Professional Documents
Culture Documents
O f f i c i a l n e w s p a p e r oF T h e I n d u s t r i a l Wo r k e r s o f t h e Wo r l d
Port Shutdown Demands Justice For Oscar Grant By Judy Greenspan since its 1934 general strike, developed a
The stage and steps of Frank Ogawa strong relationship with the Black com-
Plaza in downtown Oakland, Calif., shook munity in West Oakland and other parts
and trembled with the strong unifying cry of the Bay Area.
of “We are all Oscar Grant!” as over 1,000
people—Black, Brown, Native, Asian and Power of the Working Class
white—came out to attend a rally that Richard Mead, president of ILWU
followed the dramatic shutdown of Bay Local 10, recalled that the shooting of two
Area ports by workers of the International workers sparked the 1934 general strike
Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). led by the dock and maritime workers
The ILWU drill team opened the Oct. in San Francisco. “Oscar Grant’s death
23rd program in full uniform, marching was also murder,” Mead said. “[A general
to the beat of “What time is it? Union strike]—that’s where we need to go now.”
time!” and “We are the union—the mighty, Thomas put Grant’s killing in a larger
mighty union!” perspective: “The war on the Black com-
Clarence Thomas, long-time ILWU munity, particularly on the youth of color,
Local 10 member and labor activist who always intensifies during times of econom-
co-chaired the rally with Jack Heyman, ic crisis. Oscar Grant could have been any
another ILWU dockworker, proudly an- one of our sons, nephews or grandsons.”
nounced, “All of the Bay Area ports are “We stopped international commerce
shut down today in honor of the fight for today. We shut down all of the ports. That’s
Community activists demand justice for Oscar Grant on Oct. 23. Photo: Judy Greenspan justice for Oscar Grant.” the power of the working class,” Thomas
This rally came just two weeks before announced.
the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle, Cristina Gutierrez, a Latina activist
Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) cop representing Barrio Unido, a San Fran-
PO Box 180195 PAID who shot and killed 22-year-old Grant, cisco-based organization for general and
Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL an unarmed Black man, as he was tightly unconditional amnesty for immigrants,
and additional restrained face down on a BART platform delivered a moving statement on the
mailing offices on Jan. 1, 2009. The labor and community strength of the unity of all people against
ISSN 0019-8870
protest was held to send a message to the oppression. “Yo soy Oscar Grant, I am
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
court demanding the harshest possible Oscar Grant, I am Mumia, I am Lynne
sentence for Mehserle. Stewart, I am Black, I am Brown, I am Chi-
Mehserle was charged with second- nese, I am a worker,” Gutierrez exclaimed.
degree murder, but he was convicted of “I am the one who came to this coun-
only involuntary manslaughter. Grant’s try to seek work. Unless we work hand in
mother, Wanda Johnson, said immediate- hand with our Black brothers and sisters,
ly after the verdict, “My son was murdered. we cannot win,” said Gutierrez.
He was murdered and the law has not held BART workers from the Amalgam-
the officer accountable” (San Francisco ated Transit Union Local 1555, led by past
Chronicle, July 9, 2010). president Harold Brown, stood together on
Many speakers noted the incredible stage and delivered a moving statement in
role played by the ILWU in supporting support of justice for Oscar Grant. Brown,
the rally. The union has a long history of a train operator on the BART line which
supporting anti-racist and progressive passes through the Fruitvale station, the
causes with work stoppages. The dock site of Grant’s killing, noted, “There’s not a
and warehouse workers union has also, Continued on 5
Page 2 • Industrial Worker • December 2010
nerves,” it was quite amusing to see that he former player Dave Meggysey said, “play-
Literature Review Is Invaluable misspelled our names multiple times. (For ers are being compensated for giving up
Fellow Workers, future reference when you write your next their middle age.”
It was with considerable sadness that I screed, it is “Parthun” and “McKeegan” not (6) The industry they work for makes
read on pages 12-13 in the November 2010 “Pathun” and “McGeehan”). billions. As a worker, they would be insane
Industrial Worker that FW Jon Bekken’s X365465 continuously admits that he not to demand as much of the revenue
“Annual Survey of Historical Writing on has limited knowledge of the subject, but as possible. Only for some reason, FW
the IWW” is to be the last of the series. that does not stop him from gloriously X365465 sees fit to demean and punish
Jon has performed an invaluable service
Letters Welcome! for people interested in this literature by
pontificating. While he beats the dead them for their bargaining successes.
