Vol. 74/No. 27      July 19, 2010

Campaigners in New York will begin collecting 7,000 signatures on July 9 to place Róger Calero on the ballot for U.S. Congress in the 15th district in Manhattan. They are also fielding Daniel Fein for governor and Willie Cotton and Ruth Robinett for the two U.S. Senate seats that are open in New York.

Speaking at the July 4 event Calero pointed out workers in New York City are facing deep attacks. Two months after the closing of St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, Harlem's North General Hospital was closed July 2, laying off 900 workers. The city's Metropolitan Transit Authority just eliminated 38 bus and 2 subway lines, and reduced service on 11 subway lines and 76 bus routes.

A new 2011 city budget cuts $1 billion through measures like slashing jobs, eliminating some senior centers and day-care programs, and decreasing funding for education and adult literacy.

Calero told those gathered at the barbecue that New York was not alone in going after workers and explained how the California governor is using a legislative impasse on a new budget there to lower the pay of 200,000 state workers to minimum wage.

Pointing to the fact that nearly half of all those who are unemployed in the United States have been out of work for six months or more, Calero said the SWP campaign "demands a shorter workweek with no cut in pay to spread available work around and pay increases that keep pace with inflation."

"We need to use our unions, and organize unions where we don't have them, so workers can more effectively fight against the speedup and unsafe conditions bosses are increasingly imposing on the job," said Calero. "We need workers control of safety on the job so that we can exercise veto power in the workplace to stop unsafe practices." This is the only way to save lives in the mines, mills, and factories and prevent catastrophic accidents like the BP oil disaster in the Gulf, which took 11 workers’ lives and is ruining the livelihoods of thousands of others, he said.

"We will make gains in the course of struggle, but they will always be under constant threat," Calero said. "That is why we need the working class in power, to begin organizing society from top to bottom in the interests of the great majority—working people."

Calero invited those present to help collect signatures to place the SWP on the ballot and join in the campaigning through the fall.
 
 
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