Our readers speak out

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Health, safety Dear editor, I am pleased to read Steve Zippin's column "Hazardous to Your Health," and hope that it continues for a long time. Ever since Intercontinental Press dis -continued their column "Capi -talism Fouls Things Up" in the late '70s, I have been wishing someone would initiate a new column along these lines.

As an activist on my local union's Occupational Health and Safety Committee it is important to have access to a wide range of information, especially from a critical anti-capitalist perspective. I hope that your organization will continue work in this area. There is so much to be done, and health and safety issues can be a very important issue for challenging the capitalist system.

I want to say I am very happy that your organization is carrying on the tradition of the Fourth International in the United States and I wish you every success in the future.

Larry Dufay, Regina, Saskatchewan Yes to dialogue Dear editor, As a member of the San Francisco Bay Area trade-union delegation that attended the FENASTRAS convention in El Salvador this November, I would like to make some comments on Carl Finamore's article in the December issue of Socialist Action.

Pinamore focused on the need to end repression against working people in El Salvador. "For trade union freedom" was one of the two themes of the convention. However, Finamore ignored the other major theme, "Dialogue and negotiations for peace."

Throughout the convention chants of "Dialogo si, guerra no!" rang out in the convention hall. The major speeches and documents all spoke of the need for dialogue. Independent unions such as the teachers union (ANDES) and the social security workers (STISS) agreed with FENASTRAS in their demand for dialogue. Salvadoran workers also pointed out that the major obstacle to dialogue was the continued military aid to the Duarte regime from the U.S. government.

There are differences within the U.S. anti-intervention movement on which demands to put forward, and discussions of those differences would benefit the movement greatly. A good starting point for that discussion would be the demands of the Salvadoran workers' movement, "Dialogo si, guerra no!"

Carl Anderson, San Francisco Right emphasis Dear Carl, Thank you for the additional information. Actually the article you mention does prominently feature a chart with the adopted program of the FENASTRAS convention, including the demand of "dialogue and negotiations to attain peace.

However, the main body of the article did, indeed, stress the struggle for trade-union rights. I believe that those general issues Jan. 24-26 in Los Angeles. (213) 384-5281. are the primary political basis for winning broad support and solidarity for the besieged unions in El Salvador.

This support should not be contingent on agreement with any specific political demand of the Salvadoran unions, such as "dialogo si, guerra no!". There -fore, I do not think the demand should be the basis of the anti-intervention movement in this country.

The article's emphasis reflected this political opinion.

Carl Finamore, San Francisco

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