Send your letters to: iw@iww.org horse of high pay for certain players, Just because FW X365465
compiling this information year by year. It his ignorance of the subject fails to has a “great deal of difficulty
with “Letter” in the subject.
is unlikely that any of our members will be mention: thinking of anybody in that sal-
Mailing address: able to continue this effort in the future. (1) The average career of an ary range as ‘workers’” does not
IW, P.O. Box 7430, JAF Station, New For this, as for many other services to the NFL player is three years. discount the idea. He skillfully
York, NY 10116, United States IWW, we are indebted to Jon Bekken. (2) A player must play 3.5 years and deftly avoided our discus-
Steve Kellerman, X325068 to get the minimum health care benefit sion about most players risking their lives
Get the Word Out! which is only five years. on every snap as well as the concurrent
IWW members, branches, job shops and Football Players ARE Workers! (3) Players will likely have health point that most players are not those that
other affiliated bodies can get the word By Neil Parthun and maladies requiring necessary care for receive national media attention. .
out about their project, event, campaign Dann McKeegan longer than those five years which means Furthermore, it should be noted that
or protest each month in the Industrial Editor’s Note: This will be the last in a the next 50+ years (if they live to expected there is not only one professional foot-
Worker. Send announcements to iw@ series of debate regarding this issue. life span for adult male) must be paid out ball league. The United Football League,
iww.org. Much appreciated donations The combination of arrogance and of their own earnings. Canadian Football League, American
for the following sizes should be sent to: ignorance shown in FW X365465’s let- (4) Nearly 50 percent of what they Professional Football League, Atlantic/
ter, “NFL Players Are Not Workers: The make is gone when factoring in income American Indoor Football League, Con-
IWW GHQ, Post Office Box 180195, Debate Continues,” which appeared in the taxes, their agent’s cut and their associa- tinental Indoor Football League, Indoor
Chicago, IL 60618, United States. August/September IW, was awe-inspiring. tion dues. Long term income is far from Football League, Southern Indoor Foot-
From apparently knowing my co-au- guaranteed. ball League and the slated All American
$12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide thor and myself so well that our arguments (5) Many NFL players die earlier than Football League and the Ultimate Indoor
$40 for 4” by 2 columns were not based on our love of radical poli- the expected life span due to the punish- Football League all beg to differ.
$90 for a quarter page tics and sports but rather a “tender set of ment taken in their chosen profession. As Continued on 4
Industrial Worker
The Voice of Revolutionary
IWW directory
Industrial Unionism Australia Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Andrew Nellis, Georgia New York City GMB: P.O. Box 7430, JAF Station,
Regional Organising Committee: P.O. Box 1866, spokesperson, 613-748-0460. ottawapanhandler- Atlanta: M. Bell, del.,404-693-4728, iwwbell@ 10116, iww-nyc@iww.org. www.wobblycity.org
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Munich: iww.muenchen@gmx.de 207-442-7779 iww.org
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Printer:
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December 3, 2010. California Utah
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tion, New York, NY 10116 Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH westmids@ San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buy- Missouri Burlington GMB: P.O. Box 8005, 05402. 802-540-
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Published monthly with the excep- iww.ca, vancouver.iww.ca, vancouverwob. 4corners@iww.org
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tion of March and September. Florida com. Bob Ratynski, del., 908-285-5426 #B, 53703. 608-262-9036
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Articles not so designated do gainesvilleiww@riseup.net Albuquerque GMB: 202 Harvard Dr. SE, 87106.
not reflect the IWW’s del., garthhardy@gmail.com 505-227-0206, abq@iww.org. GDC Local 4: P.O. Box 811, 53701. 608-262-9036.
