BY JOHN SARGE AND DOUG DOUTHAT
DETROIT - "There is no easy way to get justice," Kate DeSmet, a striking member of Newspaper Guild Local 22, explained. "The reason I'm out 365 days later is that I have values that are worth more than a paycheck. It means something to stand up with other workers who care as much about my job as they care about their jobs. We won't crawl back without our union contract."

DeSmet was addressing 1,000 strikers and their supporters in front of the Detroit News building at a July 13 protest to mark the beginning of year two on the picket line.

Some 2,500 editorial, production, and distribution workers, organized in six unions, went on strike July 13, 1995, against this city's two daily newspapers, the News and Free Press, and their business agent, the Detroit Newspaper Agency (DNA). The workers are fighting to protect jobs, wages, working conditions, and their right to negotiate jointly.

After the rally in downtown Detroit the strikers and their supporters held a mock funeral procession to the north printing plant in Sterling Heights, with a casket to symbolize the "death of two great newspapers." The Sterling Heights plant was the scene of mass picketing last August and September. After repeated assaults by the police and company goons on the picket lines and mobilizations of up to 3,000 strikers and their supporters, delaying the distribution of the newspapers, the companies got a court injunction that limits picketing.

The gathering in Sterling Heights featured an open mike for strikers. Dave Mills, a striking Teamster, explained that while the strikers were holding a funeral to mark the death of the newspapers, that didn't mean the strike was over. He promised the employers, "I'll be around three days after we win the strike, alive and kicking."

Carol O'Neal, a striking member of the pressmen's local union, explained that "80 percent of the strikers are still out, and we welcome any of the 20 percent who crossed the picket line or the scabs the companies have hired to join us. We're fighting for everyone."

Many strikers raised the idea, both from the stage and informally, of a national labor march in Detroit in support of all striking workers. No date has yet been set for such an action.

The strikers were joined by small groups of workers from around the country. Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers marched from their national convention at a hotel in downtown Detroit to join the demonstration. Grain millers, who had heard a report on the fight at a recent regional conference, came in from Battle Creek, Michigan, and London, Ontario. There were small groups of pressmen from around the country who had come in to support the strike. At least one United Auto Workers member who had been part of the Caterpillar strike was on hand.

In the week before July 13 the strikers stepped up their activity. They held expanded pickets in front of editorial offices and distribution centers. They carried out protests in front of scabs' homes and at a softball game between scabs and a major advertising agency. At a Sterling Heights City Council meeting 100 strikers protested the continued police harassment.

On July 12, facing a federal court injunction, the six striking unions signed an binding agreement demanded by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The arrangement says strikers must not "restrain, threaten or coerce replacement workers or any employees of Detroit Newspapers, Detroit Free Press or The Detroit News because they choose to cross a picket line."

This action against the unionists comes as the NLRB hearings on unfair labor practice charges against the companies drag on. After a July 11 hearing the proceeding were adjourned until July 29. The charges were brought early in the strike.

Strikers expressed a determination to hang tough and continue their fight. Andy Holt, a Newspaper Guild member, said, "Can you imagine working the next 20 or 30 years without a union? I'd rather stay out here than go back under those conditions."

The strikers are keeping up their picket lines. They picket street hawkers of the scab papers on Sundays, the most important newspaper edition of the week. The unions' speakers bureau sends strikers across the country, wherever they can get an invitation, to explain the fight and win support.

The strikers' spirits have been buoyed by acts of solidarity from other workers. United Auto Workers Union Local 160 reported they have raised $60,000 for the strikers and challenged other locals to do the same. Ontario grain millers have taken pledges and guarantee $280 a month to help a striking family.

DeSmet, summing up what many strikers fell, explained, "On July 13, 1995, we didn't just get a picket sign. We got the freedom to stand up, speak out, and fight back. That is a freedom I'm not willing to give up."

John Sarge is a member of UAW Local 900. Doug Douthat is a member of UAW Local 247 and the Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Congress in the 12th District.  
 
 
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