Vol. 76/No. 20      May 21, 2012

Laura Anderson in Chicago recently sent in a “blood money” donation to the Socialist Workers Party’s Capital Fund, which finances long-range work of the party. Blood money is a term communist workers use to describe “bonuses” and other bribes used by bosses as they press concession contracts, speedup, dangerous conditions and wage cuts. Below is a note Anderson sent with her check.

Industrial train workers in United Auto Workers Local 719 at Electro-Motive Diesel in Lagrange, Ill., recently received $2,574 each in blood money after ratifying a union-busting contract.

The vote was the third in the last seven months, after our local voted down a contract twice. We watched Caterpillar, the owner of EMD, lock out our sister Canadian Auto Workers Local 27 in London, Ontario, in January after they voted down a contract that included a 50 percent wage cut. Local 27 organized round-the-clock pickets and a rally of 10,000 union supporters. Caterpillar shut the plant down and moved production to a nonunion plant in Muncie, Ind.

We were told that this bonus was a “reward” for increasing production and profits. The new contract includes: all new hires will be supplemental workers and will have no union backing for two years, nor paid holidays or vacation; higher skilled workers will take an $11 pay cut; no more cost of living adjustments; overtime pay only after 40 hours worked; a 401(k) plan to replace pensions; an increase in insurance payments; and a new yearly 12-point attendance system that includes getting a point for going home sick or injured.

A coworker who voted down the contract said, “This bonus is nothing more than a spotted carrot. We’re going to see some hard times until we start using our union.”

To make a contribution, contact Militant distributors listed on page 6.  
 
 
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