Vol. 81/No. 30      August 14, 2017

 

25, 50 and 75 Years Ago

 
August 14, 1992
EAST PEORIA, Illinois — UAW members who struck Caterpillar continue to express their determination to defend their union. John Grayned, a longtime UAW member at Caterpillar, said, “Caterpillar is looking to break our union to up their profits.”

The UAW Local 974 News outlined aspects of the final offer implemented by Caterpillar. The wages for new or recalled workers at two parts distribution facilities will be reduced to less than half of what workers there presently make and their benefits will be slashed as well. Caterpillar has also gotten rid of contractual limits on how much work is sent out to nonunion shops.

Seniority rights have been weakened. Workers can no longer transfer from one plant to another in order to hold a particular job or pay scale.

August 7, 1967
NEW YORK — On July 23, on the island of Puerto Rico, a vote was taken to continue that island’s dependent ties with the U.S. On the same day, on the island of Manhattan, in “El Barrio,” the oldest Puerto Rican community in the city, Reinaldo Rodriguez was shot to death by a plainclothes cop.

A crowd gathered and a patrol car sped to the scene. Two cops got out and the crowd continued to grow. Someone asked one of the cops what happened. “Nothing,” he replied, “A spic got fresh and had to be made to mind.” That’s how it began.

Puerto Ricans have been killed by cops in New York’s Lower East Side and on New York’s West Side; they have been found hanged in police cells, they have been shot in police cars, while on the way to police stations.

August 15, 1942
Throughout India, millions of workers and peasants are moving into action to smash the shackles of century-old British domination. The Socialist Workers Party supports the struggle of the Indian masses because as a revolutionary socialist party it stands four-square for the rights of all peoples to self-determination.

The SWP urges Indian workers that while participating in the present movement under its present leadership, they do not trust their fate to Gandhi and Co. They must organize independently and set up their own organs of struggle.

Arm the Masses! Withdraw all British and American troops! Release the Congress leaders, lift the ban on the Congress Party! For the alliance of the Indian workers and peasants with the workers of Britain and the United States!  
 
 
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