CLEVELAND -- Calling the seventh national meeting of Jobs with Justice (JwJ) "a breath of fresh air, George Becker, president of the United Steel Workers of America, told the trade unionists participants, "You are sending a message to the AFL-CIO that there has to be some change. We have to rebuild the labor movement. We have to inspire leaders and seek out leaders who are inspired."
Becker, who spoke on the second day of the March 31 to April 2 meeting of over 400 trade unionists and community leaders from 30 states, was the first international union president to address a JwJ annual meeting. In a wide ranging speech frequently interrupted by applause, he spoke of the challenges facing labor. Becker called last November's election the "latest in a long list of catastrophic events" effecting the labor movement.
He described the militant struggles during the USX and Ravenswood lockouts to dramatically highlight the urgent need for "grassroots revitalization of the labor movement" to confront the anti-working class onslaught in Congress and at the bargaining table.
John Ryan, president of Cleveland JwJ, said, "We're here to raise hell -- and to have fun raising hell." And, in keeping with tradition, participants recessed the first day's session in order to raise a little hell by joining a demonstration of Cleveland city workers fighting Mayor Mike White's scheme to privatize city jobs and services.
The privatization drive in Cleveland took on new meaning when contract negotiations between the city and the several unions representing city workers began earlier this year. At that time White, confident that he could mobilize public opinion behind his union busting plan, arrogantly proclaimed, "Let the games begin!"
Recalling that challenge, Jarrell Williams, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 242, said, "It's no game when people lose jobs, are forced to go on welfare rolls." Then in a voice hard with anger he said if the mayor's office needs a private company to run the city, "then they are admitting that they are incapable of managing the city."
Barbara Thomas, president of the union representing all employees at Cleveland's public hospital, said White's plan would mean the loss of more than 700 jobs. "A united labor movement had stopped efforts to privatize the institution in 1985, she said defiantly, "We'll do it again!"
This spirit filled the many workshops and discussions. Stuart Acuff, president of the Atlanta Central Labor Council, gave a stirring account of the one-hour takeover of Newt Gingrich's home office to protest the Contract on America. He said they were called "thugs and now are threatened with legal action by Gingrich." One JwJ member said, "Yes, we are thugs -- Together to Help Unions Grow!"
Washington State JwJ Coordinator Jonathan Rosenblum in the closing session said, "We cannot let ourselves be divided Black, Brown and white." He described the upcoming "Break the Contract with America" rallies in five cities as events that will mobilize the majority sentiments that exist among labor and community forces to go on the offensive.
Read the Peoples Weekly World
Selected articles on-line
Sub info: pww@igc.apc.org
235 W. 23rd St. NYC 10011
$20/yr - $1-2 mos trial sub
Read the Peoples Weekly World
Sub info: pww@pww.org
235 W. 23rd St. NYC 10011
$20/yr - $1-2 mos trial sub
Tired of the same old system: Join the Communist Party, USA
Info: CPUSA@rednet.org; or (212) 989-4994; or
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/cp-usa/