November 25th 2017 Facts For Working People Conference Call Report.

Trumka, Head of AFL-CIO - Rank and File must tell him to open the AIFLD files

Sean O'Torain.

November 25^th 2017 Facts For Working People Conference Call Report. 

Apologies to our readers for this conference call report being late. Apologies also as it will be less than adequate because we have not had time to consult with all the participants and get their views and in this way help make it more complete. We have been putting resources into helping get increased support for the Duluth Labor Body resolution to get the AFL-CIO leadership to agree to the opening of the AIFLD files. And we have also been seeking to get more support for spreading the idea that in this struggle to expose and end the epidemic or sexual harassment especially by bosses and people in power the way to go is to organize into democratic fighting unions. Our resources are insufficient for these tasks. But we do what we can. We appeal for more help with these tasks.

On the Duluth resolution to open the files we discussed the increased support and interest in this issue. Some union bodies have supported the Duluth resolution.

See File on head of Blog page "Help open the AFL-CIO AIFLD Files".

Also some activist bodies have given their support. Our conference call recognized that it was very good to get support from all such bodies but also emphasized that it was most important to get support from official union bodies, union locals, labor councils etc. We discussed trying to get the resources to encourage members of the various activist bodies to yes, pass resolutions supporting the Duluth resolution, but more importantly to mobilize their members and supporters to turn to the unions and move resolutions in the union bodies to support the Duluth resolution. The most likely way the AFL-CIO leadership will agree to open the files will be when they are faced with this demand from their own ranks, their own official bodies. Yes by all means get support from any activist body, but do not see this as a substitute for taking the issue into the rank and file of the unions and the workplaces. It was discussed that the FFWP would try to work with others to gather lists of union bodies and the various activist groups to encourage them to work in a systematic way to get the Duluth resolution raised in the rank and file of official union bodies. 

The other item on the agenda on which FFWP Blog has been working is seeking to raise in the discussion of the need to oppose sexual harassment and predatory culture the need to organize into democratic fighting unions to take on this predatory culture, this widespread sexual harassment in the workplaces and in society in general. We are seeking to spread this idea through our Blog but also by having it raised in the union and activist bodies where we have a voice. We repeat here the points we made in last weeks conference call report.

The editor of FFWP Blog is Richard Mellor. He also organizes the FFWP conference calls.  He is a retired heavy equipment operator and retired member of union Local 444 of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. He was on the negotiating team and one of the leaders of a 1985 strike at his workplace, East Bay Municipal Utility District. (EBMUD). The union contract that followed that strike included the following clauses. It should be noted that 1985 was before the issue of sexual assault and predatory behavior in the workplace had the attention it has today.

The relevant clauses in Local 444’s contract were:

Article 4. No Discrimination/Harassment.

4.1.1. There shall be no discrimination of any kind by the union or the district (management) against any employee, to the extent the applicable law prohibits such discrimination, harassment, or disparate treatment, because of race, religion, color, creed, age, marital status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, physical or mental disability.

4.2. Harassment, Disparate Treatment and Inappropriate Behavior

4.2.1 In addition to behavior violative of Section 4.1.1 above the following behavior will not be permitted, tolerated or condoned:

Abusive, threatening or intimidating behavior, gestures or language.

These are the kind of clauses and protections that can be won in union contracts. The example of Local 444 should be taken up as an example around which to organize into democratic fighting unions. Organizing for, winning and enforcing such clauses through job actions, and if necessary strike action, is the way to change the culture in the work places and in society in general.

The reason the capitalist media does not give coverage to the idea of organizing in the workplace, the reason the bosses’ politicians will not talk about organizing into unions, is very simple. Women in unions make on average $200 per week more than women not in unions. The gender wage gap for union members is half that for non-union members. Unionizing the workplaces is a nightmare scenario for the bosses. It would drastically cut into their profits if non-union workplaces were unionized. Equal pay for work of equal value would end the boss’s use of women as cheap labor. This is why the media they own and control refuses to give coverage to the need to organize when they talk about the need to end harassment in the workplace. They want to keep women as cheap labor. They want to keep women and all workers unorganized and divided. Ending the predatory culture cannot be allowed to cut into their profits.

Organizing in the workplace would not only mean increased opportunity to win equal pay and benefits and better pay. It would also mean an organization, a structure, through which to fight against predatory abusive behavior and gender discrimination in general. This is what is possible with a strong union presence. This is the way to fight predatory behavior.  Organize in democratic fighting unions.

