Victory over landlord empower's tenants. Worker's can make gains with the correct approach.

Labor's Militant Voice and supporters of Facts For Working People has been involved in a major struggle against a slumlord in Los Angeles. Our comrades down there along with the tenants used direct action tactics and forced this landlord to spend thousands of dollars in long overdue repairs. He had to install new plumbing and water heaters. He installed new counter tops and cabinets and fumigated (speedily) the complex as bedbugs were rampant. He had to paint the place. He was warned by a judge, not to harass the tenants and that he couldn't just turn up at people’s apartments any time of the day or night as he was fond of doing.

It was not always a smooth ride by any means. Like the employers, landlords like these take advantage of the vulnerable among us; single mothers or undocumented workers who could face deportation. He also had another business that the tenants picketed.

We had to first build trust with the tenants and ensure there was a core group that was willing to fight and lead the struggle as well. In these situations, it is imperative that we make it clear we do not fight for people but with them, that we have certain methods and a track record but they must be willing also; it is equally as important that they understand the risks involved as we don’t look to the courts or the liberal politicians to fight on our behalf, but self organization and direct action. We explain clearly what we mean by this.

The landlord fought back ferociously as they do, using intimidation, threats of violence and the courts. He tried to separate the tenants and pretended to be friends with some and not with others; the carrot and the stick and divide and rule, two standard weapons in the arsenal of those that oppress us.

The struggle, and the advances made had another valuable aspect to it. It empowered the tenants; they could see that they didn't have to be victims of history; they could make some themselves, and make some they did. With the correct method and tactics, victories can be had. But just like Union contracts where the boss violates them before the ink is dry; this particular landlord has only been slowed, has had his nose bloodied. Like any section of the capitalist class; they are driven by the laws of the system itself to wage war on workers in the workplace, the home and society in general. And like workers on the job, tenants must form permanent tenants rights organization armed with direct action tactics and a fight to win strategy that can defend their interests.

It was not easy at first given the power a landlord can have over tenants, after all they own the roof over your head. An LMV member lived in the apartments with his family and played a major role in the campaign; this caused some tension between him and his parents who, with some justification, were very concerned about the outcome. In the course of the campaign though, his mother, who was most concerned, became convinced that what they were doing was right, but it was a difficult journey. This woman, Inez, eventually joined LMV and is also helping tenants like herself in other buildings fight back against their landlords. She came to our conference, one of two national conferences that we have each year to discuss political and economic perspectives and to assess our work over the past six months and what we should expect in the period ahead.

She spoke through a translator at the conference, something that was not easy for her. But it was a very moving and powerful contribution. I wrote down some of it and will let her speak for herself:

"I am nervous and proud, proud of Julio's development. In the beginning I was against it (the campaign against the landlord) but my husband said that I should let him be, that he "will learn his lesson." The landlord was our friend I thought and I didn't want to offend him. (She starts to cry) We kicked my son out of the house and he slept in his car. I told him he can't come back. My husband said to let him get this out of his system. But the landlord showed up at our workplace and tried to get us fired but our boss supported us. The landlord showed up with the police to get tell Julio to back off.

I am proud of Julio because even when I would yell at him he would stay quiet and continue his activity. He insisted and we decided to become part of the campaign. I believe we will get somewhere with this someday. I used to be a Republican and now I am not. Whatever Julio wants we are with him."

Inez is an active member of LMV and has also become more interested in what we do, in politics, and the wider issues. She is discussing these issues with others and said that since this experience she "can't go back." At one point, the Landlord offered her and her husband $18,000 to leave----- a significant sum. But Inez would have none of it, she rejected it saying that it would be “abandoning our neighbors” and that we will “stay and fight with them.”

This is how we learn the great lessons. We learn through the struggle for reforms that something more has to be done. The whole experience shows how, when a leadership is present that has a method and strategy that works, workers will step forward as difficult as it may be. In the wider sphere of things, this struggle was a very small victory. But for those involved it was a huge one.

Inez's comments had half the room in tears. Not because we felt sorry for her, or Julio, but because she inspired us with her courage, not just to fight the landlord, but to share with us her fears and mistakes; this way we can all learn from them.

As Marx said 130 years ago, "Every step of real movement is more important than a dozen programs."

More here: http://weknowwhatsup.blogspot.com/2009/02/tenants-fight-back-against-slumlord-in.html