Petersburg/Tampa: Frank Green,P.O. Box 5058,
Fax: 613-274-0819, [email protected] French: Gulfport, FL 33737. (727)324-9517. NoWageSlaves@ Northern New Jersey GMB: PO Box 844, Saddle Milwaukee GMB: PO Box 070632, 53207. 414-481-
Press Date: July 29, 2009. [email protected]. Gmail.com Brook 07663. 201-873-6215. [email protected] 3557.
 August/September 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 3

Oil: Dirtier Than A Can Of Worms? You Bet!

By David Patrick in the aim to undercut the local
In what could have been a firestorm population where standards of living
of nationalistic antagonism, xenophobia and wages might be higher.
and violent labor clashes, a peaceful and Even British Prime Minis-
progressive solution soared from the ter Gordon Brown was forced to
ashes of a wildcat strike by oil refinery acknowledge the issue by stating:
workers in North Lincolnshire. Workers “When I talked about British jobs,
in the Lindsey oil refineries, employed by I was talking about giving people in
Total SA, have come to an understanding Britain the skills, so that they have
with management in regards to out- the ability to get jobs which were at
sourcing labor and the protection of local present going to people from abroad,
integrity in the workforce. Ten days after and actually encouraging people to
900 workers were sacked after a walkout take up the courses and the educa-
of nearly 1,200 on June 19, amid spread- tion and learning that is necessary
ing sympathy strikes and accusations of for British workers to be far more
bigotry at high government levels, it ap- skilled for the future.”
pears that the labor movement has taken Notwithstanding this defense
a step forward. of British labor, when the workers
The anticlimactic resolution came tried to take the matters into their
after many hills and valleys of a roller own hands against corporate power
coaster ride dating back to the begin- structures, many of which form the
ning of the year. At the end of January, foundations of Gordon Brown’s sup-
800 Lindsey workers went on the first port, the Prime Minister decried the
strike in protest of the Italian contractor wildcat strikes of the later months,
IREM being given primary employment saying that: “that’s not the right
over British workers, despite the ravaged thing to do and it’s not defensible.”
local economy, high unemployment and The laborers did not really stick
the overall conditions of the global finan- by Brown’s later remarks as more
cial markets. In the European Union, the than 1,000 workers across Wales,
first set of protests sent white-hot signal Scotland and England joined the
flares into the capitalist air and it drew Lincolnshire strikers in sympathy
Workers picketing in North Lincolnshire. Photo: John Giles
significant attention in European media. strikes. The fire was fueling rapidly
Soon after, the plot line of the story, as the strike demanded the attention of
like the black gold itself, became thicker, the corporate headmasters—Total SA, with corruption in December 2008. Also, resumed in June 2009 as a subcontrac-
dirtier, and darker. In early February, the French energy Conglomerate—when what can only be seen as intolerably tor, Shaw—working for Total to build a
the British and Irish trade union–Unite talks began in early February. repugnant, Total is the subject of Belgian hydro-desulphurization plant—laid off
The Union—issued a statement to reject While many in America speak of the and French legal inquiries into slave 51 workers while another subcontractor
the claims of ethnic prejudice circulating morbidly obese profits of Exxon Mobil, labor being used to construct a pipeline also employed by Total SA was hiring
in the British media. The early protests the people of the western hemisphere from Burma (Myanmar) to Thailand more workers. The wildcats started
were shown through the prism of the remain largely ignorant about the small- despite EU sanctions against Myanmar’s wildfires as three power stations and an
European Union’s utilization of Posted est of the “super-major” oil companies. military dictatorship. oxygen plant, among others, rejoined
Workers Directive. The PWD regulates However, the company in various parts Total’s initial talks with the GMB— the sympathy strikes to put pressure on
the movement of workers and guaran- of the globe has been fined hundreds of the general trade union of the U.K.— employers seeking to leave local labor in
tees the right of European laborers to millions of dollars for oil spills and en- were successful, as Total got its Italian the dust.
seek work in other countries. The PWD vironmental catastrophes over the past labor as well as 102 new jobs created Total SA would not be so gregarious
has been labeled as being discriminatory decade. Total has also been the subject solely for British workers. Of what this time around as it responded to this
against British workers, a sort of reverse of notorious scandals as Italian execu- can be expected between marriages in new wave of protests by sacking 900
outsourcing: bringing in workers from tives of the company, in attempts to the Western world nowadays, a messy workers from the Lindsey site. General
other countries to work at lower wages secure rights to an oilfield, were charged divorce was imminent. The strikes Secretary of the GMB Paul Kenny gave
a response to Total on GMB’s website as
IWW Constitution Preamble Join the IWW Today five more plants walked out in support of

T
The working class and the employing he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the the sacked workers:
class have nothing in common. There can job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions “GMB condemns the action of Total.
be no peace so long as hunger and want today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and Total has for a full week refused to
are found among millions of working distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire popu- meet the union to resolve the problems
people and the few, who make up the em- lation, not merely a handful of exploiters. through ACAS. It seems pretty obvious
ploying class, have all the good things of that there is a mass case of victimiza-
We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially ­–
life. Between these two classes a struggle tion taking place here. Locking out the
that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than dividing
must go on until the workers of the world workforce at Lindsay will not solve the
organize as a class, take possession of the
workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together.
Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a truly problem. It will escalate it.”
means of production, abolish the wage
international union movement in order to confront the global power of the bosses The conflict was getting hotter and
system, and live in harmony with the
and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fellow hotter as rhetoric intensified and other
earth.
workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. protests were staged. On the eve of a
We find that the centering of the man-
agement of industries into fewer and fewer We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have mild English summer and the deadline
hands makes the trade unions unable to representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- to re-apply for the jobs, workers for the
cope with the ever-growing power of the nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition Lindsey site burnt their dismissal notices
employing class. The trade unions foster but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes in furious anger with the reaction of
a state of affairs which allows one set of this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with management and 3,000 other workers
workers to be pitted against another set an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. from plants across Britain walked out in
of workers in the same industry, thereby Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific support.
helping defeat one another in wage wars. workplace, or across an industry. Total’s main dispute was that the
Moreover, the trade unions aid the employ- Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what issues walkout was staged illegally, as a wildcat
ing class to mislead the workers into the to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. strike is performed without the autho-
belief that the working class have interests rization of trade union officials, and
in common with their employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation the talks reached a stalemate on how to
These conditions can be changed and and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 23085, Cincinnati OH resolve this particular issue.
the interest of the working class upheld 45223, USA. Just passing the 41st anniversary of
only by an organization formed in such the famous French May 1968 protests,
Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated
a way that all its members in any one in-
according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues which virtually shut down the country
dustry, or all industries if necessary, cease
are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, for a brief period, the wildcat strikes
work whenever a strike or lockout is on in
dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues appeared to have worked for now as a
any department thereof, thus making an
injury to one an injury to all. are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional tentative deal was reached and ratified
Instead of the conservative motto, “A Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). by the GMB on June 29, 2009. Details
fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we include reinstatement or reassignment
__I affirm that I am a worker, and that I am not an employer. of almost everyone who had lost their
must inscribe on our banner the revolu-
tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. jobs in the dispute. With no punitive
system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. actions being taken against the laborers
It is the historic mission of the work- Name:_________________________________ reported aside from a few jobs having
ing class to do away with capitalism. The been lost, it appears a new honeymoon
Address:_ ______________________________
army of production must be organized, for a new shotgun wedding has begun.
not only for the everyday struggle with City, State, Post Code, Country:________________ So, if labor-management disputes do
capitalists, but also to carry on production Occupation:_ ____________________________ really in fact follow the pattern of holy
when capitalism shall have been over- matrimony, well then, at least let us pray
thrown. By organizing industrially we are Phone:_____________ Email:________________
with all that is at stake here for workers
forming the structure of the new society Amount Enclosed:__________ home and abroad that they don’t follow
within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker. the example of Elizabeth Taylor.
Page 4 • Industrial Worker • August/September 2009