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December 2010 • Industrial Worker • Page 3
T
The working class and the employing he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the several initiatives and 77 people, called
class have nothing in common. There can job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions attention to the “increase in bureaucratic-
be no peace so long as hunger and want today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and authoritarian control” and the need to
are found among millions of working distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire popu- counteract that trend through “promoting
people and the few, who make up the em- lation, not merely a handful of exploiters. dialogue” and “respecting the autonomy”
ploying class, have all the good things of
We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially – of initiatives and people that emerge in
life. Between these two classes a struggle
that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than dividing current Cuban society.
must go on until the workers of the world
organize as a class, take possession of the
workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. “It is not so much about demanding,
means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a truly it’s about us doing things for ourselves,
system, and live in harmony with the international union movement in order to confront the global power of the bosses contributing to Cuba. Although it’s legiti-
earth. and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fellow mate, we don’t believe in the usefulness of
We find that the centering of the man- workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. a position that solely accuses and criticizes.
agement of industries into fewer and fewer We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have In addition to pointing out the problems,
hands makes the trade unions unable to representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- it’s necessary to project toward future
cope with the ever-growing power of the nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition realities that have an emancipatory char-
employing class. The trade unions foster but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes acter,” summed up Dmitri Prieto.
a state of affairs which allows one set of this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with Assistance is needed with translation
workers to be pitted against another set an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. and other forms of solidarity. For more in-
of workers in the same industry, thereby Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific formation, contact libsolidaridadcubano@
helping defeat one another in wage wars. workplace, or across an industry. gmail.com. For further background, you
Moreover, the trade unions aid the employ- Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what issues may also visit http://elblogdelacatedra.
ing class to mislead the workers into the to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. blogspot.com and http://observatorio-
belief that the working class have interests
critico.blogspot.com.
in common with their employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation This story appeared in its original
These conditions can be changed and and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 180195, Chicago, IL
the interest of the working class upheld
format in March 2010 on http://www.
60618, USA. havanatimes.org.
only by an organization formed in such
Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated
a way that all its members in any one in-
according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues
Subscribe to the
dustry, or all industries if necessary, cease
are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500,
work whenever a strike or lockout is on in
dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues
any department thereof, thus making an
injury to one an injury to all. are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional
Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area).
Industrial Worker
Instead of the conservative motto, “A
10 issues for:
fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we __I affirm that I am a worker, and that I am not an employer. • US $18 for individuals.
must inscribe on our banner the revolu-
__I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. • US $20 for internationals.
tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage
• US $24 for institutions.
system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes.
It is the historic mission of the work- Name:_________________________________ Name: ____________________________
ing class to do away with capitalism. The
Address:_ ______________________________ Address:__________________________
army of production must be organized,
not only for the everyday struggle with City, State, Post Code, Country:________________ State/Province:___________________
capitalists, but also to carry on production Occupation:_ ____________________________ Zip/PC________________________
when capitalism shall have been over- Send to: PO Box 180195,
thrown. By organizing industrially we are Phone:_____________ Email:________________
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forming the structure of the new society Amount Enclosed:__________ Subscribe Today!
within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker.
Page 4 • Industrial Worker • December 2010
Workers Object To Manipulated Union Election The Jimmy John’s Election Is Only A Beginning
By Jimmy Johns Workers Union from the Department of Labor, Mulligan By FW b We’re realizing that we are stronger
MINNEAPOLIS – The Jimmy John’s spent over $84,500 on an anti-union On Oct. 22, the IWW Jimmy Johns now. We can continue to build this up
Workers Union has filed a 12-page Ob- campaign intended to prevent workers Workers Union lost a National Labor Rela- because there are a lot of ways towards
jection to the Oct. 22 National Labor from unionizing. tions Board (NLRB) election at a 10-store achieving our goal of being a majority
Relations Board (NLRB) election at 10 Tim Louris, of Minneapolis labor firm Jimmy John’s franchise by a single vote. union at Jimmy John’s.
Minneapolis sandwich shops, outlining Miller O’Brien Cummins, is assisting the This election itself was of historic We lost a battle but we’re in a war,
a pattern of pervasive and systemic labor union pro-bono in nav- importance for the and we’re not going to lose unless we give
rights violations that prevented the pos- igating the tricky wa- fast food industry as up and stop fighting—whether it be in
sibility of a free and fair vote. The union ters of labor law. Union well as for American this struggle at Jimmy John’s or in this
election, a first in fast food in the United spokespeople say the workers who are low society which systematically attacks and
States, was as close as they come, with 85 written objection to the on the food chain. undermines the power and livelihood of
votes in favor of the union, 87 against, and election results will be It was also a huge working people.
