NYC meetings hear about Trotsky and Soviet democracy

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Crowded-out Local 6 members observe and listen to trial proceedings.

SOCIALIST ACTION NOVEMBER 1989 7 NEW YORK-On Saturday, Oct. 21, Socialist Action and Walnut Publishing Co. held a forum here on "The Meaning of the Changes in the Soviet Union Today." Over 140 people came for an evening that emphasized the international importance of Trotsky's ideas for political struggle today.

The meeting also underlined the significance of the fight in the Soviet Union to clear Trotsky's name, re-establish his true historical role in the Bolshevik Revolution, and publish his complete works for Soviet workers.

The forum was part of the second leg of a cross-country speaking tour. The speakers included Professor Paul Siegel, Carl Pinamore, Roger Sheppard/Socialist Action dues.

In an effort to regain control of their local some members circulated a petition calling for an election to choose a different international union. Others gathered signatures for a wholly independent local union, to be called Bath Shipbuilders Independent Union (BSIU).

Supporters of BSIU succeeded in forcing an election contest between the proposed independent union and the established shipbuilders/machinists union. Both sides campaigned vigorously prior to the June 14, 1989, election, but it never was an even match. The independents played David to the international's Goliath.

The Maine AFL-CIO, funded in part by dues collected from dissidents, printed and mailed three special editions of its official newspaper to all BIW workers. A combination of scare tactics and pleas for solidarity best summarizes the AFL-CIO campaign against the independent union. Workers were told they would lose their contract and probably their jobs if they voted to go independent, and would receive "zero" support from other unions in the event of a labor dispute at BIW.

On the other hand, if they chose to remain in the "house of labor," shipbuilders were assured of the continued fraternal support of all AFL-CIO-affiliated unions. "Union brothers and sisters helping each other ... that's what unions are all about," said Maine AFL-CIO Esteban Volkov, Professor Pierre Broué, and Nadezhda Joffe. [For identifications see Boston Soviet tour article on this page.] On Oct. 22, close to 70 people attended a reception for the speakers. Participants at the reception included noted celebrities and a whole generation of Trotskyist militants from years back. One of the reception's organizers, Lillian Pollak, had been among the young comrades who visited Leon Trotsky in Mexico in the late 1930s. Several thousand dollars were raised to finance the original trip to the Soviet Union as well as the national speaking tour.

The following day, a successful seminar was held at Columbia University's Averell Harriman Institute, featuring Volkov and Broue.

President Charles O'Leary.

It should be noted that O'Leary's attacks on the independent local may have been driven by something other than brotherly concern for the shipbuilders. The Maine AFL-CIO stood to lose over $5000 a month in union dues if the independent shipbuilders prevailed.

Due at least in part to the negative campaign waged by O'Leary's organization, the effort to form an independent local failed by a vote of 3240 to 2307.

Reprisals against dissidents

• Within a matter of weeks, reprisals against the dissidents began.

In at least one instance, out-of-state union bosses didn't even wait for the election results before moving against their opponents. Local 6 Vice President Mickey Meader was targeted for retribution during the summer of 1988, after he had gathered over 2300 signatures to force an election between IUMSWA/IAM and the rival carpenters' union.

Brought up on charges of "dual unionism," Meader was tried and convicted by a union trial board composed of representatives of IUMSWA's national office. The kangaroo court imposed the maximum penality: removal from office and expulsion from the Undaunted, Meader is suing in federal court for reinstatement. He continues to work at BIW, and though he pays no union dues, he retains all his rights under the labor contract (wages, benefits, grievance procedure, etc.)

More recently, Local 6 President Ainsley McPhee has been the target of a carpetbagger trial board imported from IUMSWA headquarters in Baltimore. McPhee was charged with dual unionism for merely signing a carpenters' union petition. The charges were brought by IUMSWA boss Arthur Batson, and heard by two of his cronies from Local 33 in Baltimore.

Last month, the trial board announced its verdict: guilty. McPhee was booted out as president of the local and barred from holding any office for the next three years. More charges are expected against other union officers.

The search-and-destroy, take-no-prisoners strategy being pursued by out-of-state labor bosses is being met with grassroots resistance by BIW shipbuilders. Several hundred showed up to support Local 6 President McPhee at his trial.

Stay tuned for more. It over.