Work Is The Only Power We Own

By Gregg Shotwell ally work harder for less? It’s like trying
Power respects power, not punks. In to walk up a down escalator. If you
manufacturing power is production, not outpace the stairway to hell, you get to
grievances. If you wait for United Auto the next floor only to find you have 29
Workers (UAW) office rats to act, you more flights to go before they cancel
won’t get a break until you’re flat on your your health care and dump your pen-
back. sion. Might as well pull the plug while
The General Motors (GM) plant the lights are still on and you can find
in Lansing, Michigan, which makes the outlet.
crossover SUVs, is working full bore, but The promise of pension and health-
GM refuses to call back laid-off workers care in retirement was a hoax. No money
for summer replacements. It’s a trend. was invested in a trust for healthcare.
Workers are expected to sacrifice time Two years ago they told us the pension
off with their families and postpone was over funded, now it’s going broke,
vacations “until the end of the year” right along with our 401K plans and
or whenever it suits management. GM our homes. It’s a hoax. With each new
isn’t satisfied to cut wages, benefits, and contract we make more concessions
hard-won work rules. Now they want to on the premise that concessions save
control when, if ever, workers take vaca- jobs. Work hard and you’ll get ahead is
tion. What next? Less break time? Shave drummed into our heads. It’s a hoax.
another six minutes and double stitch Experience has taught us well. Don’t
the repetitive stress? trust the boss. Don’t trust the company.
Slow down. It’s the only way to exert Don’t trust the government. Don’t trust
power and get what workers deserve: the union. Don’t trust the stock market.
time off at full pay, recall of laid-off Don’t trust any kind of broker or finan-
brothers and sisters, and a humane work cial advisor. Beware of those who claim
pace. Vacation isn’t entitlement. It’s they are messengers of the divine market
earned. and advise you to bend meekly to the
When management canceled sum- will of forces beyond your control. It’s
mer vacations at my old plant, we raised a hoax. The “free” market is rigged to
hell. We circulated petitions. We de- lower wages. Capital strip-mines labor
manded a rank-and-file meeting with the and leaves toxic waste dumps in place of
boss, and his boss, and his boss’s boss, pensions.
and on up the ladder. We weren’t just Who can you trust? Your coworkers.
talking words. To put some heft in the When in doubt, ask your coworkers for
talk we worked really slow. Production help. Don’t take chances. Work slowly
crawled, keeled over, and passed out. and safely and ask your coworkers for
Management canceled summer vaca- help. When the boss makes threats, keep
tions, but like the proverbial horse led to your mouth shut and slow down. When
water, they couldn’t make us work and the boss says hurry, drag your feet.
soon restored the protocol for summer When management demands over-
vacations: summer replacement work- time, help your coworkers by slowing
ers. down more. If a union rep says, “Man-
One of the reasons that summer agement has the right to manage,” don’t
vacations were canceled at the GM plant trust the rep, trust your coworkers, and
in Coopersville back in 1993 was be- slow down harder. You want a stimulus
cause our sister plant in Austria got the plan that creates jobs? Slow down. When
whole month of August off and we had to management says no one can have time
make up for the lag in production. While off, help your coworkers by going to the
Austrian workers enjoyed fresh air and nurse or the boss or the cafeteria and
sunshine with their families, we were ex- throwing up. When they pay less, work
pected to work 24/7 in a polluted factory less. When your coworkers get walked
with fluorescent lighting. out or laid off or injured, slow down.
Europeans get better pay, more When the cost of living goes up, com-
time off, universal health care, and pensate yourself by slowing down. When
state-funded college education, and we they raise the price of gas, drive slower.
get “freedom.” Freedom to work lon- When they raise the price of medicine,
ger for less. Freedom to pay exorbitant grow your own. When they raise utility
prices for prescriptions and health care. prices, conserve energy with a rapidly
Freedom to take out a second mortgage advancing slowdown. If you’re a soldier
in order to send our children to college. deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, slow
Freedom to maintain military bases in down. There’s nothing to win. As soon as
130 countries. Freedom to support a one war ends, they’ll start another. Don’t
government that funds bankruptcies, get fired. Say, “Yes, sir,” and slow down.
plant closings, and off-shoring. Freedom Power respects power. Show them
to vote for concessions until voting is the you mean business. Slow down. Work is
only thing left to concede. the only power we own.
What’s the sense of trying to keep Republished from “Live Bait &
up when progress means you continu- Ammo #131,” July 2009.

“Workers Power” is on vacation this

month and will return next month. If
you’re interested in writing for “Workers
Power” send your submission to Colin
Bossen at [email protected].
Graphic: Mike Konopacki

Our Own Festival: A Wobbly Reports On His Recent Visit To Paris

By Mischa Lebevre have begun to compromise our internal is information. But our second best inspire and lay down the informational
Through a haze of smoke, punk democracy, wherein the latest manifes- weapon is closer to being a spoon than a platform for revolution.
rock bands, beer and wine, one would tations of organization are losing ground knife—maybe even a spork. The IWW’s This will also help us out in our orga-
expect to find yet another benefit show on our now-international platform. newspaper is suffering, plain and simple, nizing efforts in the street. If the IW has
for some crusty squat with no vision or Because of this, our local campaigns will but that is not to say it is hopeless. the resources to publish once a month,
cleanliness. But this past June in Paris begin to suffer. The Fête du Combat Syndicaliste is a publish on time and increase distribu-
was a benefit for the CNT-F’s newspa- A lack of adequate funding—includ- straight and to-the-point way of raising tion, then the IWW’s efficacy increases
per, the Combat Syndicaliste. For many ing certain dues schedules and misal- funds for the Combat Syndicaliste, with and we cease to be some obscure piece
years, the CNT-F and the IWW have locations of funds—has put our union in a “pay-what-you-can” admission, a bar, a of history and become relevant to the
called each other “comrade.” Both are the hole financially and administratively. soup kitchen, debates, lectures, films and public. Having something other than the
revolutionary, syndicalist-leaning and The CNT-F as well is no stranger to this, a book fair. Figuring out a way to raise General Convention for debates, films
direct-democracy based. We have taken because they too have been under the funds for the Industrial Worker, where and camaraderie—something which the
our cues from each other, paying close microscope of the French government we could have bands, a bar, a soup Fête du Combat Syndicaliste includes—
attention to organization, action and in the past. This is what happens when kitchen, etc. would make us more sexy will increase our solidarity. Sometimes,
education, to hopefully arrive one day at we don’t pay attention to our internal and dynamic! You want to be sexy and we all need to chill out and have a good
the global emancipation of our class. debates. dynamic, don’t you FWs? Besides, what time. All this said, I offer up a challenge
However, lately the IWW has not So our best weapon against the boss- better way to bring people into the fray! to the rest of you. Let us put our heads
been observing its own principles. We es is solidarity. Our second best weapon Something to this effect would educate, together and have the IW Festival.
 August/September 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 5

Scoop New York: One-Stop Shopping—For Labor Violations

By Diane Krauthamer ers presented authorization as soon as
NEW YORK – On Wednesday, July requested, but Scoop NYC fired them, al-
8, fired workers from Scoop NYC gath- leging that they failed to produce proper
ered outside the trendy retail store in documentation. These workers are ask-
SoHo to protest against labor violations. ing for approximately $200,000 in lost
Handing out free scoops of ice cream wages since the time of their termina-
and chanting “Scoop Scoop is unfair, all tion. Additionally, workers charge Scoop
we want is our fair share!” the workers NYC with multiple labor violations,
announced a lawsuit against the com- including failure to pay overtime.
pany, alleging racial discrimination and “For over six years, nearly every
numerous labor violations. single stock and security worker would
The rally was organized by the Retail work over 60 hours per week and never
Action Project (RAP)—a community-la- receive a single penny in overtime pay,”
bor partnership of the Retail, Wholesale said RAP organizer Pete Montalbano.
and Department Store Union (RWD- Fifteen of these workers are accusing
SU) and Good Old Lower East Side Scoop NYC of neglecting to pay overtime
(GOLES)—and featured speakers from and other benefits by deceptive measures
local political leaders to rank-and-file and wrongfully attempting to misclassify
workers. Community, labor and religious these workers as managerial, thereby
groups came to support the workers as exempting them from receiving over-
well, including the Restaurant Oppor- time pay, as stipulated in the Fair Labor
tunities Center of New York (ROC-NY), Standards Act (FLSA). These workers
the New York Labor-Religion Coalition, are asking for approximately $300,000
St. Marks Church, the Lower East Side in back wages.
Girl’s Club, the Jewish Labor Commit- In addition to the discrimination
tee, Reverend Billy and the Church of and wage violations, workers also cite
Stop Shopping, half a dozen RWDSU hazardous conditions in the store.
locals, and the IWW. “Our break room was a boiler room
“The company took advantage of in the basement,” said Kone. “This is
hardworking immigrants,” said Madou where we had to eat our lunch, change
Kone, a former Scoop NYC security su- our clothes and even sleep.” According to
pervisor. “I’ve never felt so discriminated RAP, the break room had poor ventila-
against in my life.” tion, electrical hazards such as exposed
The workers, who hail primarily wires on the walls and ceilings, and fre-
from West Africa, are filing suit with the quent leaks and flooding of raw sewage
U.S. Department of Justice for unlawful from bathrooms and drainage systems.
firings, document abuse and citizenship- “You can’t hide these workers in the Trespassing Charges Against Denis Rancourt Dropped
status discrimination. According to RAP, basement any longer,” said Montalbano.
in October 2008 Scoop NYC initiated “You need to make amends for what
an internal I-9 audit of the immigrant you’ve done, and we’re not going away
workers’ papers. Seven of these work- until you do!” Former Scoop NYC workers rally on July 8. Photo: Diane Krauthamer

