S.F. painters demonstrate fighting capacity

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controversy in both the labor caucus and the plenary sion. Some argued that this would reduce attractiveness of the PPN for the many people who A woman from Columbus bragged that in her area they had just elected a "socialist" to the school board-as a Democrat. It was finally agreed to include this proposal in the points of unity, while adding an additional qualifying sentence explaining that this would not prevent affiliated organizations or individuals from supporting any candiAlthough conference planners had proposed setting aside seats on the Continuations Committee for the Twenty-First Century Party and Labor Party Advocates group designed to influence the Democratic Party. For others, it is an "independent" party that, while independent of the Democratic and Republic parties, is not Most do not envision the PPN forming a party. Those who see it as an organization view it as a regroupment vehicle for "progressives," "democratic socialists," greens, As in the recent national conference of the Committees of Correspondence, a profound pessimism motivated participants in the PPN. Failing to recognize the importance of the working class and feeling that the forces of reaction are on the rise, they look to the formation of a loose association of "progressives" with minimum programmatic agreement. Such an attempt to resurrect the New concessions-laden agreement between the employers and the union officials that included giving up time and a half for night work and every other Friday off, in retur for a $1.90 wage package over three years.

On June 30 ( the expiration date of the contract), the membership voted the contract proposal down by a 5-1 margin. This was the first time in the history of the union that a contract recommended by the union officials was voted down.

Prior to the strike, the local union and district officials were involved in an internal fight for control of the local due to a rapid decline in membership and a subsequent decline in revenue from dues.

Roland Sheppard is an elected delegate from Painters Local #4 to the San Francisco Labor Council and an elected delegate to Painters District Council #8.

UN The fight basically centered around which official was going to be laid off. That was and still is the number-one priority of the officials, and there was no preparation for negotiations.

After the vote, the officials had to quickly make picket signs, and running of the strike and spontaneously set up flying squads of pickets to shut down both union and non-union jobs in the city. An effective strike had been established.

On the third day of the strike, the contractors reopened negotiations, and the officials agreed to a contract worse than the one that had been voted down! They then worked with the contractors to win a "yes" vote at a meeting scheduled for July 7.

At the July 7 meeting, the argument was presented that the contractors would bring in replacement workers and that the new proposal was the best that the union could get.

In actuality, the membership had demonstrated its capacity and strength on the picket line while the leadership had demonstrated its weakness and its collaboration with the employers at the bargaining table.

At this meeting, two of the seven union negotiators—in response to the membership— opposed the contract. The effectiveness of the picket lines gave the membership confidence that they could prevent the contractors from using replacement workers.

The contract proposal was again voted down, this time by a 3-1 margin.

The next day, the contractors called to reopen negotiations. They withdrew night work from the table after chastizing the officials for not "selling the contract." A new agreement was reached, with only eight Fridays off a year and a $1.70 wage package over three years.

In the context of being in a battle with both the employers and their union officials, the membership voted in favor of the new port "progressive" Democrats.

agreement by a 3-1 margin at a Sunday, July 12, meeting. They returned to work on July 13.

The effect of the contract will mean more money for fewer members. The positive side is that the membership got a glimpse of its strength and the potential of the union.

The response of the officials has been to continue their infighting. They are organizing to obtain automatic dues increases rather than addressing the issues and problems facing the membership.

It remains to be seen if any of the officials will chart a new course for the union in the interest of the membership or if openings will be created whereby the membership can exert its will to make the union a fighting instrument in its interests.

sesthe sup(LPA), neither group endorsed or officially participated in the conference. There was no sign of the Twenty-First Century Party. Detroit LPA members staffed a literature table and a number of conference participants identified themselves as LPA members.

The PPN Continuations Committee includes representatives from the convention's regional caucuses, and from the people-of-color, women's, youth, gay and lesbian, and labor caucuses, as well as from groups that endorsed the convention. State and regional conferences are projected before the next national convention.

For a third party?

Some hoped that this convention would lay the groundwork for a third party. Although the convention call stated that this gathering could not form such a party, it promised, "We can begin to build a movement from the bottom up so that by 1996 we are in a position to seriously contend for However, the third party they have in mind is not a labor party based on the trade unions. The original convention agenda did not include provisions for a labor caucus or for worker participation on the ContinuaSome view this "third party" as a pressure