Vol. 74/No. 29      August 2, 2010

The money Craine sent is from a settlement between the United Food and Commercial Workers union and Farmer John, a pork slaughterhouse in Los Angeles, for years of not paying workers for the time needed to put on, remove, and clean their smocks, protective equipment, and tools.

“The blood-money character of this settlement is highlighted by the way it came on the eve of the company and union officials pushing through a lousy contract—six years with total raises of $2; some workers in higher tiers getting no raises, instead lump sums; and increases in health costs,” Craine wrote.

Class-conscious workers refer to these bribes as blood money because the bosses use them to buy workers’ silence over speedup, low pay, long hours, and unsafe conditions. The communist movement has a proud tradition of not accepting such bribes.

Vivian Sahner in Atlanta sent in a blood money check of $2,274. “Each year we get a little slice of the money made, to try to get us on board to work harder in the next year,” her note said. “I’m glad to see it go to a good purpose.” Sahner, who works as a customer service representative, said this bribe is a small pittance aimed at convincing workers they have a stake in the company. Meanwhile, the bosses have imposed a wage freeze and increased the amount workers have to pay for health coverage.

—CINDY JAQUITH