The Wheels Of Injustice Continue To Turn Against Immigrants

By Rio Grand Valley IWW nity members have spoken to detainee The Facts
Rama Carty is a man that has been witnesses of the alleged assault. All • Rama Carty helped his fellow detainees around their legal cases as much as
wrongfully detained by U.S. Immigra- maintain that Rama was peaceful dur- he could, considering that he does not have a professional legal background. In this
tion and Customs enforcement and the ing the incident. As far as one can tell, sense, Rama was a legal resource to detainees in a system that does not provide access
Department of Homeland Security (ICE/ the only person assaulted was Rama to any such resources.
DHS) for well over a year now. Having Carty, as he let himself be dragged from • Rama Carty inspired and organized a Hunger Strike with detainees at the
been shifted about the Immigration and his detention pod in an act of peaceful Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC) when grievances about lack of medical attention,
Detention Court system for such a long resistance. None of the witnesses’ testi- abuses by guards, inadequate legal resources, and denied due process went ignored by
period, he has seen abuse, been abused, monies are being taken into account. See the entire ICE/DHS bureaucracy. The Hunger Strike is an act of self defense.
and has incessantly denounced and sidebar for an account of Rama Carty’s • The Hunger Strike was largely ignored by complicit government and private
documented patterns of abuse inside of treatment so far, including the assault in media agencies, but Rama Carty, along with fellow detainees, continued to be outspoken
it. He is an adamant human rights advo- question. and managed to get some word to the public about the lack of humane conditions at
cate and a peaceful activist. Industrial Workers of the World PIDC and throughout the broader U.S. immigration system.
On July 9, the public received word (IWW) Rio Grande Valley, a democratic, • Rama Carty brought the attention of international human rights group Am-
that DHS/ICE, in correlation with the worker-run organization, views ICE/ nesty International to the PIDC. Amnesty visited the PIDC and spoke with Rama Carty.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, is indicting our DHS’ allegations as a further attack on The following day Rama Carty was assaulted by guards and dragged away, bleeding, to
friend and ally, Rama Carty, on false Rama Carty for his defense of justice. be transferred to LaSalle Detention Facility in Louisiana.
charges of “assaulting, resisting, oppos- If fully convicted, Rama Carty faces • Rama Carty organized a Hunger Strike while at LaSalle Detention Facility.
ing, impeding, intimidating or inter- 16 years in jail and a $500,000 fine, ac- • ICE/DHS tried to illegally deport Rama Carty to Haiti. He is not a citizen of
fering with [official duties] ICE guard cording to court records. Haiti, and has never been there. The General Consulate of Haiti has refused to issue
Lt. Eric Saldivar and detention officer IWW denounces the indictment travel documents allowing the deportation to Haiti based on the fact that there is no
Hector Buentello Jr.” around an incident of Rama Carty. We say: Drop the false birth record for Rama Carty.
which occurred on June 3, 2009. charges on Rama Carty! End the abuses • ICE/DHS’ plan for deportation failed. The current charges seem to be a des-
The incident at hand is being that are widespread inside immigrant perate form of punishment (as if being denied your basic freedom wasn’t enough) for
trumped up to a total and intentional prisons! Free Rama Carty! Freedom to human rights advocate Rama Carty.
misinterpretation by ICE/DHS. Commu- the global working class!

Trespassing Charges Against Denis Rancourt Dropped

By Peter Moore night, Cinema Politica/Academica, on tion to give the students in his graduate
On June 25, 2009, the University of
Ottawa dropped charges of trespassing
January 23, when campus security and
police entered the hall and arrested both
level physics course an A+ so that they
could get on with learning. While the Subscribe to the
that it had laid against physics professor
Denis Rancourt, whom it had suspended
Kelly and Rancourt. Kelly was held over-
night in jail and released without charge.
university claimed his dismissal was
necessary to maintain its credibility, Industrial Worker
over a dispute on how to grade and teach Rancourt maintained that he had a Rancourt said that he believes the uni-
his graduate students. right to be on campus and that the arrest versity voted to remove him for political Raise eyebrows! Get ideas!
Rancourt and his graduate student was an attack on free speech. motives, particularly his vocal criticism
Marc Kelly had been hosting his weekly “The University of Ottawa know- of the way the university is run and his 10 issues for:
Friday political movie and discussion ingly gave the Ottawa Police incorrect expressed views on controversial issues • US $18 for individuals.
information that I had no right such as Palestine and climate change. • US $20 for internationals.
on campus. The police then lied Rancourt continues to receive • US $24 for institutions.
to apply a false charge of tres- the support of the Committee for the
passing,” said Rancourt in a press Defence of Education and the IWW’s Name: ________________________
release announcing his victory. General Defense Committee Local 6. Address:______________________
Rancourt represented himself in To help get Rancourt his job back,
court. send an email to the University of Ot- State/Province:___________ Zip/
While free of the trespassing tawa president Alan Rock allan.rock@ PC________________________
charges, Rancourt continues to uottawa.ca and please be sure to copy Send to: PO Box 23085,
fight for his reinstatement. The the chair of Denis’ defense committee, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA
University of Ottawa’s board of [email protected]. Also, please sign
governors voted to dismiss him the online petition: http://www.petition- Subscribe Today!
Denis Rancourt Photo: cdecde.blogspot.com on March 31, 2009 over his inten- online.com/uOttawa/petition.html.
Page 6 • Industrial Worker • August/September 2009

London Workers Shut Down Underground for 48 Hours

By Tom Levy “blame” for the strike on “union lead-
Workers on the London Under- ership,” and Bob Crow in particular.
ground subway system went on strike For the media, the strike was merely a
from 7:00 p.m. on June 9 until 9:00 contest between the “RMT boss” and
p.m. on June 11, 2009. The rank-and-file Conservative London Mayor Boris John-
strike committee of the National Union son. Recriminations were exchanged
of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers between the two men and at one point
(RMT) had called the strike. The main Johnson publicly called the union’s
issue was job security, but the usual leadership “deranged.” However, the
issues of pay, conditions, health and irony of the media’s claim is that Crow,
safety, as well as management bullying, the general-secretary of the RMT and a
also contributed to the workers’ decision self-proclaimed socialist, is rumoured
to take action. to have initially opposed the strike. The
RMT executive sanctioned the action
The Issues only after the rank-and-file pushed the
The strike committee, acting on strike upon their leadership.
the authority of the estimated 10,000 An agreement had been drawn up
RMT members who work on the Tube, and signed an hour before the strike
had organized the strike to commence began. As Bob Crow stated in an open
in the event that contract negotiations letter to the London public:
broke down between the RMT and Tube “At 6:35 p.m. whilst awaiting the
The London Underground prepares for a strike. Photo: libcom.org
management. Negotiations had been final typed agreement we were told
ongoing, and in response to numerous by management that they had made a Tube workers are known for their militancy, and in an effort to under-
sticking points, the RMT had convened phone call and that they could no longer stand the dynamics of the strike, a group of London radicals travelled
a general meeting in which 88 percent of abide by the agreement –they reneged to numerous pickets on the first evening of the strike. On our travels we
attendees had voted to authorize a strike. before the ink was even dry ... I have no met a worker who, besides being a rank-and-file militant, was also an
Last fall the RMT had requested a doubt that the phone call made was to RMT safety officer. This is what he had to say:
five percent pay increase. In light of the the Transport Commission or City Hall
current economic and they instructed the ne- TL: In terms of how the strike was organized, was there a lot of rank-and-file
situation, the gotiators to pull the agreed involvement?
union had ex- deal.” FW: It’s a rank-and-file union. It’s rank-and-file from the bottom up. It’s the only
pressed a willing- democratic fighting union left in the country.
ness to reconsider Strike!
that demand, The union has claimed TL: Have there been a lot of meetings to determine the course of the strike?
but the proposed a victory in shutting down FW: We got a strike committee set up. The strike committees are based from activ-
counter offer the majority of London’s ists within every grade and every location across the board. They’re from all walks of
was not only for underground train services. life—all working-class people. They make the decisions. I mean, ultimately the ex-
significantly less Although the RMT is the ecutive committee of the union makes the decisions, but the strike committee makes
money, it sought Graphic: Ned Powell main union of Tube workers, the recommendation of what the rank and file want.
to change the structure of negotiations. it competes with other unions for mem-
Management wanted a five-year contract bers. For instance, the craft-oriented TL: Has there been any conflict between the strike committee and the union higher-
to replace the one-year contracts that Associated Society of Locomotive Engi- ups?
had seen such large gains for Tube work- neers and Firemen did not endorse the FW: There’s always conflict between the rank and file and the union hierarchies;
ers. The main concern for the union, strike and many of its members crossed it’s the nature of the beast. It always happens, but we tell them what to do; we elect
however, was mandatory redundancies. the picket lines. As a result, the London them. If they don’t do what we want, we just de-select them in the next election. It’s
Transport for London, the local govern- Underground did manage to run 120 out as simple as that.
ment agency that oversees the Tube, had of 500 trains during the action. Never-
requested 1,000 workers be let go. This theless, considering that on an average TL: You said this depot is like 50/50 between RMT and ASLEF. What’s the com-
was one demand workers were unwilling weekday some 3.5 million people ride munication like between the two unions? [Note: ASLEF is the British train drivers’
to accept. the Tubes, there can be little doubt that union and did not endorse the strike. RMT is an industrial union and, although
Adding fuel to the fire, in 2008 then- ridership was severely restricted by the membership is open to all drivers, it is estimated that only 40-60 percent choose to
mayoral candidate Boris Johnson had strike. The power of the Tube workers join].
made a campaign commitment to secure does not necessarily lie in their ability to FW: It gets difficult at a time like this. You can try to maintain a bit of comradeship,
a no-strike deal with the Tube unions. inhibit the profits of the “public-private a bit of solidarity, but when you’ve got people crossing picket lines it’s difficult to be
Since assuming office, his relationship partnerships” that run the lines—it is civil. We’re hoping a lot of them…well, not a lot…but if we could get a few of them
with the Tube unions, and especially the their ability to severely disrupt Lon- not to cross our picket lines we’ll be happy. There are obvious safety issues because
RMT, has been acrimonious at best. don’s economy. They undoubtedly there’s no fleet maintenance, there’s no track patrols, there’s no qualified signal per-
accomplished this. Even though the city sonnel—they’re all on strike. So we’ve got leaflets we’re handing out to drivers when
Media Distortion attempted to provide extra bus services, they do cross the picket line. And if they do cross—God forbid—then we’ll be asking
On the day the strike was to be- it is estimated the Tube strike cost the them not to drive on the grounds of safety. Either way, we’ll be shutting down the
gin, the London press—especially the London economy £100 million over the service. It’ll be having the desired affect.
sensationalist right-wing tabloids given three-day dispute.
out for free throughout the city—be- The other angle that must be consid- TL: What’s the result of the strike?
gan to claim negotiations faltered after ered is public perception. In England, as FW: It’s pretty good at the minute. It’s a 48-hour strike. Nobody wants to lose two
the “shock demand” that management in much of the world, the current eco- days’ pay. It might be a bit more difficult to put on another 48-hour strike in a couple
reinstate two fired employees. The Eve- nomic crisis has created a rise in worker weeks’ time. People are going to start to dither. That’s the way it works.
ning Standard’s front-page headline on militancy. The country has experienced
June 9 boldly proclaimed “Tube strike factory occupations to demand adequate TL: Where do you see this going after 48 hours?
caused by dispute over two sacked men.” redundancy payments, wildcat strikes FW: That’s a difficult question. I mean, where do we go after this? The strike com-
Besides branding the disciplined work- aimed at ensuring immigrant labor is mittee will have to decide that. Whatever it will be, it will be a majority decision and
ers as incompetent, the papers went so paid equally to established workers and a democratic decision.
far as to imply one of the sackings was a does not undermine union standards,
“criminal” matter and as such could not and school occupations to protest cuts in TL: Could you speak briefly again about the privatisation of the rail line and how
be openly discussed in print. It is true social spending by the faltering Labour this has affected strike action?
that the firings were a side issue in the government. Given this turn of events, FW: The compulsory redundancies that we’re talking about now are a result of
negotiations (the union claims manage- it is not surprising that many Londoners the previous privatisation of Metronet. The “infracore,” as they call it—the fleet,
ment brought them up at the last minute were willing to support the strike and the track, the signallers—they were all taken out of London Underground Limited
in an effort to force a confrontation), but use it as an excuse to take a day off work (LUL), the publicly owned and administered government agency that ran the Tube
the two terminations were far from the themselves. However, rightly foreseeing until 2003. Metronet sold off under the PPP—the so-called “public-private partner-
main issue. (It is worth noting, however, the media would highlight the naysayers, ship” that proceeded the LUL. [Current Prime Minister]Gordon Brown as chancellor
that one of the workers was allegedly the RMT offered the following message was the architect of the PPP—he wrote it all up. And now, when Metronet—one of
fired for opening the doors on the wrong on their strike support website: the companies brought in under the PPP—failed, they’ve had to spend millions and
side at a Victoria line station. Yet, after “If popularity won pay rises, then millions of pounds bringing it back in-house. But in the six years it was privatised
the driver was suspended, workers on nurses would be millionaires and politi- there has been duplication of work, so you’ve got two people doing the same job at
the Victoria line struck for 24 hours to cians would be begging on street cor- various locations across the combine. We need to lose these people. But we’re saying
demand more safety accommodations. ners!” they should be lost for involuntary service, you know, “natural wastage” (i.e. quitting
The union claimed that, since the intro- In the days following the strike, and retiring). And they want to introduce compulsory redundancies, and we’ve got a
duction of the private sector onto the negotiations began anew. Currently, it previous agreement saying there’ll be no compulsory redundancies. As usual, it’s the
Tube, concern for passenger safety had is unknown whether progress has been workers they want to take it out on.
been diminished. According to the RMT, made toward a new contract, but mili- More money would be good. We’ll tighten our belt even though the politicians
the mistake occurred as a result of a lack tancy is still running high on the Tube. have their snout in the trough and LUL managers are giving themselves fortunes.*
of adequate safeguards. All of the papers Even as he was returning to the bar- But the redundancies are the big one for us.
neglected to mention these inconvenient gaining table, Bob Crow said “If we don’t
facts). make progress and come to an agree- *[Note: at the time of the strike there was an ongoing “expenses scandal” in
In an even more egregious distor- ment with Transport for London, then which it was revealed parliamentary politicians had misappropriated millions in
tion, the London papers placed the we will definitely strike again.” taxpayer funds to cover lavish expense accounts].
 August/September 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 7

