Vol. 78/No. 3 January 27, 2014
January 27, 1989
The efforts of Latin American governments to keep up interest payments on the $430 billion they owe to financial institutions in the imperialist countries are creating a social and economic catastrophe for working people. This was driven home by two recent events — the attack by Mexico’s government on the oil workers’ union and the imposition by Brazil’s government of new, anti-working-class austerity measures.Driving down the standard of living of workers and farmers in Latin America makes it easier for the employers to step up attacks on wages, living standards, and union rights elsewhere.
The labor movement and farmers’ organizations around the world need to throw their full backing behind the working people of Latin America in the defensive struggles they are waging. We should join them in demanding that the unpayable and inhuman debt be canceled now.
January 27, 1964
A general strike that paralyzed Cuzco, Peru’s third largest city; increasing conflicts and arrests as peasants occupy large landed estates; an agrarian reform bill bogged down in Peru’s parliament; and a vote of no-confidence in the governing party’s prime minister. Such are the powerful repercussions on Peru’s political life of the Indian peasants’ growing demand for “Land or Death.”Cuzco, ancient Inca capital, was shaken Dec. 20 by a militant 24-hour general strike. The strikers’ central demand was the release of Hugo Blanco and 60 other peasant leaders held prisoners by the government, according to an Agence France Presse report.
Cuzco’s general strike, organized by a united front of peasant, student and workers’ organizations, underscored a hunger strike by imprisoned peasant leaders, including Blanco.
January 28, 1939
OMAHA, Neb. — When an irresistible union meets an “immovable” boss group, then either the boss group moves, or goes broke. That’s the way the cards lay on the table in the epic 20-week battle between the Omaha General Drivers Union 554 (Irresistible!) and the Omaha Business Men’s Association.The nonunion boss operators must face the fact that they no longer represent a majority of their own industry. Within the Omaha region, 68 percent of the over-the-road motor freight industry have signed up.
The significance of this strike would be difficult to overestimate. It opens up another inland empire to the entering wedge of militant union organization. That this significance is realized by unions throughout the entire 11-state area is proved by the cash-on-the-line contributions as well as fraternal greetings to the besieged strikers which are pouring in.
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