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Vol. 78/No. 21      June 2, 2014

 
25, 50, and 75 Years Ago
 
June 2, 1989
The coming days and weeks are important ones for the nearly 18,000 strikers at Eastern Airlines, and for growing numbers of working people who count themselves in on the Eastern workers’ battle to defend themselves and their unions.

With the bankruptcy court’s approved sale of Eastern’s New York-Boston-Washington shuttle to financial speculator Donald Trump, the first major step toward carving up the airline is being taken. Striking Machinists, union members, flight attendants, and pilots are thinking through what the next stages will be in their fight, and how to advance their struggle as these moves unfold.

The way forward in the strikers’ fight to defend themselves against Eastern’s union-busting drive lies in continuing along the same road they’ve been on since the strike started: maintaining strong visible picket lines and reaching out for wider solidarity.

June 1, 1964

Malcolm X returned from Africa yesterday and held a press conference at Harlem’s Hotel Theresa. His very brief opening statement and his answers to the many questions asked by reporters showed that the trip had not changed his views about situation of Negroes in America.

Commenting on the civil rights bill, Malcolm X said that he did not think any of the politicians were really for civil rights and that they were being hypocritical. He singled out President Johnson on this question and pointed out that his good friend Richard Russell, was leading the Senate fight against the bill.

When challenged by a reporter about the connection between Johnson’s friendship with Russell and his views on civil rights, Malcolm X replied:

“If you tell me you’re against robbing banks and your best friend is Jesse James, I have grounds to doubt your sincerity.”

June 2, 1939

A fresh breeze of progressive maritime unionism hit the East Coast as the Seafarer’s International Union completely tied up the 14 vessels of the Eastern Steamship Company, in what the boss press correctly describes as the “most thorough strike action of this year,” on Friday, May 26.

Failing to get their demands for improvement in overtime and hours, and in wage increases of $10 to $15 for the deck, engine and stewards department, the S.I.U. after a strike vote, ordered the 1,000 seamen from the company’s vessels and left the ships motionless in ports from Portland, Maine to Richmond, Virginia. The strike was called at the strategic time when the company’s operations were nearing the peak of activity.

The strike strengthens the organized power of militant, class-struggle unionism.  
 
 
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