High Stakes for Honduras

By Ben Dangl as it did recently in Bolivia—to rewrite
When rallying in the streets of the document. Zelaya would not be
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, for the ousted president by that time, as he will not be
President Manuel Zelaya, Alejandra running in the upcoming elections. His
Fernández, a 23-year-old university stu- term in office finishes in January 2010,
dent, told a journalist why she supported too short a time to complete a national
Zelaya: “He raised the minimum wage, assembly’s rewriting of the Constitution.
gave out free school lunches, provided Given that it was the call for the con-
milk for the babies and pensions for stituent assembly that led to the coup, it
the elderly, distributed energy-saving appears that the coup leaders are more
light bulbs, decreased the price of public worried about an assembly in which the
transportation, and made more scholar- people could rewrite their own constitu-
ships available for students.” tion than Zelaya himself. Clearly, it’s the
Others gathered around to mention Honduran oligarchs, rather than Zelaya,
the roads and schools in rural areas the who are more interested in concentrat-
president had created. “That’s why the ing and conserving their own power.
elite classes can’t stand him and why we U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clin-
want him back,” Alejandra explained. ton met with Zelaya in Washington on
“This is really a class struggle.” July 8, and one development was that
But it’s not just because of these Costa Rica’s president, Oscar Arias [a
relatively progressive reforms that Nobel Peace Prize laureate] will act as
Zelaya enacted that he deserves our mediator for the return of Zelaya. But
support. Nor is it simply because this there still is plenty of room for improve-
democratically-elected leader was ousted ment in the United States’ stance. The
in a repressive coup led by right-wing Obama administration should listen to
oligarchs and military officials trained at Zelaya’s demands rather than impose
the infamous torture and counterinsur- preconditions for U.S. support. And it
gency school, the School of the Americas, should avoid bullying Zelaya into drop-
now known as Western Hemisphere ping his plans for the new constitution
Institute for Security Cooperation, based or limiting any progressive reforms he
in Georgia. may want to enact upon returning to of-
He also deserves our support fice. The Honduran people should decide
because he was ultimately overthrown what course Zelaya should take, not the
in response to his plans to organize a Obama administration, and certainly not
popular assembly to rewrite the coun- any right wing junta.
try’s constitution. Although the Obama administra-
According to Central American po- tion has been critical of the coup and Hondurans protest in the streets of Tegucigalpa. Photo: juventudrebelde.co.cu
litical analyst Alberto Valiente Thoresen,

How Sweatshop Bosses Are Responding

relatively supportive of Zelaya, it should
Honduras’ current constitution, written go much further. Some clear signs that
in 1982, “was the product of a context Washington backs Zelaya would be
characterized by counterinsurgency poli- withdrawing the U.S. ambassador from By SweatFree Communities tral General de Trabajadores (CGT), the
cies supported by the U.S. government, Honduras, following in the footsteps of Trade unionists in Honduras —a national trade union center, were broken
civil facade military governments and the other nations that have condemned country that despite its small size is the into and ransacked, with important
undemocratic policies.” In an assem- the coup. The U.S. should also cut off fourth largest exporter of garments to documents stolen. CGT staff report that
bly made up of elected representatives all of its aid to the rogue government the United States—have been vocifer- police have not responded adequately,
from various political parties and social and end all military aid to the country. ously rallying in support of democrati- and many believe the crime was political
sectors, a new, likely more progressive These actions would put pressure on the cally-elected President Manuel Zelaya, in nature.
and inclusive constitution could have a already weak military and send a clearer who was violently ousted from power by According to media organization
lasting impact on the country’s corrupt message to the region that, at this point, a military coup on June 28. SweatFree Honduras Laboral, on July 8 approxi-
politicians, powerful sweatshop owners Washington is entirely against the coup Communities supports workers in Hon- mately 1,000 members of the Bloque
and repressive military institutions. and willing to respect the demands from duras, including Elizabeth Gutierrez, a Popular (Popular Block)—peasants,
Many commentators have said that Latin American leaders, all of whom former garment worker and leader in labor unionists, students and teachers—
Zelaya sought to rewrite the constitution have called for Zelaya’s reinstatement. FESITRADEH, the Honduran garment stopped traffic on the Pan-American
to extend his time in office. Yet nothing On July 5, after his plane was workers' union, who toured the U.S. this Highway for five hours in the town of
indicates that that was the case. Lead- turned back upon trying to land in spring with SweatFree Communities to Comayagua, as a form of pressure to
ing up to the coup, Zelaya was pushing Honduras, Zelaya told reporters: “The educate the public about conditions in restore a constitutional government.
for a referendum on June 28 in which United States, which has tremendous the Honduran garment industry. This “paro” took place as anti-coup
the ballot question was to be: “Do you power, should take action. Specifically, While the Honduran National Busi- marches continued in the larger cities of
agree that, during the general elections the strongest government in economic ness Council (COHEP)— whose mem- San Pedro Sula, El Progreso and Tegu-
of November 2009 there should be a matters, in aspects of the sphere of the bers include the apparel industry trade cigalpa. The National Labor Committee
fourth ballot to decide whether to hold a dollar, for us is the United States. If they group Asociación Hondureña de Maqui- also reports that the Honduras Teachers
Constituent National Assembly that will decide to live with the coup, then democ- ladores (whose members in turn include Union has called on its members to join
approve a new political constitution?” racy in the Americas is over.” U.S. companies Dickies, Cintas, Russell, a national strike.
This nonbinding referendum—not plans (Note: On July 24, Al Jazeera and Hanes)—has come out publicly in “The take-over [of the road] was
from Zelaya to expand his power—was reported that the U.S. government cut favor of the de facto government, trade done peacefully, and the police did not
enough to push right wing and military $16.5 million in military aid to Hondu- unionists have been victimized in the suppress it because the majority of the
leaders to organize a coup. ras). weeks since the coup. The Spanish daily anti-riot forces are concentrated in Te-
If the Honduran people approved the Republished with permission from newspaper El Pais reports that freedom gucigalpa,” said Víctor Petic, director of
formation of a constitutional assembly the Guardian Unlimited, July 7, 2009. of association among other civil liberties the Honduran Cement Industry Work-
in November, it would likely take years— http://www.guardian.co.uk have been suspended. According to the ers' Union (SITRAINCEHSA).
Inter-American Commission on Hu- “In addition to the marches and
Subscribe to the Industrial Worker man Rights, “Roger Ulises Peña, a union
member, was allegedly attacked by a
take-overs that have been expanding
since last Sunday, more people have
Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription. military command on June 29, 2009, joined in and this is a sign that the peo-
and his current health situation is very ple are aware that what has happened is
Give a gift that keeps your family or friends thinking. critical.” And on July 4, one week after a Coup d'Etat that needs to be disavowed
the coup d'etat, the offices of the Cen- by everyone,” he added.
Get 10 issues of working class news and views for:
• US $18 for individuals.
Still available! NGWF assessment stamp.
• US $24 for library/institutions.
• US $20 for international subscriptions.
Help build the bridge from the shop floor of the
Name: ____________________________________________________________ global apparel weatshops to the IWW! Join hands
Address:__________________________________________________________ with the National Garment Workers Federation
of Bangladesh and aid their strike fund with this
City/State/Province:______________________________________________ $5 assessment. As they sew gear for Major League
Zip/Postal Code:______________________________________________________________ Baseball and other sweatshop profiteers, their
struggles continue to mount.
Send this subscription form to: Please make checks out to: IWW
Send to : Greg Giorgio, Delegate, P.O. Box 74
Industrial Worker Subscriptions, Altamont, N.Y. 12009
email: [email protected]
Subscribe to the Industrial Worker today!
Page 8 • Industrial Worker • August/September 2009

