As capitalism has entered the opening stages of a depression, the largest employers—from coal operators like Horizon, to steel firms, and airlines such as United, Northwest, and Delta—are using bankruptcy proceedings to declare null and void union contracts that supposedly guaranteed jobs, wages, and benefits.

As has been demonstrated at the major airlines, agreeing to company concession demands only whets the appetite of the boss for more attacks on wages, benefits, and job conditions. However, in a number of recent fights, by relying on picket line militancy, unity of the trade unions involved, and broader labor solidarity important victories have been won by working people: from Brooks, Alberta, where meat packers won union recognition and their first contract; to the southwestern United States, where copper workers pushed back Asarco’s concession demands; to Houston, where truckers struck and won better rates.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that working people and their unions can’t once and for all stop layoffs, plant shutdowns, and related cuts of medical and other benefits, until they establish a workers and farmers government, topple capitalism, and join the struggle for a society based on human solidarity.

In the short-run, however, it’s high time to push for dropping the approach the labor officialdom adopted in the post-World War II boom of seeking fringe benefits in individual contracts, which tie working people to the profitability and competitiveness of the boss.

It’s time to push for our unions to campaign for public works programs to repair the deteriorating infrastructure and put millions to work. For unemployment compensation at union scale for the duration of joblessness. For socializing medicine to provide government-funded, lifetime health care for all. For government-guaranteed pensions that provide a living income.

As more workers are forced on the picket lines and into other struggles to defend their livelihoods from the bosses’ attacks, millions can be won to fight for such demands to protect the entire working class from the ills of the profit system in decline.
 
 
Related articles:
GM workers speak out against layoffs, plant shutdowns  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home