Support 1949 and Labor's FIGHT AGAINST CNEEOSIONS Hormel strikers' appeal reaches Cleveland area

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CLEVELAND-Following the Minnesota National Guard attack on Local P-9, an ad-hoc committee of CWA, Teamster, UAW, and USWA local officers formed to plan a support rally for Friday, March 14.

Before the rally three strikers, Carl Benson, Clarke Dehler, and Al Petersen, toured the Cleveland area. They spoke at meetings of USWA Local 2265, the Youngstown Workers Solidarity Club, UAW Local 122 retirees, and striking members of MESA Local 19. Almost $2200 was raised at a plant-gate collection at the Chrysler Twinsburg plant. Cleveland media covered the tour.

Over 100 unionists, including members of the American Postal Workers Union, CWA, flight attendants, Teamsters, UAW, and USWA, attended the rally.

Terry Wyrock, UAW Local 217 president, welcomed participants to his local's union hall. UAW Local 122 President Bill Bon chaired the rally.

Ed Parulis, president of MESA Local 19, on strike against National Acme, said, "It's a strange country we're living in today when our government applauds the Solidarity movement in Poland, but attacks organized labor in this country."

Bob La Riccia, MESA international representative, responding to the UFCW International's removal of its strike sanction, said, "To Local P-9: I want to tell Association. "We were on strike for nearly four weeks against takebacks proposed by the Oakland Unified School District," Peoples said. "But like P-9, our rank and file stood fast on the picketline for 18 working days. By displaying our militancy we forced the school district to bring us up to parity with teachers in other parts of the state."

In addition to three songs performed earlier by Holly Near, the rally ended with the assembled throng singing "Solidarity Forever," affirming a deep commitment to help P-9 win.

you—until you tell us that the strike's over—we're supporting you."

Pat Behn, Cleveland strike captain of the Independent Federation of Flight Attend -ants, and Ray Hoffman, a member of Teamsters Local 336 on strike against the Lawsons Dairy Co., explained the issues in their strikes and offered their support to PP-9 striker Clarke Dehler said, "We can shut this country down and make the politicians listen. We need to mobilize the union power we've got. Total union membership figures may be down, but we still control what makes those rich people rich."

The strikers gave their response to the UFCW International's demand that they remove the pickets from the Austin plant, take their roving pickets off the road, and end the boycott: "Local P-9 started this strike and we'll say when it's over. This local is run by the rank and file."—SHIRLEY PASHOLK members of UAW Local 14 from AP Parts.

Local 600 President Bob King introduced the heads of about 15 union locals in attendance. The rally was chaired by Marcia Mickens, Michigan leader of the National Rank and File Against Concessions, the prime sponsor of the event.

The crowd gave a standing ovation to P-9 President Jim Guyette, a delegation of P-9 strikers, and their families. "We're fighting for our community, our dreams, and our dignity," Guyette said.

Bill Cook, a member of Ottumwa, Iowa, UFCW Local 431, appealed for support. He pointed out that Hormel workers at Ottumwa received no strike benefits and no unemployment insurance after the company fired them for refusing to cross picket lines set up by Local P-9.

Maria Rosario Moreno, a member of Teamsters Local 912 in Watsonville, Calif., brought a solidarity message to the Hormel strikers from the striking cannery workers.

Jim Coakley, president of UAW Local 1200 and Don Douglas, president of UAW Local 594, announced that their locals are each adopting a P-9 family until the end of the strike. About $10,000 was collected at the rally for the strikers.—HENRY AUSTIN S.A. Index Available The first two years of Socialist Action have now been indexed. If you are missing back issues—or would like to know what articles we've published-be sure to order this 26-page index. Price: $1.50. Send order to 3435 Army, Rm. 308, San Francisco 94110.