Vol. 77/No. 12      April 1, 2013

“Enclosed is a blood money donation of $790, proceeds from sale of company stock distributed through a profit-sharing plan,” Boeing worker Dean Peoples from Seattle wrote in a note he sent with his check. “Let it be used to strengthen the cause of the working class.”

During six weeks from January to March, seven workers made contributions to the Socialist Workers Party Capital Fund totaling more than $2,100. “Blood money,” used to describe the source of these contributions, refers to bonuses and other bribes used by the bosses to press us to accept wage cuts, dangerous working conditions and concession contracts.

Eric Simpson in San Francisco sent a check for $60, an “on time” bonus to all United Airlines’ employees.

“The tentative agreement before the membership of my union in March is three years late,” Simpson wrote. “If the agreement between the International Association of Machinists and the merged Continental and United companies is approved, it will take 10 years for my class of probationary employees—hired in 2012—to reach ‘full pay.’”

Robert Dees works at a door factory in Houston and sent in $510, a combination of a Christmas bonus, two gift cards and a bonus “because ‘the sales department did well this month.’ I suspect it has more to do with the 10-, 12- and 14-hour days we were putting in,” he wrote.

Such blood money donations are a pillar of the Capital Fund, which helps finance long-range work of the party. To make a contribution, contact Militant distributors.

—EMMA JOHNSON