An interview with the president of IAM Local 565: 'The Eastern Airlines strike can be won!'

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ALL OUT FOR SOLIDARITY RALLY The IAM strike against Eastern Airlines is an historic development for the U.S. labor movement. Why? Because with the support of the pilots and flight attendants, the machinists have brought a large corporation to a grinding halt. So much for those who claim that the strategy of solidarity could not be carried out in Eastern Airlines' top dog, Frank Lorenzo, is demanding $150 million worth of concessions from the The large corporations have united with the government, the courts and politicians of every stripe to defeat our brothers and sisters at Eastern.: The only difference among them is over how lo crush the unions. slash wages and eliminate pensions. This attack on Eastern workers must be seen as an attack on all of our Our unions and our whole future weigh in the balance of this battle. Already the government and virtually every politician of both parties backs the imposition of court ordered injunctions which unlawfully bar Every major media outlet in the country clamors against the secondary boycotts. They fear the massive power of union solidarity. The corporations know only 1oo well that labor uniting to win is the road to vicPresident Bush has declared that he would introduce legislation out-lawing secondary boycotts if injunc. tions fail to stop the spread of the strike. Even the so called "friends of labor "are prepared 1o back these We must send the message of NO SUPPORT to any laws that restrict the rights of our union brothers and Lorenzo's filing for bankrupicy is merely a gimmic aimed at defeating the strike. But the gimmic will not succeed if there is a massive show of strength at this rally and others to come plus an extension of the picketing to Continental Airlines (also owned by Texas Air) and a call to railroad workers lo join the battle.

The striking machinists know that the whole labor movement must be brought into the fight, including Easiern workers are putting up a tremendous fight. They are solidly determined not to give more conces.

We have been asked for help by Eastern's machinists. We must let our brothers and sisters know that they can count on us, the rank and file, to back them up. Our local and thousands of other unionists throughWe are their key to victory. Our active support by our attendance at this rally will show the government and the corporations the potential power of unions when we stand together in UNION SOLIDARITY.

All Union officers and stewards are expected lo attend this rally and bring co-workers.

We also hope our brothers and sisters from IAM Local 322, Teamsters, IBEW and the Becky Carmen The following interview with Bill Leumer, president of IAM Local 565 in Sunnyvale, Calif., was conducted by Nat Weinstein on March 24.

Socialist Action: Your local union is not directly affected by the Eastern Airlines strike but 1 can see from this leaflet distributed at the March 18 San Francisco airport rally that your local is more than routinely in support of this strike. Why?

Bill Leumer: First of all, let me say that the following comments are my personal opinion, not necessarily those of my local This strike means a lot to the whole labor movement. Because of the support from Eastern pilots and flight attendants, the machinists have virtually shut down a powerful corporation. This was done in spite of those who claim that such labor solidarity couldn't be carried out nowadays, or in the current political climate, at least. It shows that when union members are asked to fight, they will. And when this happens, organized labor's potential power is shown for all to see.

One other thing is that this strike and its outcome is increasingly being seen by many people, in different unions, as a battle that we must win-to keep our own standard of living from being lowered by our employers. That's why this is our strike too. If the unions lose this one, we'll all lose. If we win, it could be the beginning of the end of the current policy of retreat and concessions.

S.A.: So, you think that this strike can be won?

Leumer: Hell yes! That's why I'm so damned excited by it. It's the possibility of winning, for a change, that has got every union activist that I know eager to help out. But we all know it's not going to be easy.

S.A.: You mentioned the "current policy of retreat," and that the successful outcome of this strike could end that policy. Could you explain this some more?

Leumer: Sure. For the past 10 years or so almost every union contract settlement has contained concessions to the employers. I don't know anyone who has had their real wages keep up with the cost of living. No, wages have steadily gone down as a result of the concessions policy.

Every concession made by the airline unions to Frank Lorenzo and the rest of the airlines has led to more and more demands for concessions. And, I should also say, the bosses demand ever-lower wages and benefits even though profits keep going up!

That's why I say that if we win this strike, it'll prove that fighting back can win, while concessions guarantee more concessions.

S.A.: So you think this strike will be won?

Leumer: No, that isn't what I'm saying. I'm saying that it can be won. But for this to win, it will take more than just shutting down Eastern Airlines. That is not going to be enough to force the struck company to come to terms.

So far, the IAM leadership has postponed extending the strike because of a barrage of injunctions outlawing actions in solidarity with striking Eastern workers. In my opinion, if the union allows such injunctions to tie its hands, the enthusiasm and fighting spirit will dwindle.

That's just what every struck company counts on. And Eastern Airlines' boss, Frank Lorenzo, hasn't lost a moment in taking advantage of the anti-labor bankruptcy court. Every gain he makes here will undermine the union's chances of winning the strike.

S.A.: Explain this. Most people think a this day and age.

machinists. The machinists' response-"NO WAY!"

standard of living.

sympathy strikes guaranteed under the Railway Labor Act of 1926.

tory.

anti-labor laws.

sisters to defend themselves against attack.

the unorganized.

sions. This is what makes this strike an inspiration to us all.

out the country are the only ones Eastern workers can rely on.

join us Saturday.

Leumer, President Co-Chairs, IAM Local bankruptcy court's role is just to make sure all creditors are paid back as equally as possible.

