From that long ago day when King George's troops were sent packing, we
have seen the value of collective action. Back in the late 1890's
through the early 1940's, Working Class people joined together to form
strong Labor Unions. It was proven that in order to receive fair
wages for a days labor, united numbers carried the day. Employers did
not step forward and fairly reward their employees with pay raises.
But constant hammering at the Labor Unions by the Organized Bosses
began to cast suspicion on Group Activities. The Working Class was
hammered with stories about "self made men", and the Rugged
Individual, and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Collectivism
became a dirty word, showing weakness and lazy, uncaring slobs.
Collective action was labeled Communism and Socialism, and compared to
subversive, underworld activities.
Add to this the erosion of the Extended Family, the break down of
established neighborhoods, dwindling attendance to churches and
community meetings, the decline of fraternal organizations such as
Lions, Eagles, Moose, Odd Fellows, and even the current isolation
brought about through on-line activities.
Organized Labor has fewer numbers than any time since the Second World War.
Are we Working Class folk really so blinded that we cannot tell that
the decline in our life style is directly tied to the decline of our
willingness to organize? The Corporate Bosses certainly understand
the value of joining forces.
True, they have a corner on the money, but we still out number them.
And that is the one thing they fear most.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/18/17, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@freelists.org> wrote:
> http://themilitant.com/2017/8104/810401.html
> The Militant (logo)
>
> Vol. 81/No. 4 January 23, 2017
>
> (lead article)
>
> 'Workers need to unite in face of boss attacks'
>
> SWP LA mayor candidate on doorsteps, picket lines
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Militant photos: above, Laura Garza; inset, Jonathan Batres
>
> Above, Jan. 6 Teamsters picket line at University of California Los
> Angeles. Dennis Richter, SWP candidate for Los Angeles mayor, joined
> strikers in solidarity with contract fight. Inset, Richter talks with
> teacher Arlene Washington at her doorstep Jan. 3.
>
>
> BY LAURA GARZA
> LOS ANGELES — "We haven't had a raise in four years, they've raised our
> health care costs, lowered what we get for disability, and new hires
> were switched to a 401(k)-style fund. They won't get the pension and
> retirement other workers get," Jon Kramer, a plumber at the UCLA medical
> plaza, told Dennis Richter, Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor
> here, as they marched on the picket line Jan. 6. Kramer, who has worked
> at UCLA for 15 years, is a member of Teamsters Local 2010 and on the
> negotiating committee fighting for a new contract.
> "You're facing what a lot of workers confront," said Richter. "Bosses
> delay and delay on contracts knowing that workers are losing every day."
> The strikers are the skilled trades workers — plumbers, carpenters,
> electricians, elevator repair people, and other facilities workers — who
> work at UCLA and UCLA's medical center. Local 2010 represents some 600
> workers there, and 200 more at University of California at San Diego.
>
> Kramer said they are asking for a graduated scale of payments, depending
> on years worked, to make up for lack of raises over four years — from
> $7,000 for those with over four years on the job to $1,000 for those
> with a year. "But management is offering only $1,200 to $1,500 for those
> with four years and more, and nothing for those with a year," he said.
>
> "They've delayed the negotiations and are retaliating against our
> members," he said, citing examples of harsh disciplinary action being
> taken against unionists. "I had to defend two different workers, both
> misplaced their keys, both reported it immediately and said they would
> retrace their steps. In both cases the keys were found and turned in the
> same day. But instead of going through the different disciplinary steps,
> a warning first, etc., both were immediately suspended."
>
> "I'm here to give solidarity and to learn more about your fight so I can
> build support, and to explain how it will take more workers standing up
> for ourselves to take on the bosses' attacks," said Richter. Strikers
> plan to keep their picket line up for five days, and thousands of
> clerical workers at the university are organizing to join them Jan. 10
> in a one-day solidarity strike. Richter said he would urge other workers
> to join the rally.
>
> "I have an interview with the Los Angeles Times editorial board later
> that day," he told Kramer. "I'll come here first and then use the
> interview to explain the issues in your fight and call for support."
>
> "I'm running not because I think voting for me will change something,"
> Richter told several workers on the picket line as they discussed the
> bosses' assaults on workers' rights and standard of living. "The history
> of working-class struggle teaches us that all big questions facing
> working people, from wages and working conditions to war and cop
> brutality, are solved in the streets, not at the ballot box. I'm running
> because I want to talk with workers about how to build a movement that
> can bring solidarity with fights like yours and build up confidence in
> the capacity of workers to organize and fight for our interests, not
> depend on politicians from the twin parties that represent big business,
> the Democrats and Republicans."
>
> A number of workers wanted to talk about the rising cost of health care
> and how employers and the government are pressing to make workers
> shoulder more and more of the burden.
>
> "The problem is it remains a for-profit commodity, sold on the basis of
> making rich the insurance companies, the pharmaceutical companies and
> others," Richter said. "Obama never touched this, he just guaranteed a
> big payout to the insurance companies. We need to remove health care
> from being a commodity. We need to fight for universal health care paid
> for by the federal government as a basic right for all who live and work
> here."
>
> "My party organizes to visit workers on their doorsteps throughout the
> region and the country," Richter said. "Workers everywhere are
> discussing these challenges, trying to find an effective way to change
> things. We say there are two classes and three parties, and the SWP is
> the workers' party."
>
> "The bosses won't give up on their attacks, we will face more, and we
> have to get more prepared to fight back," Richter said. "In the end we
> need to fight to change this from being a system run by and for the
> ruling rich to one run by and for those who work, from the factories to
> the fields."
>
> A couple of strikers wanted to know more about the ideas Richter raised
> and picked up copies of the Militant.
>
> For more information on the Socialist Workers Party, contact the party
> branch in your area listed in the directory on page 8.
>
>
> Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home
>
>
>
>
>
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