Labor Day in New York
Defend Charleston 5 and organize!
By Heather Cottin
New York
Unions representing the women and men who run this city
marched down Fifth Avenue in the annual Labor Day parade on
Sept. 8.
The UNITE contingent of garment and textile workers, who
used to have the poorest paying jobs in the city, was one of
the largest and most militant. "You've got to be a
revolutionary or we're not going to get anywhere!" said
Modesta, who was born in Panama.
"You've got to fight for what you need. You've got to teach
your children to fight for their rights! Workers are getting
more militant," she explained, "and not just here, but
everywhere that exploitation is spreading, all around the
world."
The theme of opposition to "free trade" was echoed in signs
carried by many unions. Ralph from the Public Employees
Federation said "free trade" means sweatshop labor.
Bands played "Solidarity Forever" as workers representing
the heart and blood of the city marched. Musicians, bus
drivers, seamstresses and hotel workers thronged the side
streets, waiting patiently to join the parade.
Signs and banners carried by Longshore locals called for
freedom for the Charleston Five. "They have been cleared of
every charge, but there is a conspiracy to keep them locked
up," said Herbert Hall of ILA Local 1233. "They have been under
house arrest for 19 months. The bosses are trying to persecute
the unions, and we're out here today to protest. ILA was very
vocal about its opposition to flying the Confederate flag in
South Carolina's capital, and we think that is one of the
reasons they're in a conspiracy against the Charleston
Five."
Delta flight attendants chanted, "We want a contract, a
mighty, mighty contract." Delta has been non-union for decades.
After absorbing Pam Am workers, it broke their Flight
Attendants union. Organizers from Seattle and Los Angeles
joined the New York flight attendants and spoke of their
struggle.
"We're trying to petition the National Mediation Board to
allow a representation election," said Rick Smaglo from L.A.,
who has been with Delta for 23 years. Delta union organizers
have been harassed and threatened by the bosses since they
began their militant union drive.
"This is the biggest organization of airline workers--20,000
strong. Delta signed with the pilots, now we deserve a contract
in writing, with wage increases and benefits. The bosses voted
themselves a big bonus, and then," said Karen Williams, a Delta
flight attendant for 33 years, "they gave us a coupon for a
six-pack of cola!"
Larry Adams, president of Local 300 of the Letter Carriers
Union, expressed regret that "Right-wing members of the union
Executive Board prevented us from carrying our banner calling
for justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal." However, most of the march
ers in his local wore "Free Mumia" ribbons. A smaller local of
postal workers did carry a banner calling for "Freedom for
Mumia."
Organizers for the Sept. 29 demonstration to surround the
White House report passing out thousands of leaflets to the
crowd.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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