Vol. 80/No. 19 May 16, 2016
SWP brings internationalism to Indiana plant
closure protest
The theme of the rally, including speeches by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was “Make it in America.” Sanders’ platform features a section on “Keeping jobs in the U.S.”
Republican candidate Donald Trump has pledged to impose a 35 percent tariff on Carrier’s Mexican-made products. “They’re going to call me and say, ‘Mr. President, Carrier has decided to stay in Indiana,” Trump told a crowd in Indianapolis April 27.
Fein’s position contrasts sharply with the capitalist politicians and union officials. “The Socialist Workers Party is in solidarity with the Carrier workers, but the nationalist, patriotic slogans raised by the speakers here today are not the answer,” Fein told Helen Williams and Antoinette Jones, United Auto Workers members who work on the General Motors assembly line in Kokomo. “Divide and rule is the bosses trick to weaken the unions. We need international working-class solidarity. All workers need jobs.”
“I agree with the international view,” Williams responded, and decided to subscribe to the Militant.
“I am for bringing jobs back to America,” Brandon Terrill, a UAW member who works at the GM truck assembly plant in Fort Wayne, told Fein.
“There is an economic crisis wracking the capitalist world,” Fein said. “Unemployment is a world problem, and all workers need jobs. We are part of an international working class.
“My party proposes the labor movement fight for a government-funded mass public works program putting millions to work at union scale building things workers need — housing, hospitals, infrastructure. That, along with organizing solidarity with workers worldwide as they fight for electrification, education, jobs and dignity, would unite the working class — not divide it like the ‘Save American jobs’ slogan does.”
“I wish you good luck on your campaign,” Terrill told Fein. He signed up for a subscription to the Militant.
“I think everyone in the world deserves the right to take care of their families,” warehouse worker Brian Hixon told Fein. “Most of my co-workers are from Myanmar. We’re all in the same Teamsters union.”
“I agree with what you say about the Democrats and Republicans being capitalist parties,” he said, “but I want my vote to count. I’m voting for Bernie because he has a chance to win.”
“The point isn’t to win an election, but to build a revolutionary workers movement to take power from the capitalist class,” Fein replied.
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