We took an unusual step in our work this week. The only media outlet that mentioned the idea of organizing in the workplace to take on sexual harassment was one article in the New York Times. Richard Mellor on behalf of this Blog wrote a letter to the NYT and included in it the clauses that his local had won in its contract in 1985. See Above. The paper responded and said they would get back to Richard. But they have not done so. Nor have they printed Richard’s letter. We have written objecting to this and pointing out that they have printed numerous other letters on this issue. But neither the article they printed nor any of these letters gave concrete examples of union contracts and protection clauses such as were won by Richard’s local and in Richard’s letter. Richard’s letter it seems was too concrete. As a result we conclude that the NYT does not consider that it falls under their guideline of “All the news that’s fit to print”. Not fit to print because it gives concrete guidance.

It was felt on the conference call that this should be looked at in another way also. If the NYT never printed a letter from anybody from minority groups, specially oppressed groups such as women, there would rightly be an outcry. But when it comes to the NYT censoring the views of working class activists there is not a squeak. When a blue-collar union activist expresses the interest of the working class it is a different ball game. The NYT like all the media, liberal and non-liberal discriminates against the working class activist and their views. Discriminates against the working class. Think about it. When was the last time you saw somebody who did not have a university degree, an academic background, a background in capitalist politics, or the capitalist state invited to give their opinion on the capitalist media. This is censorship against the working class and the working class activist. As was repeated in our conference call there is no outcry on this as there would be if there was censorship against other minorities or specially oppressed groups. The working class activist, the views of the working class activist do not exist as far as the capitalist media is concerned. We are not holding our breath for the NYT to print Richards letter. But if any of our readers have the time send off your email to the NYT letters to the editor page and ask they print Richard’s letter and they stop their censorship of the views of working class activists. We do not agree with the NYT that the views of working class activists are not fit to print.

There was then some discussion on the conference call on the bigger picture.  Or in the jargon of the left – world perspectives. The point was made that it is astounding to see the blindness of the capitalist class, all factions. They speak of the future and do not recognize the huge explosive events that lie ahead. They talk about economic prospects as if we are not on the threshold of a deep recession or probably a slump. This is particularly reflected in the assumptions of all sides, Republicans and Democrats concerning the tax legislation in the US. All ignore the reality that the stock markets will crash and the gigantic pile of debt that has been allowing their system to go further than its own limits will demand its pound of flesh. 

They speak of the future and do not recognize the effect climate change is having and will increasingly have. They do not recognize the chaos that is engulfing capitalist politics. And this is not only in the US. Germany the most stable and powerful economy and state in Europe is struggling to form a government. Since 1949 every German government has been a coalition of one kind or another. They are now struggling to form a government and this at the time of Brexit, Catalonia, the overall crisis in the EU and the coming world recession or slump.

There was discussion also on the crisis in the Trump outfit. The idiot tramps on regardless. Now he is on shouting terms with US imperialism’s number one ally British imperialism. He is being condemned by the British Prime Minister for tweeting fake racist videos. At home dragging up his own dirty sexual predatory activities once again as he supports the creature Moore in Alabama. It would appear that some sort of break lies in the near future. If he gets his tax bill passed or if does not get it passed he will be weakened. If he gets it passed his support amongst the major capitalist outfits and the Republican party will weaken as they will no longer see it necessary to prop him up as they will have got their tax break. If he does not get it passed they will also see it is not greatly to their advantage to prop him up as he was not able to get them their tax cuts. Except perhaps they will see some advantage to keep backing him so he can carry on with his deregulation of the economy. One way or another the political crisis of US capitalism deepens by the day. It was felt on the conference call that one way or another it was likely that the Trump regime would fall, would be brought down.

FFWP Blog has based itself on the analysis that US capitalism is in an economic, political, environmental and military crisis. The economic crisis is temporarily held at bay by debt. The political crisis is unfolding rapidly. The environmental crisis similarly. Now we see increased strains on the military front. There is increased questioning of what happened with the killing of the US soldiers in Niger. More doubt is being cast on whether the coffin of the fourth soldier even contained his body. Then we have the 2 Navy Seals up on charges of murdering a fellow soldier who apparently was opposing their stealing from the funds that were set for bribing locals. And there is a dramatic rise in the numbers of officers who are leaving their jobs at the first opportunity. There have also been complaints by soldiers who are in charge of sending off the drones that they are being asked to kill civilians. And the movement against sexual harassment in US society in general and the role of Trump as a sexual predator is strengthening the demand within the military for this to be dealt with. 40% of the military are minorities or women.  

