25, 50 and 75 Years Ago

August 3, 2020

August 7, 1995

On August 5 thousands of youth will gather in Havana for a rally against the U.S. embargo of Cuba. Among those marching will be students, workers, and other opponents of U.S. policy who traveled from the United States to join with youth from around the world in standing with the people of Cuba to defend their sovereignty.

The rally will include all those gathered for the August 1-7 Cuba Lives International Youth Festival. Some 1,400 people from 65 countries had registered to attend by mid-July. As they learn more about the Cuban revolution, participants will also bring their experiences and struggles in the United States and other countries to workers and youth in Cuba.

Young people planning to make the trip have been organizing fund-raising raffles, setting up speaking engagements at campuses for when they return, and making banners.

August 7, 1970

CLEVELAND — July 17 marked the end of a victorious strike by bus drivers, trainmen and other employees of the Cleveland Transit System. The 1,900 members of the Amalgamated Transit Workers Union began a walkout June 30 after being given just four hours to discuss and approve a new contract. Members refused to ratify it. By the following morning most of the greater Cleveland area was without public transportation.

The settlement consisted of a 70-cent increase spread over two years. Cost-of-living increases are also included. The hospitalization contribution by the company was raised.

Threats were made to institute legal proceedings against the strikers. The capitalist politicians and “mediators” did not initiate such action because it was clear that the majority of working people in Cleveland supported the strike.

August 4, 1945

The British working class has swept the reactionary Tory government of [Winston] Churchill out of office. A labor government is installed in the classic birthplace of capitalism for the first time in history.

The workers are weary of the imperialist war. They are suffering severely under rationing and black markets. Mass unemployment is again on the way. There is a chaotic housing situation with millions of workers living in slum hovels and bomb-blasted tenements. All Churchill could promise the workers was a continuance of this state of affairs. Meanwhile the British capitalists are on the offensive against the labor unions.

The capitalist class is trying to take comfort in the fact that the Labor Government will consist of the old-line labor skates who have demonstrated their love for the capitalist system of “free enterprise.”