The string of plane crashes, train collisions, refinery explosions, and other industrial catastrophes over the past few years, are a direct result of cost-cutting and downsizing by the bosses in their attempts to shore up sagging profit margins. They have reduced maintenance crews and safety equipment, while imposing longer working hours on fewer workers. This drive by the employers for profit directly threatens workers' and public safety. It is the other side of the capitalist class's assault on the social wage of working people - which includes welfare, pension benefits, and Social Security.

The U.S. government has conducted the largest and most expensive investigation in aviation history - including 3,200 forays by scuba divers. Despite lack of evidence, Washington refuses to drop the theory that a bomb caused the crash of TWA Flight 800. The Clinton administration is trying to use the crash to push its "antiterrorist" propaganda as a way to advance undemocratic measures. This is aimed at intimidating fighters who oppose the rulers' offensive against social gains and union activists protesting the bosses' cutbacks on the job.

Working conditions and public safety will worsen unless class conscious fighters struggle against these assaults. A stronger union increases safety on the railroads, in the airlines and mines, and in other workplaces. Public safety improves when union militants stand up and fight to improve working conditions, shorten the hours of labor, and increase wages.

The labor movement must put itself in the middle of the fight for universal social security protection, real health and safety enforcement, and effective protection of the environment.

More unions should emulate the Association of Flight Attendants' protest against the government's decision to permit ValuJet Airlines to resume flights following a deadly crash in May. That disaster is one example of how the wealthy owners of capital and their government will disregard the lives of millions of people in order to maximize profits.

The question of safety is a fundamental matter of working- class pride and morale. That's why working people around the world must take the moral high ground in the battle against the exploiting class and oppose their "antiterror" measures, as well as the bosses' cuts on safety.  
 
 
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