Book Review

Capitalism Is Transforming The African Working Class

Water, Mary-Alice and Martin Koppel In the chapter “Transforma- gades of medical workers to staff hospi-
“Capitalism and the Transformation of tion of Production and Class Relations tals and public health centers in Equato-
Africa: Reports from Equatorial Guinea.” Highlights Realities Facing Millions in rial Guinea. In 2006, the first class of
Pathfinder Press, 2009. 150 pages, pa- Africa,” originally published in the Sept. doctors graduated from a medical school
perback, $10. 8, 2008, edition of The Militant, Koppel associated with the national university
indicates that the country has almost no in Bata. Even though those graduates,
By Heath Row manufacturing industry. Its food is im- as well as subsequent classes, are now
In 2005 and 2008, the authors and ported from Cameroon, Spain, and other staffing Equatorial Guinean healthcare
other reporters took two trips to Equa- countries. Even the oil rig, construction, facilities, they still need to persuade resi-
torial Guinea, a coastal country with a hotel, restaurant, and other workers are dents to seek medical care—and not the
population of about 630,000—and one primarily brought in from other parts assistance of tribal healers, or curande-
of the smallest in Africa. Since gaining of Central and West Africa, as well as ros, which can delay timely healthcare.
independence in 1968 after 190 years of China, North Africa, Lebanon, and Iran. Perhaps as importantly, if not more so,
Spanish rule, the West African country When you have to import the food, however, hardly anyone can afford such
experienced an 11-year dictatorship materials, and workers to support an hospital care or stays. Many Equatorial
under Francisco Macias Nguema, human economy that exports a country’s wealth, Guineans live on less than $1 or $2 a day.
rights violations that inspired the exodus in this case oil, what’s left for the people A doctor’s visit can cost $225.
of more than one third of the country’s who live in Equatorial Guinea? Part III, “Without Culture You
citizens, and a coup led by the current Perhaps not even work. In the Cannot Be Free” addresses the nascent
president Teodoro Obiang Nguema “Reporter’s Notebook,” section at the culture industry, which is tightly tied to
Mbasogo. With the discovery of offshore end of the book, which I found most the educational system. The authors par-
oil reserves in the early 1990s and the interesting, Waters suggests that there ticipated in the First Equatorial Guinea
arrival of American oil companies, the are very few Guineans working on the oil Book Fair in 2005, a groundbreaking Graphic: africabookcentre.com
country is now the third largest oil pro- rigs and other infrastructural projects to event given that there are reportedly road and construction projects—many
ducer in sub-Saharan Africa. support the oil industry. “Over and over no printing presses or bookstores in for the first time—and most of the skilled
In the last two decades, Equatorial you hear the comment that these busi- the country. Educators at the National workers coming from other countries,
Guinea has experienced massive eco- nesses—and Equatorial Guinean ones University of Equatorial Guinea hoped there’s also a sizable opportunity for
nomic development, much of which has too—don’t hire Equatorial Guineans the event would help develop a culture of organization and training to ensure
yet to translate to stable improvements because Guineans don’t like to work,” reading, as well as the documentation of that Equatorial Guinean workers don’t
in basic national infrastructure such as she writes.”Whenever we get the chance, Guinean literature and history. This sec- miss out on the bounty being reaped
education, healthcare, electricity, and we ask, ‘Why should they?’ … There are tion is composed primarily of transcripts by others—and that the country is left
transportation. individual alternatives to wage slavery of remarks given at the fair by Waters holding the keys to its own shop once the
“In the blink of an eye, historically and debt slavery, so why work?” and Victor Dreke, then Cuban ambassa- infrastructure is complete (or the oil is
speaking,” the authors write, “one of Indeed, while that could lead to dor to Equatorial Guinea. depleted).
the most capital-intensive, technologi- an idyllic utopia, that can also make Even with those valid and valu- Granted, it’s still early days—
cally complex, and highly monopolized for some major disconnects between able efforts and projects, the problem of non-oil industry in the country mostly
industries has been superimposed on the country’s populace and the working the lack of an organized working class includes a small bottling plant, a brew-
a foundation of labor productivity that class. In one instance, a Cuban electri- remains. “Working-class organization is ery (beer costs 50 cents, water $3), and
was the product of thousands of years cian remarked that maintaining the new illegal, as are strikes, yet there are initial a cement factory—but those can be the
of hunting, fishing, and subsistence electrical infrastructure is challenging signs of a proletariat being born!” Waters most important days. The country still
agriculture.” because, while foreign companies came writes. It seems that it might be in Equa- uses DDT to fumigate for malaria, for
That collision—the introduction of in to install underground cables, they torial Guinea’s interest to more strongly example. Safer methods “take a differ-
globalization and the oil industry to a didn’t leave any plans or diagrams for assert its citizens as employees of the ent level of labor productivity and social
still largely pre-capitalist and -industrial their maintenance. global enterprises that are taking advan- organization,” Waters says.
society—makes for a fascinating oppor- While the above two sections, tage of the offshore oil reserves. I also When should that labor produc-
tunity for the mindful development and which open and close the book, account wonder whether some form of national- tivity and social organization be estab-
emergence of a working class, as well for about 50 pages, the bulk of the text ized industry to support the country’s lished? Now. There’s already a Rotary
as workers rights. Yet this slim, read- considers sectors in which Equatorial growing economy and infrastructure Club in the city of Malabo. If you can
able, and insightful book indicates that Guineans are taking more of an active might also be promising. have a Rotary Club, you can have a
in many ways, the opportunity is largely stake, largely with the help of the Cuban With increasing numbers of Equa- union. Perhaps the introduction of the
being lost. international. In 2000, Cuba sent bri- torial Guineans becoming workers on IWW would be a sensible next step.