Also in regards to the bigger picture was the issue of the rise of China. Goldman Sachs estimated that the Chinese economy would be the size of the US economy by 2025 and the largest economy in the world by 2050. This means that the US would be challenged for being the number one world power. Throughout history when one dominant world power is replaced by another this usually leads to war. The US elements such as Bush and Cheney and others who thought that after the collapse of Stalinism the US would build a unipolar world over which they would dominate and exercise what they called “full spectrum domination” have been proven to be profoundly mistaken. There is the rise of China. There is the rise of Russian Imperialism. There is the movement in Europe for the EU to strengthen its military cooperation to the exclusion of the US. It can no longer depend on the US especially with the idiot Trump in power. There is the expansion of Chinese power in South East Asia, in Central Asia and in Africa.  Militarily and in terms of so-called soft power US imperialism grows weaker. But like all-powerful life forms when they begin to lose their power they are at their most unpredictable and dangerous. 

The conference call looked at this realistically and considered that the existence of nuclear weapons would probably hold at bay for some time a major world conflict. The opinion was that a pre-emptive strike against North Korea by the US was unlikely, especially as China has said that in the case of the US initiating such a conflict it would be on the side of North Korea. But again we were careful as with the idiot in the White House mistakes could be made. It would be a mistake to put too much reliance on the generals that surround Trump restraining him. After all they are trained to ‘solve’ things by military means.

There was a short exchange of views on the future of the Trump regime. It was felt that its future did not look too bright. It was weakening US imperialism internationally. It was damaging the institutions of US capitalist rule at home. It was destroying the Republican Party. Perhaps the main reason US capitalism had not already brought the regime down, as well as them wanting their tax break and deregulation, was that the US capitalist class itself is so divided and conflicted between its different factions. Wall Street is doing well from Trump so far.  Industry in general is doing well with his deregulation. But there are the tensions between the new rising tech wing of the capitalist class and the rest of the capitalist class. However it was felt that at some stage, probably sooner rather than later, it is likely that the Trump regime would be brought down. Probably as a result of different rats turning on each other and squealing on each other to try and get off the hook themselves. Or maybe by Trump firing Mueller and this leading to a constitutional crisis.  

Of course underlining all this, and what gives US imperialism its continued dominance and relative stability is the lack of an alternative. The leaders of the 14 million strong trade unions in the US refuse to lead, instead cower in their air-conditioned offices, play golf with the bosses, and bootlick the capitalist Democratic Party. They refuse to lead on issues such as the rising of the women. They refuse to lead on issues such as the obscene inequality in society and how this is worsening by the day. They refuse to lead on climate change. They refuse to lead in the battle against the war on women and minorities. There was not a bleat out of them when Trump insulted the Native American people when he met Native American war veterans under a portrait of the war criminal and organizer of genocide against the Native American people Andrew Jackson and at the same time spewed his racial slur.

These union leaders will not lead until their positions are threatened. They believe in capitalism and they wallow in their high paid jobs and their special privileges. A new opposition movement will have to be built in the trade union rank and file. Supporting the Duluth resolution is a step toward this. Winning support for the idea of the need to organize to take on sexual harassment and the predatory culture is a step towards this. A new fighting movement of the working class has to be built.

Already new movements are on the rise. The women’s marches, the opposition to the war on women, the opposition to police brutality and the racist culture and actions of the police, the movements against the destruction of the environment, the movements to prevent the capitalist class being able to dominate the Internet, the recent elections which saw the most right wing Republicans defeated. Even if Moore is elected in Alabama this will not negate this general trend. In fact it will worsen even more the crisis in the capitalist Republican Party and in turn the Democratic Party as its leadership desperately tries to cling to its capitalist buddies and this in turn alienates its more liberal and its more working class base. The two capitalist party monopoly is coming to an end.  

    

As is usual the FWP conference call concluded with exchange of views on some lighter issues. After all as was said by somebody, “Humans cannot live by bread alone”. Participants on the call exchanged views on movies and series they had watched, had managed to find amongst the tidal wave of junk from the capitalist so-called entertainment industry. Suggestions which it was suggested was worth watching were the movies ‘Loving’, ‘Smokescreen’, ‘The Young Karl Marx’, the documentary – ‘Miners shot down’. And the series ‘Broadchurch’ about the rape of a woman in a small seaside town in England - the BBC version.    

Again sorry for the lateness of this report and also that we did not have time to have full consultation with all participants before we put it out. This Saturday December 2^nd, we have our next call and anybody who wishes to participate should contact us at our Blog email below and give us a brief ‘resume’ and why you wish to participate. In particular we wish to invite all who wish to help with getting support for the Duluth resolution to contact us and discuss being on our call.