You know, I think that one of the things that has incapacitated people's
ability for true organizing is the technological revolution. First and
foremost, was television. Television coupled with corporate power, truly
changed the way people lived. It decreased, little by little, public
meetings outside the home. People didn't even go to the movies much anymore
when they could sit in the comfort and privacy of their homes and watch a
film. And with TV, came all the advertising. And it changed the way people
thought. There was even a book written about that in the 60's, about how
communicating with images is very different from communicating with the
spoken word and how it has more emotional impact. And then the computer came
along. The reason that the very young are so much more adept at technology
than their grandparents, or even their parents, is that they've grown up
using their brains very differently because they've been exposed to
computers from toddlerhood. Older people with certain kinds of mindsets do
better with computers also, than other older people . But anyway, meeting
face to face and using words in complete sentences in order to communicate
ideas, having an interchange about those ideas, that's real communication
and you need it to organize people, to help them to really consider issues
in relation to themselves. That used to happen in the days when unions were
organized. Now, in this huge, fragmented world, technology is used instead.
You can get to a lot of people very quickly with it, but you can't reach
into their hearts and souls with it.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 10:15 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: [blind-democracy] 'Workers need to unite in
face of boss attacks'
Absolutely right, Miriam.
Remember, where one or more Humans are gathered, there exists the potential
for criminal activity.
But there is the equal opportunity for Good to come from working class
people joining together.
Despite struggling against overwhelming numbers of Company Goons and
National Guards, people organized and gained ground. We ended the
exploitation of our children, and we no longer have a 12 hour, six days a
week work schedule. Women and Minorities are slowly gaining equal pay.
Once dangerous working conditions are somewhat better regulated.
And the company bosses fought our gains every inch of the way.
Isn't it interesting that the Labor Unions, accused of criminal activities,
seem unable to mount any sort of defense, showing how equally the Bosses are
involved in criminal activities?
Well, the next four years will most likely see a mighty rolling back of many
of our gains. We will blame Trump and the Far Right, but the heavy blame
should be placed upon our Working Class Backs. We became somewhat
complaisant and even came to believe much of the attack upon our Unions.
All of those "free" hours we gained in our struggle to shorten the work
week, all those hours went to Play, rather than to planning how to safeguard
those gains, and how to advance to even fairer sharing of our national
wealth. The Pied Pipers of Donald Trump have taken us down a wrong road.
It is a broad, smooth road leading directly to the Gates of Hell.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/18/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
There was also criminal activity in some unions and that wasWar.
emphasized by anti union forces.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 9:36 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: [blind-democracy] 'Workers need to
unite in face of boss attacks'
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
Are we Working Class folk really so blinded that we cannot tell thatDiego.
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@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 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
suspended."year," he said.
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
"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
"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.
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