Vol. 78/No. 33 September 22, 2014
September 22, 1989
DETROIT TO CASTLEWOOD, Va. — “This is unionism at its best, brother. Join us!” explained the driver of the car leading the 204-car caravan organized by Region 1-A of the United Auto Workers union in Detroit.“We’re going to Castlewood, Virginia, to stand together with the striking coal miners,” he would add over the CB radio in response to questions from passing truckers.
The caravan carrying more than 600 Detroit unionists made its way across Ohio and West Virginia into Virginia where members of the United Mine Workers of America have been on strike against Pittston Coal since April.
“No matter where you work — whether it’s in a parts plant or in a mine — or what part of the country you live in, you have the same problems,” said a Detroit auto worker, explaining why he drove to Virginia.
September 21, 1964
After high-level conferences with General Maxwell Taylor, “our man in Saigon,” President Johnson told the nation Sept. 9 that U.S. policy in South Vietnam was enjoying “continued progress.” A few days later Saigon underwent its fourth major governmental crisis in a year as General Lam Van Phat tried unsuccessfully to oust the U.S. favorite, Gen. Nguyen Khanh.The notorious political instability in Saigon reflects the extreme unpopularity of U.S. sponsored regimes in South Vietnam. Washington carries out its thinly disguised intervention in that country’s civil war through a gang of corrupt generals and politicians who have no popular support whatsoever. Their various factions, equally hated by the mass of the people, spend most of their energy intriguing against each other for Uncle Sam’s support — and his pay checks.
September 20, 1939
NEW YORK — The struggle of East Coast seamen to obtain extra compensation for shipping in war zones received a tremendous boost over the weekend when 46 British sailors joined in the strike that has already tied up six ships.This display of international solidarity was cheered by 200 American seamen who gathered around.
The British sailors had been hired by the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey to work on two tankers carrying oil to British ports. When company busses arrived to take the men on board the ships, a warm discussion on war compensation developed. Out of the 66 present, 46 decided not to sail. They are members of National Union of Seamen of the United Kingdom. They had been hired for $37.50 a month. Following conferences with officials of the National Maritime Union, the British seamen decided to ask for $85 a month.
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