two challenged ballots. available to the public step forward for the Our lives are not a game. We are not
“Franchise owner Mike Mulligan de- within a few days. IWW—as a whole as going to let winning or losing a govern-
cided to go beyond the pale. His managers While filing with well as for our Twin ment game, however close it may be,
asked workers to wear anti-union pins, the NLRB to have the Cities GMB. determine whether or not we’re going to
fired pro-union workers, threatened a election results nulli- That being said, continue to fight to improve our lives.
mass firing, implemented an illegal wage fied, the workers also this moment is not Votes do not make our bills, kids or
freeze, tightened policies and retaliated plan to mount a cam- without grief. All of dreams disappear.
against union members, offered bribes, paign to win their de- us had to grieve, and We continue to meet every Sunday, as
and pressured workers to vote no. He mands without union the grieving will be we have been doing for nearly two years.
broke the law repeatedly in order to win, recognition. a longer process for Please keep an eye out or contact us for
and he just barely won. That’s not right. “Eighty-five yes Graphic: jimmyjohnsworkers.org some of us than oth- ways that you can help. When we stand
We are calling on the NLRB to set aside the votes, in spite of six ers. Even still, poor together in solidarity, we make history.
results of this election,” said worker and weeks of vicious union-busting, is a man- Jimmy John’s workers made bureaucratic Fast food workers need a new future—so
union member Emily Przybylski. date for change,” said Ayo Collins, another labor union history. does our society and so do we.
In response to his employees’ union worker and union member. “There are a When we met afterwards, it started out Get involved. Organize with your co-
campaign, franchise owner Mike Mulligan thousand ways we can put pressure on as a pretty sad gathering. However, while workers or peers. Join the IWW. Stand
hired a third-party anti-union consulting Jimmy John’s to win our demands for fair we may have started low, we did not stay up, make history. We have a whole world
firm, Labor Relations Inc., to prevent wages, sick days, consistent hours, and there. As time crept on, it became more to win.
employees from winning an NLRB union respect. We’re fired up, this fight is just and more apparent that low is not really For more information, visit: http://
election. According to documents obtained beginning.” the place we are at. www.jimmyjohnsworkers.org
Bristol Wobblies Defend Public Services Solidarity With Peace Activists Raided By The FBI
By the Chicago IWW
At the October meeting of the Chicago General Mem-
bership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World,
the members voted unanimously to draft a Letter of Soli-
darity with the Peace Activists raided by the FBI on Sept.
24, 2010. We wish to show our support specifically for
the three Chicago activists and one from Minneapolis, as
well as all other activists who were raided by the FBI:
Stephanie Weiner
Joe Isobaker
Hatem Abudayyeh Graphic: stopfbi.net
Mick Kelly
Photo: © The Invisible Photographer
The Membership of the Chicago IWW GMB call on the U.S. Department of
Members of the recently-formed Bristol IWW demonstrate to defend pub- Justice to drop the Grand Jury proceedings against the Peace Activists, and for
lic services at a rally on Oct. 23 in the City Centre of Bristol, U.K. The demon- the FBI to cease spying on and raiding Labor and Peace activists, and to return all
stration was called by the Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Alliance. materials seized in the recent raids to the U.S. Citizens who were raided.
Students, Workers Occupy The Millbank Tower In London Port Shutdown Demands Justice For Oscar Grant
Continued from 1 communities in our campuses, pushing Continued from 1 Teachers Association.
Porter quickly lined himself up behind for occupations, sit-ins, walkouts and the day that goes by that I don’t think of Oscar Throughout the afternoon, rally orga-
his future employers joining the Labour inclusion of those often excluded and mar- Grant. This should never have happened.” nizers reminded the crowd, “We cannot
Party in its denunciations. Prime Min- ginalized in these struggles (the cleaners, The impetus for the justice rally came let this movement end today.” Plans are
ister David Cameron, for his part, has porters, administrative and security staff from members of Oscar Grant’s family, underway to keep the momentum of this
been quick to criminalize the protesters, who quietly labor in our universities for who went to the ILWU seeking their sup- coalition going.
talking once more of ramping up policing less than the minimum wage). port. The highpoint of the event came (Article copyright 1995-2010 Workers
in the capital—this is while the death of Media pundits and politicians have when a large group of Grant’s family and World. Verbatim copying and distribution
Ian Tomlinson at the hands of the Metro- also argued, and continue to argue, that friends took the stage. of this entire article is permitted in any
politan Police lingers strong in the minds students are somehow privileged or self- The atmosphere on the plaza became medium without royalty provided this
of many of us. None of the assessments interested. This is the same divisive tactic electrified when Grant’s six-year-old notice is preserved).
