800 autoworkers meet to slam concessions

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Socialist Action files lawsuit against S.F.

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4 SOCIALIST ACTION FEBRUARY 1989 WARREN, Mich.—On Jan. 8, 1989, the "New Beginnings" movement, based in Region 1 of the United Auto Workers union, held a conference in opposition to the concessionary course being carried out under the present leadership of UAW President Owen Bieber.

More than 800 workers from the Detroit area registered for the conference. The vast majority were UAW rank and filers— including Black and women workers. The crowd was genuinely interested in reversing the concessionary course of the UAW, what Bieber and his Administration Caucus call "jointness" and the "team concept."

The keynote speaker was Jerry Tucker, the newly elected UAW Region 5 (KansasMissouri area) director. The panel for the conference included Don Douglas, president of the UAW local of truck and bus workers in Pontiac, Mich.; Pete Kelly, president of Local 160 (GM Tech Center); Victor Reuther, a founder of the UAW; and Sally Bier, president of the UAW Blue Cross-Blue Shield workers local.

Tucker takes the floor Tucker was introduced by Don Douglas, who chaired the conference. Tucker began by going over the history of the Region 5 struggle with the UAW International Executive Board (IEB). He told how he had been drafted by the "New Directions" movement within his region to run for director and a seat on the IEB.

Tucker explained how the Bieber clique had stolen the initial election through fraud. He said that, as a last resort, he had to go to court to force a new election-which he won in September 1988. [See the August 1988 and October 1988 issues of Socialist Action.] Tucker focused his remarks on the coming UAW convention and preparations for the SAN FRANCISCO-ACLU attorneys filed suit in Federal court on Jan. 19 on behalf of three socialists who refuse to disclose the identity of contributors to their 1988 Socialist Action local election campaign.

The candidates, Joseph Ryan and Sylvia Weinstein, and their treasurer, Joni Jacobs, face a fine of $10,000 per violation and a prohibition against running for office for four years. If convicted, the socialists could be cited for a minimum of four violations.

The Ryan-Weinstein campaign has argued that public disclosure would subject contributors to police and government harassment. The campaign did disclose the amount of money it raised and spent.

The District Attorney of San Francisco previously warned the campaign committee on Oct. 21 that it was in violation of the law and must "comply immediately with the disclosure requirements....

The three socialists decided to file for a permanent injunction before actual criminal prosecution against them began. 1990 contract he had no opp employers or absenteeism, cooperating at AEROSPACE negotiations. He explained osition to cooperating with such issues as quality but said he was not the expense of the workers.

At their first court appearance on Jan. 19, ACLU attorneys won an agreement that the city would postpone any prosecution until a later court hearing, which was set for March 15. Both San Francisco daily newspapers reported on this court victory.

Evidence of harassment The Socialist Action lawsuit mentions numerous court precedents establishing the right of non-disclosure by minor parties that fear government reprisal. A large packet of evidence has also been submitted which disproves the D.A.'s claim that there is no discrimination against political activists in San Francisco.

For example, the ACLU recently exposed a massive surveillance operation by the police and FBI against organizations participating in local demonstrations. The ACLU was among The Legacy of Malcolm X by Joe Ryan, Nat Weinstein, and Kwame M.A. Somburu ($1.25) Dynamics of the Nicaraguan Revolution by Alan Benjamin and Jeff Mackler ($1.50) South Africa: The Black Uniol Go Forward by Michael Schreiber ($1.25)

Toward a Socialist America:

What Socialist Action Stands For edited by Asher Harer ($.75) OSLINN MERICA that the and for "Cooperating Tucker said. . "In seeking cooperal our [UAW memt He came out The Hidden History of Zionism by Ralph Schoenman ($3.00)

Is the 'Rainbow' a Real Alternative: A Response by Shirley Pasholk, Joe Ryan, and Kwame M.A. Somburu ($1.00)

Lessons of the P-9 Strike by Jake Cooper ($1.50)

Democracy in America:

Fact and Fiction by Paul Siegel ($.75)

MPLEMEN WORKERS

we've done for . fact, ti le greater tion frol n the corr ›ers'] ne eds." against Bieber's the groups targeted.

But the city denies it all. A popular weekly in San Francisco, the Bay Guardian, recently asked for a list of all intelligence files kept by the police department.

The newspaper received a letter from Deputy City Attorney Mara Rosales stating that "the Department informs us that it does not maintain a list of its intelligence files." Requests for information on specific groups resulted in the same stonewalling.

A similar request by the Socialist Action candidates was also denied.

Police nave • no Intelligence.

Very few people actually believe this coverup. In fact, the lawsuit by the socialists contains powerful evidence exposing unconstitutional police spying and harassment. The city's investigation of the brutal San 52 years," problem is orations on and "team concepts," stating that labor and capital have differences that cannot be erased through the notion that there is a new culture of work. He also said he was against the UAW making concessions in the name of remaining competitive with the Japanese automotive industry.

A lively discussion After Tucker's talk there were remarks by the rest of the panel, and the floor was opened up for discussion.

The panel members, basically from "New Beginnings" in UAW Region 1, echoed Tucker's opposition to concessions and the "team concept." Their participation also reflected the fact that Tucker's challenge to the Administration Caucus has succeeded in bringing together many different elements of opposition within the UAW.

Some of them, for example, went out of their way to explain that, contrary to rumors, they were not radicals or communists, but only "concerned UAW members."

Speakers from the floor offered no sentiment for cooperation with management. The problems of concessions was made clear when a member of Local 668 spoke up and said: "I heard a word at this conference I haven't heard in a long time, 'exploitation.' My local once had 8000 workers and we're down to 3000, and we still don't have the wagons circled."

The conference concluded with remarks from Victor Reuther. Reuther explained how the Saturn agreement between the UAW and General Motors, which cut wages and work rules of future Saturn workers, was done behind the backs of the membership through a private deal between the UAW tops and GM management.

In attacking Bieber's policies he asked if "having our president sitting on the board of directors of Chrysler had done any good?" The audience loudly replied, "Hell no."

The meeting clearly demonstrated that a serious opposition to concessions is beginning to develop within the UAW. How successful it will be, however, will depend on its ability to mobilize the fightback sentiment of the ranks expressed at this conference.

Francisco police attack on United Farmworker union leader Dolores Huerta is cited as proof.

The grand jury refused to indict the police officers responsible for the beating of Huerta. On the contrary, using police logic, the grand jury recommended that the cops increase their spying of protest groups.

The report states that "the Intelligence Bureau should keep apprised of the growing number of protest groups and inform tactical units and ranking officers of the potential for violence and/or size of crowds which may be encountered."

The report also advises that "police liaisons from the Intelligence Bureau should meet to provide TAC units with identification of particular groups and their mode of operations (civil disobedience, agitiation, etc.)."

On March 15, a Federal Judge will hear arguments from both sides. A clear-cut victory protecting the rights of privacy and free speech will benefit the broader fight against government abuse of our constitutional liberties.