BY DON PANE 
CHARLESTON, South Carolina—Three copies of Capitalism's World Disorder, 129 Militants, and 1 Militant subscription were sold by a Militant sales and reporting team here.

Fifty-five International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) members bought the paper at the union hall on February 2, as they picked up their paychecks. One longshoreman also decided to purchase a copy of Capitalism's World Disorder. The Militant's headline backing the dockworkers' struggle was welcomed by many.

Adrianne McNeil, a young dockworker, told salespeople, "I believe the State Port Authority should recognize that the ILA makes this port what it is today. They are helping some employers use nonunion labor in the middle of the night to unload ships.

"We are going to fight and we are going to be victorious," she said.

At a literature table outside the student union of the University of Charleston, two copies of Capitalism's World Disorder were sold to students who also signed up on the mailing list for more information about the Young Socialists. One Militant subscription and 18 single issues were sold to the students, most of whom thought the dockworkers were getting a bum rap in the local media coverage.

Members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) at Georgetown Steel likened what happened to the longshoremen as similar to what the cops did to them during their strike a few years ago. Georgetown Steel is a basic steel mill with more than 500 workers, 95 percent of whom belong to the union in this "right-to-work" state. At an afternoon shift change 35 steelworkers purchased a copy of the paper.

One of the USWA members suggested that the team do a sale at the Alcoa Aluminum plant in Goose Creek, where he thought the USWA had recently won a union vote. We followed his advice the next morning.

Some 700 Alcoa workers have not yet won union recognition and recently lost a representation election. One older worker said he was originally against the union efforts, until he opened his eyes and saw what was really going on. He then became one of the most energetic in signing up people for the union election. Workers bought 13 copies of the Militant.

A worker at a restaurant who heard team members talking about our experience said he had gone to the 50,000-strong Martin Luther King Day march in Columbia, South Carolina, January 17 with his wife and child.

When he saw "a socialist newsweekly published in the interests of working people" inscribed on the paper's masthead he responded, "This is great!" and bought the paper.

He said the first article he wanted to read was on "Che Guevara Talks to Young People." He wished us luck in Charleston and hoped to see the paper again.

Four more papers were sold to workers at the giant new International Paper mill across the street from Georgetown Steel.  
 

Many workers were interested in the Militant's coverage of the Martin Luther King Day protests that took place around the country including in Columbia, South Carolina, where 50,000 marched to protest the flying of the Confederate battle flag over the State Capitol building there. Several were interested in the prominent coverage in the paper given to the national drive of truckers to win representation by the Teamsters union at Overnite Transportation company.

In a trailer park where many Purdue employees live, eight workers told their story and bought copies of the Militant. At a visit to the plant gate at the night shift change, workers coming out bought 14 more papers. The following day during the factory's 30 minute lunch break, a couple dozen workers made quick stops into a restaurant next door to the plant and took a few minutes to talk with the Militant supporters. They got six more copies of the paper.

In addition, Militant supporters placed two copies of Capitalism's World Disorder in stores in nearby Ahoskie, North Carolina. One book was placed in a Native American Crafts store. The owner also bought the pamphlet Genocide Against the Indians for himself and said he would consider ordering it for his store. A second copy of Capitalism's World Disorder was placed in a bookstore that carries mainly religious titles. The manager was happy to add the book to her selection and indicated she would order more books for Black History Month.  
 

Volunteers needed for Charleston team

Over the next several weeks a team of Militant supporters will be based out of Charleston. Participants in the team will sell the Militant and Pathfinder books to working people in the region, and will gather facts on the struggles of working people there.

Naomi Craine, until recently the editor of the Militant, is organizing the team. Volunteers are welcome. If you are available, please call the Militant at (212) 243-6392.  
 
 
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