of the Millbank protesters as a “militant being used against all public sector work- daughter Tatiana was introduced to the --------
minority,” “the Socialist Worker Party” or ers. In reality, as many students explained crowd. A moving letter to the sentencing Editor’s Note: Former BART police Offi-
“anarchist” alone is accurate. Such a claim through TV interviews, this protest was judge demanding the maximum sentence cer Johannes Mehserle was sentenced on
is made even more ridiculous by the roll- not so much for themselves but for their for Grant’s killer was read by Tatiana’s Nov. 5. He received a two-year sentence
ing 24-hour news coverage that not only younger brothers and sisters or even aunt. but, with credit for time he has already
showed a clear diversity of students and for their future children who otherwise Other speakers at the gathering in- served behind bars, Mehserle will be eli-
education workers (yes, we were there wouldn’t be able to go to university. This cluded Bobby Seale and Elaine Brown, gible for release in about seven months.
too) taking great pleasure in smashing is similar to the concern that many public former leaders of the Black Panther Party, His attorney, Michael Rains, said he will
windows, office equipment and scuffling workers have for service users, who will and representatives from several unions appeal the involuntary manslaughter
with the police, but the interviews with the undoubtedly also suffer from cuts to ser- including the Service Employees and the conviction and in the meantime will try
occupiers themselves who often admitted vices. We cannot allow these strong ties of Oakland Education Association/California to win Mehserle's release on bail.
this had been their first protest. solidarity, across generations and between
Yes, the anarchists were also involved service providers and service users, to be 100 Donors For The Organizing Fund!
in this action: of course we were. But what undermined. The rhetoric that certain From the Organizer's Notebook
is this notion of the “apolitical” student workers/students are a privileged group The Organizer’s Notebook is proud to spearhead an effort to secure 100 dona-
and education worker that is being pro- implies they should not be supported by tions to the Organizing Department Fund Drive.
moted by the media? Does the fact that others. We need to recognize this for what There can be no doubt that the Organizer Training Program has been instru-
we are anarchists preclude us from being it is—divide and rule. mental in all of the IWW’s recent campaigns and in the creation of the national
“normal people,” from acting in solidarity We also affirm our commitment to organizing committees in the construction, courier, education, freight trucker, and
with our fellow workers and students? We supporting all those who were victimized foodstuffs industries. Fellow Workers, we need to build on this success! The first
reject such a paralyzing construct. It is de- and arrested as the result of their actions at step to achieving this is to go into your own workplace and keep plugging away at
signed to suffocate us, to force us into the Millbank Towers. We encourage all educa- the organizing. The second is to go to http://pledgie.com/campaigns/11822 and
image of the respectful, peaceful and, ulti- tion workers and students to do the same. make a donation to the Organizer Training Fund so that the union can develop the
mately, obedient and ineffectual protester. The action on Nov. 10 was a sign of training program further and make sure that our trainers continue to travel around
We, like many of our fellow students and things to come. The students and educa- the country and help workers in need.
workers, recognize that only direct action tion workers have been the first to speak Do not delay, let’s make it a group goal to get 100 donations to the fund before the
will bring about meaningful change. That in response to the austerity attacks, and we time the next Organizer’s Notebook is published! Five minutes and $10 is all that it
in order to fight the cuts we need to be not encourage the rest of the working class to takes to ensure the IWW continues to grow as a force for working-class power. Check
only fighting on the streets but building follow (see page 12). out the “donate” button on the left-hand side of http://www.iww.org for more info.
Page 6 • Industrial Worker • December 2010
Special
Observations On The Struggle At Castle wood: Healthcare for employees with fami-
lies went from zero to $739.08 a month
and became available only to full-time
employees, of which there were now none
thanks to the new decision to scramble
up the schedule to make sure nobody
got enough hours to get there. Senior-
ity, always more of an abstract concept
rather than an actual thing, was now just
completely gone. No one had seen their
$1 pay raise in a while. Rumors that the
owners were also trying to put Delta House
on academic probation and attempting
to steal Christmas also began circulating.
In addition to this, the management
began putting up signs telling the staff not
to speak to the guests at the golf course.
The housekeeping staff found themselves
replaced by non-union contractors,
pushed out of a job with no warning at
all. When the workers protested this, they
came to work one day to find themselves
locked out.