A Love Story In Post-World War II Germany or “soft hearted” or because the system opened to them by great literature. Both
demands that you pay attention to the are also social products of their own Ger-
important things of life like obeying man culture, with its various and sundry
your bosses and keeping order? Besides, facets of puritanical, psychological re-
"What can a lowly person like myself do pression. This includes a kind of reserve
about the situation?" and perhaps you're which leads to the peculiarly German
too busy speculating on what the real es- goodness of keeping one's mouth shut
tate market will be doing in the coming in public about things political—things
months and or finding a pair of jeans at which the authorities have well in hand.
Jeans West which will fit. Hanna's fear of exposing her own il-
Michael meets Hanna when he is 15. literacy and Michael's fear of public
Unbeknownst to Michael, he is coming condemnation as a young law student at
down with scarlet fever. He is throw- speaking up for Hanna in a court of law
ing up in an alley on a very rainy day are the stuff of tragedy.
when Hanna, the tram conductor, stops Even after many steamy sexual en-
to offer him a warm place to rest until counters, Hanna is shocked by passages
he feels better. Hanna also cleans up in D.H. Lawrence's “Lady Chatterly’s
his vomit from the pavement. Hanna Lover”—she tells Michael that it is the
Hollywood actress Kate Winslet plays Hanna. Photo: thelonelyreview.com believes in orderliness and cleanliness. equivalent of smut and that he should
This penchant for order is apparent from stop reading from it, almost as his
Director: Daldry, Stephen. “The Read- on preventable diseases. Is this not a the beginning of their relationship and mother would have. But clearly, Michael
er.” The Weinstein Company, 2009. 123 holocaust? these traits lead her to offer Michael is not attracted to Hanna because she is
minutes. $15. An old Soviet piece of gossip had baths and to bathe herself as well and a mother replica.
it that Comrade Khruschev was inter- as the movie progresses the motherly However, it is “klip und klar” that
By Mike Ballard rupted during his famous 'secret' speech Hanna and her son-like friend begin to Hanna loves Michael and he loves her
"Every single day—365 days a year— before the Communist Party elite when explore the attractions which flow from but, unbeknownst to them both when
an attack against children occurs that is he denounced Stalin's crimes in 1956, such erotic circumstances. they are together, their love runs very,
10 times greater than the death toll from three years after Stalin's death. A voice Both Hanna and Michael are full of very deeply. They might believe that they
the World Trade Center...We know how from the audience shouted, "Why didn't hidden passions. Michael could have will get over their summertime romance
to prevent these deaths -- we have the you speak out against these crimes when been a Heydrich in Prague, had he been as time goes by, but the reality is that
biological knowledge and tools to stop Comrade Stalin was committing them?" born 15 years earlier. He is clearly “offi- such love does not die, no matter what
this public health travesty, but we're not Khruschev looked up from his speech cer material.” Hanna, on the other hand, happens: there are no conditions for it.
yet doing it." - Jean-Pierre Habicht, pro- and asked loudly, "Who said that?" A is a working-class woman born 30 years There are elements of Fassbinder's
fessor of epidemiology and nutritional long silence ensued after which Khrus- earlier into a society which told women "Ali, Fear Eats the Heart" and "Berlin
sciences at Cornell. chev observed, "That is why." that their highest aspirations could be Alexanderplatz" in "The Reader." "So-
Eight million of the 11 million When you see "The Reader," ask fulfilled by staying in the kitchen with phie's Choice" also comes to mind. See
childhood deaths a year could easily yourself why you are doing nothing the children when they weren't engaged this movie and be prepared to cry for
be prevented. This is because almost about the holocaust which is happening in taking in a church service. Education humanity because as Thoreau observed,
60 percent of deaths of children under every year to the poorest children of the was unnecessary. Both Hanna and Mi- "Most men lead lives of quiet despera-
five in the developing world are due to world. Is it because you are afraid to be chael are intelligent and attractive. Both tion and go to the grave with the song
malnutrition and its interactive effects seen as being “silly” or too “socialist” are turned on by the doors which are still in them."
 August/September 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 9

Korean Motor Workers Under Police Seige

January, when five people in Seoul died sector, and encircled the entire factory.
Continued from 1

in another fire set off during a confron- Ever since the June 26-27 attack
tation with police, sparking weeks of aimed at isolating Ssangyong’s struggle
outrage. and breaking the strike, solidarity
The following day, the company is- actions took place outside the plant,
sued a statement to the effect that there attempting to build broader support.
had been enough violence, but in reality These included a street campaign,
following recognition of the tenacious mainly from family organizations in the
worker resistance, and police and thugs center of Seoul and Pyeongtaek areas,
were withdrawn. The company urged and a four-hour general strike by the
the government to involve itself directly KMWU during which metal workers
in negations. All water in the plant was from nearby plants rallied in front of
nonetheless cut off at the end of June. Ssangyong factory gate. Also, on July
Following a court order, the forces 4 and on July 11 the Korean Confed-
of repression struck again on July 11 as eration of Trade Unions (KCTU) held
the riot police moved to seize the factory nationwide labor rallies in support of
area with the exception of the paint the Ssangyong’s struggle. These actions
were poorly attended and the
leadership of the KMWU has
hesitated in declaring an all- Police spray tear gas at occupiers on July 16. Photo: libcom.org
out strike in response to the
attacks on the plant. Activists
Korean Police Fail To Break Ssangyong Factory Occupation
think the KMWU and KCTU From Libcom.org
leaderships are more preoc- South Korean police were not able to carry through with a pledge to enter a
cupied with upcoming union Ssangyong Motor Co. factory, which has been occupied by fired workers for almost
elections. two months, as the carmaker tries to resume production at the plant.
Finally, on July 16, 3,000 On July 20, about 800 fired employees were still in a paint shop, confronting
KMWU members gathered to more than 3,000 police as in Seoul, Ssangyong spokesman Cha Ki Woong said by
support the Ssangyong strike phone at the plant in Pyeongtaek, where the automaker is based.
in front of the Pyeongtaek City Ssangyong came under court control in February, after facing a “serious” cash
Hall. When they tried to move shortage as the global recession damped demand for the automaker’s sport-utility
to the factory after the rally, vehicles while it lost domestic customers to Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors
they were blocked by police Corp. The occupation has caused production losses of about 10,800 vehicles worth
and 82 workers were arrested 230 billion won ($183 million) as of July 15, according to the automaker.
on the spot. The Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency said earlier today it will enter the factory
All in all, chances for a to assist a court officer demanding the former employees leave the factory. The court
serious generalization of the officer left after failing to deliver the document, said Ssangyong’s Cha. Police spokes-
struggle to other factories look man Kim Dong Ho declined to comment.
remote. Activists on the scene A strikebreaking Ssangyong worker was hit by a projectile from the occupied fac-
feel that even if the KMWU tory and was sent to the hospital.
called a general strike, only a Ssangyong plans to eliminate 36 percent of its workforce to return to profit and
few districts would follow it. meet a Sept. 15 court deadline to submit a restructuring plan to avoid liquidation.
The Hyundai auto workers are About 800 workers are still in the plant and they’ll resist “in the face of death”
in the midst of wage negotia- if police tries to forcibly disperse them, union spokesman Lee Chang Kun said by
tions themselves. Nearby sup- phone.
plier plants have already gone The output losses at Ssangyong will rise to 14,590 vehicles worth 316 billion won
through structural adjustment by the end of July if the former workers continue the occupation, which has stopped
Occupiers use defending the factory. Photo: libcom.org and are not likely to mobilize. Ssangyong’s production entirely.

Safe Haven Tent Community Under Attack

By Neil Parthun a group of about 12 homeless men and ing ordinances that prohibited outdoor discussed other successful tent com-
The national housing crisis has led to women came together organically in an living. The city continued their offensive munities and explained that Safe Haven
thousands of families losing their homes. area near the Catholic Worker House to when City Council member Tom Bruno would like to see “whether or not the city
The rise in homelessness has contrib- camp together in safety. stated in the local newspaper, News is willing to address the changing social
uted to the increase in tent communities On June 8, 2009, the Champaign Gazette, that Safe Haven was a “politi- and economic landscape in town” by
across the United States as a grassroots police department came to investigate cal statement.” Throughout the entire creating a viable and dignified solution
solution to the problem. complaints from the neighbors. The discussion, the City Council has used the to the homelessness crisis in Champaign
police began videotaping the community local media to speak with activists rather County.
Nowhere to go in Champaign and entered the Catholic Worker House than addressing the activists directly. Other activists discussed the tax
County property without permission. When On June 30, the Catholic Worker incentives given by the City Council to a
This crisis has impacted Champaign asked why the officers were videotaping House had a routine fire code inspection. local developer whose wife is on the City
County, Illinois, with the closure of and coming onto the property without Approximately an hour before, the City Council. The city gave $3.7 million in tax
Autumn Glen apartments in Rantoul permission, one of the officers stated notified the Catholic Worker House that incentives for the building of a new com-
and Gateway Studios in Champaign due that he “could do what [he] want[s].” additional building inspectors would be mercial/residential development called
to the landlords’ failure to pay bills. The When a member of the tent com- doing a more detailed inspection. These M2 while agreeing to pay for a nearly
closures of Autumn Glen and Gateway munity blocked the camera from filming, inspections found a host of code viola- $12 million parking deck.
Studios were only the latest examples he was given a citation for obstructing a tions that must be corrected by August Multiple residents of Safe Haven told
of the decline of affordable low-income police officer. The same resident tossed 3 or the Catholic Worker House will be the City Council that Safe Haven was
housing in Champaign. To further com- his cell phone to a friend in an attempt condemned. A condemnation would end their only option. One resident told his
pound matters, the City of Champaign to document the officers’ behavior. He the six-day-a-week meal program and story of becoming homeless after losing
also allows for landlords to discriminate was subsequently given a citation for as- the housing assistance provided at the his wife to illness. He stated that Safe
and not rent to tenants using Housing sault as the officer alleged the phone was Catholic Worker House. The City zoning Haven is the lifeline that is keeping him
and Urban Development Section 8 hous- thrown at his head. administration also told the residents of alive and giving him something to fight
ing vouchers. The police harassment brought al- Safe Haven that they had to be off the for.
The City of Champaign does not have lies and the tent community together property by July 17 or they would face The City has yet to commit to official
any shelters where a person can simply in solidarity. The tent community was fines of $750 per day. meetings with Safe Haven while threat-
get a bed for the night—it only has tran- renamed Safe Haven and has become a Local housing activists believe that ening the existence of the community
sitional centers which require entrance safe, dignified grassroots solution to end this is an overt attack on both organiza- and not developing any alternatives. One
into a program if one qualifies. Most of homelessness. tions. It is selective enforcement of the of the Council members said on July 7:
these transitional centers are at capacity Safe Haven moved to the back yard law because the Catholic Worker House “If the City wanted [Safe Haven] gone, it
already or have extensive waiting lists. of the Catholic Worker House and has given a site to Safe Haven. The City would be.”
Other transitional centers have rules that quickly adapted rules from another suc- of Champaign knew for more than a year
exclude many homeless from eligibility. cessful community called Dignity Village about the deteriorating conditions of What you can do
Champaign’s social services also face in Oregon. Safe Haven promotes a safe, Gateway Studios and never sent inspec- Contact the Champaign City Council
difficulties as the City of Champaign has clean and dignified community life for tors to make sure the building was up members. Ask them to meet with Safe
pulled funding from homelessness ser- the homeless and is run democratically to code. Multiple other buildings in Haven and develop a dignified solution
vice programs over the past year. Due to by the people living there. The residents Champaign would also fail such inspec- like adapting the zoning laws to allow
these various challenges, many homeless dutifully abide by the rules and have tions if the City chose to enforce all such for Safe Haven’s presence in the com-
do not see this as a viable or dignified created an excellent low-cost solution to regulations. munity. Ask them to work on developing
solution. homelessness. Activists showed up at the July 7 adequate low-income housing in the city
City Council meeting to address the of Champaign .
Tent Community Roots The Fight Begins Champaign City Council about how the - Mayor Gerald Schweighart:
According to many homeless, Cham- By June 23, the City of Champaign city was demanding that Safe Haven be [email protected].
paign can be a very dangerous place to stated that the Catholic Worker House dismantled but was not providing any - Deputy Mayor Michael LaDue:
camp alone. As a result of this danger, and Safe Haven were violating the zon- alternative solutions. Some activists [email protected] il.us
Page
August • Industrial
10 2009 WorkerWorker
• Industrial • August/September
• Page 10 2009

