Italie, a sewing machine operator, was the Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor of Miami in the 2001 elections. Goodwill bosses fired him October 22 a few days after a televised debate where he explained his opposition to the war in Afghanistan and his defense of the Cuban Revolution.

Goodwill CEO Dennis Pastrana told the Miami Herald on October 30 that he fired the socialist candidate because "we cannot have anyone who is attempting to subvert the United States of America."

Italie and his supporters have mounted a nationwide campaign to defend workers' rights and have gathered thousands of signatures demanding the socialist worker be rehired by Goodwill. The fight has joined with others across the country who are also standing up to firings and victimization by the employers and the government.

On March 4, Goodwill filed a formal appeal of Italie's eligibility to receive unemployment benefits. A hearing was set for April 2 at the Office of Appeals in Miami. In its appeal Goodwill representative Annette Doelling said: "The claimant was discharged for violation of a reasonable and known policy. We feel benefits should be denied and we request relief of charges."

The State of Florida Unemployment Compensation Program had ruled last December that Italie "was discharged because of political views. Benefits are payable because the discharge was for reason other than misconduct connected with the work."

Attorney Ray Taseff, who agreed to represent Italie at the appeal hearing, was notified of Goodwill's withdrawal when he called the Florida Office of Appeals to institute discovery proceedings to get documents from company files on Italie's firing.

"Goodwill Industries backed down from its challenge of my unemployment benefits because the company doesn't want more attention drawn to its reprehensible action of firing me for my political beliefs," Italie said in an interview. "Goodwill feared paying the political price for being exposed at the hearing as a company that not only fires workers for advocating their political views, but also is trying to cut off my weekly $177 unemployment benefits and starve me out. "I will not be intimidated," said the socialist worker. "I will continue to speak out in defense of my rights and those of all working people. This week I plan on joining the walk by widows and coal miners' wives on its way to Washington as they continue their fight for black lung benefits. It is struggles such as this that point the way forward for all working people and strengthen fights such as mine for justice against Goodwill."  
 
 
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