A few days later, the owners invited all
locked out Castlewood staff to a breakfast
on the company’s dime, all on the clock
and paid, which immediately set off alarm
bells. Undoubtedly they expected manage-
ment to seal them all in there and set the
place on fire, which would be in keeping
with their business practices thus far. But
they went anyway, and were greeted with
Workers picket outside the Castlewood Country Club in May. Photo: Brooke Anderson, indybay.org the only proposal the owners of the place
have been willing to give since the contract
By James Robert Porter kind of shiny version of Lord Humongous's “Hey, wait a second,” one of them said. expired.
We got five miles into California before army from “Mad Max,” and since I left my “What's all this union shit about, anyway? They were told that they were going
I started gagging. hockey mask and gimp slave in my other Isn’t this America? Don’t we have the right to vote on whether they still wanted their
“Gah!” I gasped, stumbling out of the chariot, I was woefully under-equipped. to pay our workers whatever we want? union or not. If they voted against the
car before dropping to the ground, retch- So why would I leave the safety of Who’s the government to say that we can’t union, then the bosses promised them
ing. “What the hell is this stuff?” Mother Desert, with her sandstorms and pay them 11 cents an hour if the market their jobs back the very next day. If they
Jackie was in the passenger seat, soothing radiation, to brave the untamed will bear it?” voted for the union, they would remain
coughing spasmodically. capitalist wilds of California? The only That’s what was going through the locked out and their jobs would be re-
“It’s...I think it’s fresh air,” she said. things California has are rich people and Castlewood owners’ minds as they pon- placed.
A lifetime of living in Nevada means the ocean, and I hate one of those and am dered the unique situation they were in. At this point, most of the staff had no
not being ready for the actual trees that terrified of the other. Suddenly, it was okay to start screwing idea that they even had a union. They
create actual air. Our lungs aren’t designed Well, almost a year ago, the Castle- workers again. And since they pretty much Continued on next page
for something that isn’t 95 percent dust wood Country Club in Pleasanton found resemble every evil 1980s movie villain
and five percent poison. their contract with the workers’ union all wrapped up, they were
“Aw, Gawd!” I said. “It’s horrible!” running out. Most of the time this is no big totally cool with that.
Jackie didn’t answer. She was busy deal. Usually management and the union The previous contract,
coughing up 28 years’ worth of dust out leaders get together, address any issues admittedly, was pretty
of her lungs. It took a while. either party has, and then hammer out a sweet. It provided free
Besides the fact that California is not contract that usually sounds an awful lot health care to all employ-
the howling radioactive wasteland Nevada like the last contract, because the last one ees, a guaranteed $1 raise
is, there’s another reason why we don’t go was working, damn it. Nine times out of every year, guaranteed
there, and that’s the traffic. As a resident ten, nobody gives a damn. hours regardless of full-
of Reno, I’m more used to the apathetic However, this is an unusual climate. time or part-time employ-
kind of traffic we get here. Nobody is in Since the intellectual elite had the utter ment and seniority recog-
a hurry because there’s no place worth gall to elect a “black liberal communist nition when considering
going to. We’re an island in the middle of Nazi socialist demon-worshiping secret management openings,
an honest-to-God Wild West movie, only Uhuru devil God” to office, the right-wing among other things. Also
none of us have guns and everyone’s too crazies have suddenly crawled out of the admittedly, the economy
tired to kill someone anyway. holes they’ve been sitting inside all this was and is kind of going
Compare that to California, which is time, penning manifestos. Someone gave through a rough patch. The
full of irritating go-getters who get up in them all the mistaken idea that they have owners most likely HAD to
the morning to be places, and oh my God something resembling legitimacy, and drop something. I under-
I’m already exhausted just describing it. they started throwing their outdated ideas stand that.
Since everyone is in a hurry to be every- to each other like it was the World’s Soft- But they cut EVERY-
where all at once, you wind up with some ball Tournament for Fools. THING. Kids & parents against injustice. Photo: endthelockout.org
Special
Reviews
Wobbly Arts
Assessment Stamp
for Friends of the
Palestinian Workers Group
Happy Holidays!
Benefit stamp designed by
For a World
underground cartoonist without bosses,
Spain Rodriquez.
Send $5 and a SASE to sparrow at IWW San the Industrial Worker
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