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 August/September 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 11

Canadian IWWs Move To Form Regional Organizing Committee

By Peter Moore A referendum of all Canadian IWW North of 49º
The North of 49º IWW Assembly in members in good standing is currently Assembly
Winnipeg on June 13-14, 2009, gathered underway to ratify the constitution. Bal- participants
IWW members from Alberta, British Co- lots are due on August 31 and the results visited Win-
lumbia, Manitoba and Ontario to share will be counted and released by a ballot nipeg’s Ukrai-
skills and talk organizing strategies for committee formed by the Ottawa-Outa- nian Labour
the union in Canada. ouais branch. Temple, “one
Elected delegates from the Edmon- The North of 49º IWW Assembly of the most
ton, Ottawa-Outaouais, Toronto and spied on build-
agenda featured a session on the Labour
Winnipeg branches also negotiated a ings in Cana-
Movement, Indigenous Workers and
constitution as the first step in forming a da” according
Solidarity, with guest speaker Cheryl-
Canadian Regional Organizing Commit- to one of its
Anne Carr, a former postal worker and caretakers. It
tee (CanROC). If ratified, the CanROC current member of the Winnipeg Labour
would have three officers, a Secretary- was completed
Defence League. Other sessions included in 1919 just
Treasurer, Organizing Department Canadian Labour Law, a strategy discus- months before
Liaison, Editor, and be directed by an sion on the General Defense Committee, the Winni-
elected representative from each affili- and Building Industrial Union Branches peg General
ated charter-holding branch. from General Membership Branches. Strike.

Cadillac Fairview “Could Not Sink Any Lower”

Photo: Peter Moore

By the CEP out the maintenance and skilled trades

TORONTO – Canadian real estate employees in two bargaining units after
giant Cadillac Fairview is “union bust- tabling a “final offer” that proposed to
ing” and “could not sink any lower” at eliminate employees, force workers to
its downtown Toronto flagship property, re-apply for their jobs, restrict union
the Toronto Dominion Centre, said representation and undermine bargain-
Ontario Vice President of the Communi- ing rights. After four weeks of a lockout,
cations, Energy and Paperworkers Union the company this week sent a letter to
of Canada (CEP), Bob Huget. all locked out employees stating that
On July 14, the company announced it is pleased with the contractor hired
the mass termination of all of its main- to do the union members’ work and is
tenance and skilled trades employees therefore terminating all 61 employ-
at the TD Centre. The 61 workers are ees, including those on sick leave and
members of CEP Local 2003 and have long term disability. “I didn’t think this
been locked out by the company since company’s tactics could sink any lower,
June 14. but I am shocked by their actions,” said
Huget said that the workers are long Huget.
term employees with an average of more Cadillac Fairview has assets of
than 20 years of service to the company. $16 billion and is wholly owned by the
“A number of these people have Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. This
committed their entire working life to last fiscal year was their most lucra-
this employer and to be tossed out on tive ever with nearly a billion dollars in
the street and terminated as if they had profit. Company properties include the
no rights whatsoever is simply outra- TD Centre, Eaton Centre, Pacific Centre
geous and we won’t stand for it,” said and Sherway Gardens, to name a few.
Huget. “This is nothing less than union The union has filed bad faith bargaining
busting.” charges at the Ontario Labour Relations
Cadillac Fairview workers hold an information picket on July 22. Photo: Martyn John Cadillac Fairview Corporation locked Board

False Advertising? French Auto Workers To Blow Up Factory? Continued from 1

MPG Lays Off Workers PSA stated their willingness to pur-
chase the parts within the factory, but
ment firm has agreed to pay extra
compensation to the French workers of
30,000 euros each. Renault and PSA
Peugeot said it was not their responsibil-
While Profits Grow are refusing to accept responsibility for
the workers. Renault’s statement claims
JLG Industries, who had also, in a tactic
similar to that of the above New Fab-
ity to pay workers.
According to the BBC, “New Fabris
Continued from 1
that they have been trying to help the ris workers, threatened to explode gas company director Pierre Reau said work-
American, Shaun Holliday, said the
company find a buyer as a going con- canisters at their respective plant. The ers with 20 years or more experience
“reductions are not about ‘shrinking the
cern, but that this has not been possible. BBC explains, “Staff at JLG Industries in would get between 10,000 and 15,000
business into a more profitable core —
The company is the successor to Tonneins, south-western France, made euros, but junior staff would get only
on the contrary, they are about finding
Fabris, founded in 1947 and put into liq- the threat in order to get better redun- 3,000 euros.
and fueling growth.’”
uidation in 2007. After liquidation, the dancy terms for 53 workers.” JLG Indus- Union members hope to negotiate
In 2008, MPG’s parent company,
firm was acquired by ZEN of Italy, which tries is a subsidiary of the US company with Renault, Peugeot and the industry
Havas—the sixth largest communica-
retained 380 of the 416 workers. ZEN Oshkosh, which makes cranes and work ministry for a larger pay-off, and claim
tions group worldwide—increased profits
SpA, based in Albignasego near Padua, platforms. that workers at another supplier received
by 25 percent. In January 2009, Virgin
makes cast iron parts for vehicles. Flo- The happenings at JLG constitute 30,000 euros each from the carmakers.”
Mobile agreed to use MPG as its me-
rindo Garro, head of ZEN, controls other the third such incident of late in which The workers at the factory in Chatell-
dia planning and buying agent. Virgin
metal firms in France, such as Rencast workers have threatened violence erault remain, according to state official
spends approximately $15-20 million
and SBFM, which are also having finan- against manufactories and company Anne Frackowiak, “calm and deter-
per year on advertising. In February
cial difficulties. property. mined.”
2009, the recently-formed CBS Films,
Some French workers have adopted Meanwhile, the tense stand-off con- BBC correspondent Emma Jane
which plans to spend upwards of $100
militant tactics during this economic tinues at the bankrupt New Fabris car Kirby reports “there is an acute sense of
million per year on advertising, also
crisis, including “bossnappings,” where plant in Chatellerault, some 305 kilome- injustice in France at the moment, with
agreed to use MPG as its media planning
managers have been held hostage in ters (190 miles) southwest of Paris. The many workers complaining that while
and buying agent.
their offices. workers have given a July 31 deadline for their bosses continue to reap company
Despite the company’s increasing
In more recent developments, the Renault and Peugeot, which provided 90 benefits and bonuses, they are paying for
revenue, MPG only gave workers a four-
BBC reports a U.S. construction equip- percent of the plant’s work, to pay them this economic crisis with their jobs.”
week severance package, which Sanchez
says is simply “not enough time to find a
new job.” Creating A New World In The Shell Of The Old Continued from 2
When Sanchez and his fellow work- No one understood him. The crazy or mountainside was found filled with bly and had a discussion. They saw and
ers were laid off, MPG also required that foolish man continued planting trees trees. The boys and girls returned to understood the man who their ancestors
they sign an “Agreement of Separation & that he would not see, and sensible their town and spoke of this marvelous had dealt with and they admired that
Release” in order to receive their sever- men and women continued planting place. man very much and they were fond of
ance pay. Included in this statement was and working for their The men and him. They knew that memory can travel
the stipulation that the former employ- present. Time passed, women gathered very far and arrive where no one can
ees would not “in any way denigrate any and all of them died, together and they went think or imagine.
aspect of the company.” The agreement, their children contin- to the place in great We are creating a new world in the
however, made no mention of the com- ued in their work, and surprise. “Who planted shell of the old. This concept is hard
pany not denigrating any aspect of the those were followed by this?” they asked. No for people to understand, it’s something
employee. the children of their one knew. They went to outside of the “realism” of the establish-
Now former employees are demand- children. speak with their elders ment neo-liberal world. Without this
ing the pay that they deserve, and the One morning, a group of boys and and they did not know either. Only an radical vision, we are nothing but a “pure
IWW is asking Kmart to stop advertis- girls went out for a walk and found a old one, the oldest of the community, and simple” union, which no real change
ing with MPG until they negotiate a fair place filled with great trees, a thousand could give them the information and he can come from.
severance agreement. For more informa- birds living in them and their great told them the history of the crazy and
tion, please visit http://www.wobblycity. branches giving relief from the heat and foolish man. For a World Where Many Worlds Fit,
org or email [email protected]. protection from the rain. Yes, an entire The men and women met in assem- Matt Antosh
Page 12 • Industrial Worker • August/September 2009