Leumer: The bankruptcy court has already made clear its real function. It intends to help Frank Lorenzo defeat the strike. One of the first things this court did was to okay Eastern's refusal to pay striking employees $9 million in wages earned before the strike.

It also approved Eastern's refusal to refund money to holders of tickets on planes that have been grounded by the strike. That's a whole lot of extra cash for Eastern to play with and to hold out against the strike. Almost at the same time the court showed its "impartiality" by okaying payment of wages to Eastern's non-striking employees.

This double standard toward Eastern's "creditors" is only the tip of the iceberg. But it should come as no surprise. The bankruptcy court had previously enabled Lorenzo to break the unions at Continental by invalidating union contracts, among other things.

Just a few days ago the judge in charge of Eastern Airlines' bankruptcy filing said he would appoint an examiner, granting him broad powers to "mediate" the strike. Both Eastern and union representatives praised Judge Burton R. Lifland's move as a possible avenue toward a strike settlement.

But only the next day, Judge Lifland again showed his anti-labor bias by issuing a temporary restraining order prohibiting the machinists' union from "disrupting" Eastern's operations at Logan International Airport in Boston and at La Guardia Airport in New York.

We see the same pro-employer bias shown by every judge who has been asked to limit or outright forbid picketing. So-called "temporary" restraining orders are a joke; at least one judge has announced they will be in effect for the duration of the strike!

WITH EASTERN STRIKERS Saturday, March 18, 1989 at 12 noon S.F. Airport, South Terminal (U.S. Air)

Ken West, Treasurer Co-chairs, lAm Local soo Sirke suppor Commitee Support Committee S.A.: So what should be done?

Leumer: Ever since this strike began Lorenzo has been allowed to organize his forces without hindrance. He has brought forward his reinforcements from all sides.

First he got injunctions against sympathy strikes by rail workers and by those at other air lines. And now he's getting the courts to reduce the number of pickets and keep them where no one can see them. Lorenzo just loves a fight like this, where his opponent is channeled into fighting according to his rules which say: "I can beat the hell out of you, but you can't fight back!"

When the unions even think out loud about bringing their reinforcements into the battle, then the government, the courts, and the cops step in and declare: "No way, that's against the ruleslabor solidarity is out!"

This strike will be won only if we stop playing according to the bosses' rules. And our first rule is to bring all our forces into the fight in simple self-defense. The splendid spirit of solidarity shown by Eastern strikers will be reinforced only if we show that we are SOCIALIST . determined to do what is necessary-and possible-to win. This way we will win.

S.A.: Are you saying that the lAM should order all machinists working for the other airlines to join the Eastern workers' strike?

Leumer: It's not that simple. After years and years of telling our members that the bosses are too strong, that the government is in the hands of unfriendly politicians, and that you just can't break the law, it's not going to be easy to get machinists, pilots, baggage handlers, and flight attendants working for other airlines to come out in support of their striking sisters and brothers.

The union officals will have to convince their membership that solidarity is not merely a good deed you do for others, but that it's in your own immediate interests. And most important, if we really stick to our guns and exercise our constitutional rights, every blow against us will become a reason to bring new forces out in active support of the strike.

It's actually not hard to convince the membership to jump into the fight with both feet. They don't really need to be convinced of this. But an intelligent union leadership knows that you have to show the membership that you mean business and will do whatever is necessary to back them up and And get this. The first thing a smart leadership must do when their members are told they can't picket, or can't strike, is to set the example, defy the threats by judges and politicians to send you to jail if you dare to exercise your democratic right to strike! If the leaders don't lead, the members won't go anywhere—or they'll get themselves new leaders.

S.A.: But won't breaking the law alienate the public?

Leumer: There is really no such thing as "the public." The public is divided into three distinct parts: The bosses and their friends, the workers and their friends, and people in the middle who are not sure which side they are on—which side best reflects their own interests.

The first thing we have to do in any fight is to get our side into it by hammering away at our common interests—-that's what solidarity is all about. The bosses are never confused about where their interests lie, and they always jump into the fight like a team.

The politicians do their thing, the courts do theirs, the cops theirs, and the news media slyly twists every event to make it look like what's good for the boss is good for the "public"-and the strikers are always shown as harming the "public interest."

S.A.: Well, you've said a mouthful. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

Leumer: Yes, one more thing. Whatever happens in this strike, we've shown that solidarity is still alive. And that if we lose this strike, it's not because of any lack of the membership's will to fight.

I had a chance to talk to an old friend who is an IAM official on strike. He didn't want me to mention his name after he vented his frustration and anger at the conduct of the strike. This is what he said in response to some of the things I have just told you:

"The courts can't be trusted. They're kicking the shit out of us—with the injunctions and temporary restraining orders as you have pointed out in Boston's Logan Airport and in New York's La Guardia Airport. We never should have announced our intentions to picket the railroads, we should have just done it! It would have made all the difference if we used our rights.

"Yes, we're appealing the injunctions, but we ain't going to get very far given whose side these bastards are on. But once the legal stuff fails, I know that my members would be hard to hold back-they're already damned tired of being kicked around."

Now, I don't know whether this pent-up anger among the members will be able to change union policy this time. But I'm sure that an explosion is not far down the road, and when it comes we'll be able to take back everything we lost-and more.

ACTION APRIL 1989

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IAM LOCAL 565 Strike Support Committee