Vol. 77/No. 23      June 17, 2013

 
‘Blood money’ bonuses sent to
advance workers’ cause
 
In April and May five workers from around the country sent in a total of $1,357 in “blood money” bribes from bosses to the Socialist Workers Party’s Capital Fund, which helps finance the long-range work of the revolutionary party. “I just sent a check for $301 that came from our quarterly production bonus at Electro-Motive Diesel,” wrote Laura Anderson from Chicago, in a note accompanying her contribution. “Not all workers received it. If you had missed a day, came late, were injured or sick; if your department scrap rate was too high; and of course if the company’s production goal was not made in your department, you did not get a check. Happy to send it so it can be put to good use.” Ellie Garcia, an aerospace worker in Los Angeles, sent in $336.72. “This one’s not for safety, because too many workers were hurt in the last fiscal year,” she said. Robert Dees from Houston sent $400, given to workers at the door plant where he works. “As before, the boss claimed it was because ‘the sales department did well this month,’ but in fact it is a small portion of the wealth produced by hard work, lots of overtime, and unsafe working conditions.” If you would like to make a contribution to the SWP Capital Fund, please contact the Militant distributor nearest to you. For a directory, see page 8.

—SUSAN LAMONT