http://themilitant.com/2018/8220/822003.html
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Vol. 82/No. 20 May 21, 2018
(front page, Socialist Workers Party campaign statement)
Back teachers, join Socialist Workers Party campaign!
The following statement was issued, May 9 by John Studer, Socialist
Workers Party national campaign director.
After three decades of retreats something new is happening in the labor
movement. With courage and determination teachers are showing in
practice the capacities workers have to organize united and effective
action as they combat assaults on wages, deteriorating school conditions
and workers’ dignity.
By using union power and building a social movement in support of their
fight they have set an example to millions of workers looking for ways
to say “No!” to what the capitalist rulers are doing to us.
This includes the consequences of the broader social and moral crisis of
capitalist rule — from never-ending wars, to cop brutality, attacks on
women’s right to abortion and spreading drug addiction.
These battles have erupted in states where Hillary Clinton slandered
workers as “deplorable.” She claimed women there voted for Donald Trump
because male relatives told them to. But a majority of those on strike
in these states today are women. They are not waiting to be told what to
do but are relying on their own capacities to build unity, reach out for
solidarity and fight, inspiring workers everywhere. This is a product of
the irreversible changes in the way both women and men think about
women’s place in society. And it’s why the fight for women’s equality
has increasing weight in politics today.
Teachers and other school workers have refused to be divided, holding
out in their fights to ensure that the broadest number of workers gain
from whatever they win. They’ve organized to make sure children get fed
and cared for when they walk out, winning over students and parents to
their fight.
Facing federal, state and local governments that care nothing for what
they confront, more are coming to the conclusion that appeals by
Democratic and Republican politicians that “we” Americans must sacrifice
together are based on a lie. Workers face an irreconcilable fight
against bosses and their political parties whose only solution to the
crisis of the capitalist system today is to offload it onto our backs.
Our interests are not theirs, but lie with fellow workers worldwide.
All workers have a stake in the battles waged by teachers today. Join
the thousands who will march in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 16.
The Socialist Workers Party is preparing to announce its 2018 candidates
— workers who have been participating in and championing these
struggles. They will point to how working people will be transformed
through the bigger class battles that are coming, gaining the capacity
to draw all the oppressed and exploited alongside them, to overthrow the
capitalist rulers and take political power into their own hands. Join
our campaign!
Related articles:
Join teachers for May 16 protest in North Carolina!
Teachers, school workers build for Raleigh action
Teachers, school workers walk out in Pueblo contract struggle
Education under capitalism is a class question
On the Picket Line
Unions lead fight against racism, for working-class unity
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