The IWW formed the International Solidarity Commission to help the union build
the worker-to-worker solidarity that can lead to effective action against the bosses
of the world. To contact the ISC, email [email protected].
By Michael Ashbrook and John to protest their plight. Some commenta-
Kalwaic tors see the action in Sverdlovsk as being
inspired by the one in Pikalyovo. Workers
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Open across Russia are adopting more militant
up, it’s the police! tactics to bring attention to their working
People under contract with the Eurest conditions and unpaid wages in the midst
Catering Service often found themselves of economic collapse. Graphic: Mike Konopacki
working up to 16-hour days, which is
illegal in Germany. The yellow union SAC Supports Wildcat in Sweden Striking Garment Worker Killed In Bangladesh
NGG (Food and Allied Workers Union Workers of Sweden’s state-owned By Ret Marut, libcom.org factory for 1.5 hours, during which time
-Germany) and the works council turned alcohol monopoly in Stockholm, System- SAVAR, Bangladesh — In June, they set fire to the factory’s warehouse
a blind eye to these unlawful sweatshop bolaget, have been on a wildcat strike since 1,800 workers at a sweater factory in and torched a company pick-up truck.
conditions. Because the IWW job branch June 2009. Systembolaget management Ashulia walked out on strike, demand- The workers then broke into the
at Eurest is still getting off the ground, we have been trying to replace workers with ing a pay increase and settlement of hated Ansars’ camp situated in the fac-
decided to simply call the cops, like good a “casualized”(temporary) work force on outstanding wages. Management agreed tory grounds—and promptly set fire to
citizens. The three officers who came to short-term contacts. The union workers to the demands on June 25, but upon it. In response, the Ansars fired more
inspect the premises of the Deutsche Bank have been trying to resist this move by returning to work on June 27, three rounds, enraging the growing numbers
canteen at 9:00 p.m. found several of our management without much help from workers who had taken leading roles in of workers as factory property continued
colleagues on duty who had begun their the mainstream Landsorganisationen the agitation and negotiations—repre- to be attacked. The officer-in-charge of
shift at 6:30 a.m. Now the boss faces a stiff i Sverige (LO) union, which represents senting the Ready Made Garment (RMG) Ashulia police station said, “We picked
fine and our colleagues are happy to be these workers. A meeting was supposed union—were told they were sacked “on up the Ansars personnel along with their
free of excessively long hours. The bosses to take place between LO representatives charges of leading the demonstrations.” arms to ease the situation and save them
at other Eurest job sites are beginning and the monopoly’s management, but this Upon learning this, the workforce im- from the angry mob.”
to worry about more IWW job branches meeting never occurred. Workers began mediately left the factory to demonstrate Forty workers and police were in-
forming because for some of the workers a wildcat strike without much support and demanded the reinstatement of their jured in the clashes. The surviving shot
this was the first time they saw resistance from the mainstream labor movement.. three fellow workers. This led to fierce worker remains in critical condition.
paying off. They are beginning to demand Systembolaget’s striking workers got the arguments and scuffles with the factory The Ansars in Savar have a history
the 25percent overtime bonus that Eurest help and support of the local branch of bosses, two of whom were beaten up. of clashes with RMG workers in recent
has simply “forgotten” to pay until now. Sweden’s anarcho-syndicalist SAC union Soon after police and Ansars—a civil- years and are sometimes deployed
as well as other groups from the “extra- ian volunteer defense group, an auxiliary within factory compounds as a semi-
Sacked Polish Worker Climbs Chim- parliamentary left.” Police took this as to the professional security forces—ar- permanent paramilitary presence.
ney In Protest a threat and labeled their protests as a rived, police began firing tear gas shells The police eventually brought the
A sacked Polish steelworker climbed demonstration, rather than a workplace to try to disperse the demonstration, unrest to an end, aided by deployment of
the chimney in protest of wage cuts and dispute, thereby giving themselves more which now blocked a main highway. the notorious Rapid Action Batallion—an
firings on June 29. He remained in the authority over the workers. Police helped Workers responded with hails of stones elite anti-crime/anti-terrorist paramili-
chimney for seven hours, until police scabs come in the back entrance of the and bricks. Then the Ansars opened tary force famous for summary execu-
intervened. The 40-year-old worker, building that the strikers were picketing. fire with live rounds of bullets into the tions, known as “crossfiring.”
identified only as Rafal S., claimed that the Police have often used these tactics against crowd. Two workers were shot—one, As they have admitted, the RMG
management of his factory had betrayed the SAC but usually not workers from the Al-Amin, 26, died at 12:30 p.m. in the unions really have a very limited influ-
the workers by offering concessions and mainstream LO union. Wildcat strikes hospital. ence over workers’ struggles. Most gar-
wage cuts to keep the factory open. The continue to be supported by the SAC in As news of Al-Amin’s death spread ment sector struggles are expressions of
Buczek mill in Sosnowiec in southern Po- state-owned alcohol stores. during the afternoon, the workers’ num- quite capable workers’ self-organization.
land was hit hard by the global economic bers swelled. They were joined first by But the unions have organized protests
crisis and its government funding was Guest Workers Wildcat in Bahrain workers from other factories striking in against the Savar killing to take place the
cut after the European Union ruled that More than 5,000 guest workers went solidarity, and then by the employees of following day across the country.
it violated the free market. on a wildcat strike on June 10, protesting other RMG factories which were closed This incident is only the latest in a
two months of unpaid wages. The strike early by bosses due to fears of the unrest series of recent similar clashes in the
Workers Take Control of Plants Fi- took place at the Al-Hamad construction spreading to their premises. The insur- Bangladeshi garment sector. As the eco-
nances in Sverdlovsk, Russia company in the Persian Gulf country of gent crowd then occupied the Ashulia nomic crisis hits harder one can expect
Factory workers in Russia’s Sverd- Bahrain. Unpaid wages was just one rea- factory, smashing windows and wrecking more of the same—and a likely escala-
lovsk Ural mountain region have seized son for the anger among guest workers. offices. They continued to occupy the tion.
control of their plant’s finances. The work-
ers formed the Council of Labor Collective
to oversee the finances of the Baranichi
The other issue is that the body of Gulab
Sigh— a Punjabi Sikh worker who was
killed on the job—was not repatriated to
CNT-PTT Regains Its Rights In France
By John Kalwaic çaise Démocratique du Travail (CFDT),
Electro-Mechanical Factory to recover his family in India. The striking work- A French labor court has recently Confédération Française des Travailleurs
lost wages, boost factory sales and save ers feared that the body would never be ruled the CNT-PTT (postal service Chrétiens (CFTC), Force Ouvrière (FO)
their jobs. The Baranichi factory is the returned to its rightful place. One worker workers union) once again has a right to and the Union Nationale des Syndicats
dominant firm in the region and employs even feared that if any of them died on the represent postal workers. The CNT-PTT Autonomes (UNSA), which represented
more 1,000 workers. It is now on the verge job their bodies would not be flown home. is the postal workers branch of the syn- a minority of postal workers in the
of bankruptcy and owes its workers up to The employers of Al-Hamad Company first dicalist CNT-F union in France. Its right industry—signed an agreement with the
208 million rubles (approximately $6.7 threatened to arrest the workers, but the to represent postal workers was revoked Post Office, canceling the right of the
million). workers refused to cave in to these empty in 2006.Problems started in the late CNT-PTT to represent workers. The two
The Sverdlovsk Regional Governor threats. The company then promised to 1990s when the government took a neo- more left wing “majority unions”—the
Victor Koksharov claimed that he supports pay the workers after 15 days, but the liberal turn and started to dismantle the Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques
the Council of Labor Collective, and stated workers hadheard that excuse earlier, PTT public postal system in France. This (SUD) and the Confédération générale
there was no reason law enforcement when they had gone on strike during the created France Telecom and the Post du travail (CGT)—did not sign the agree-
should establish ties with the council. For previous year. This is not the first time Office, which were semi-public institu- ment, but also refused to veto it. With
now, it seems that the government is not workers went on strike: 2,220 workers tions. These institutions tried to enforce the stroke of a pen the CNT-PTT was
pursuing any actions against the workers walked out in April 2008 for pay raises. . new labor contacts, many of which were stripped of its bargaining rights and
at the Baranichi Factory. This comes at a One worker commented, “we are working illegal under French labor law, that were postal employers began targeting CNT-
time of great labor unrest in Russia. Work- out negotiations but they don’t seem to be much worse than the ones under the PTT members, firing its members and
ers in Pikalyovo blocked federal highways listening to us.” PTT. Postal workers, of course, resisted removing CNT bulletin boards. There
these new contracts: the fiercest resis- were further moves towards downsizing

Support international solidarity!

tance came from the CNT-PTT, which and privatization, sorting offices were
had represented workers there since the closed and postal workers were laid off.
1980s. In the fall of 2006 the CNT-PTT
The CNT-F is a militant syndicalist filed multiple complaints with the labor
Assessments for $3, union, which has always resisted class court in France. Finally in May 2009
$6 are available from collaboration and participation in gov- the courts came to a decision restoring
ernment-sponsored “work council” elec- CNT’s bargaining rights without hav-
your delegate or IWW tions, focusing instead on direct action ing to participate in the work council
headquarters PO Box by the workers. This attitude of the CNT- elections, which the CNT opposes. The
23085, Cincinnati, OH F and its PTT branch made it a target of Post Office has also been ordered to pay
45223-3085, USA. the postal industry, the government and the union 3,000 euros. The CNT-PTT
other more moderate unions. In 2006, is happy about this victory, but say that
four unions—the Confédération Fran- now is the time for direct action.