Connecticut: ‘Solution is Socialism’

Scan page 11

NEW BRITAIN, Conn.—On Nov. 4, So­ cialist Action Connecticut and the Cen­ tral Connecticut State University Youth for Socialist Action held their second annual conference, entitled “The Solu­ tion is Socialism.” More than 100 work­ ers, students, and activists from as far away as Alabama turned out for a day packed with talks, workshops, and edu­ cationals from 21 speakers.

Taliba Obuya from the Malcolm X Grassroots Network brought the revo­ lutionary history of the Black national­ ist movement and the fight for self-de­ termination among Black Americans to the forefront. Michael Roberts, a lead­ ing Marxist economist from Britain, explained key elements of the crises of world capitalism.

Socialist Action member Daniel Adam gave a stirring speech on the prospects for socialism and the potential of a so­ cialist future. A set of workshops orga­ nized and led by the YSA covered the struggle for a united Caribbean against imperialism, LGBTQ+ liberation, les­ sons of the Russian Revolution, immi­ gration and Islamophobia, and femi­ nism and fossil capitalism.

Left Voice’s Juan Ferre and Socialist Action’s John Leslie covered the task of building a class-struggle left wing in the labor movement. Puerto Rican activist Mikael Rosa raised the topic of the co­ lonial oppression of Puerto Rico in light of its devastation by Hurricanes Irma and Maria as well as the disaster capi­ talist offensive in their wake. Christine Marie of Socialist Action and Tatiana Cozzarelli of Left Voice exposed the cen­ tral role of gendered oppression under capitalism and the need for a feminist voice in the revolutionary left.

The YSA also made significant contri­ butions, not only helping to organize and advertise the conference, but also constructing the workshop sessions and providing four speakers, including CCSU YSA leader Shelby Williams, who delivered opening remarks and spoke in a workshop on building Caribbean resistance to imperialism.

(continued from page 8: “50 stories above New York City — Interview with an apprentice union carpenter”) here in New York City.

I’ve witnessed stewards make deals with foremen right in front of me. And when I’ve asked them for things, such as safety equipment, they simply ignore it. Usually the steward uses his power to benefit himself, such as by not working at all or doing the easiest tasks. The companies don’t like that either, but it’s preferable to having a militant steward.

I don’t want to knock the union. This problem is also worsened by the rise of non-union construction. We’re struggling to keep contractors employing union labor, so that means enforcing these standards will also become more difficult. If we’re on the defensive to simply keep our jobs, then it’s harder to be aggressive about issues such as safety. But, in my opinion, the solution would be better steward representation. Maybe we should be able to elect/recall stewards; that way they would have obligations to the membership.

EG: What has to be done to win greater concessions from the bosses?

ML: The biggest question is immigration. Some mem­ bers have bought in to the right-wing message that we have to deport them all, but we know this will never happen. Immigrants are great for capitalism. By keeping workers marginalized it is much easier to exploit them. And that’s exactly what is happening in New York.

We can’t accept immigrants into the union because the employers use a verification system that would prevent them from finding work, or jeopardize their status here. Even if they joined, they can’t get work through the sig­ natory contractors. The non-union companies exploit this and hire immigrants for lesser pay, which creates downward pressure on wages throughout the industry.

This is the biggest question. Even if we organize, our inability to include immigrants will weaken any of our The conference revealed some of the potential of socialist politics in the cur­ rent climate. Capitalism’s status quo is failing billions of people in extremely apparent ways. The failures of the Dem­ ocratic Party and disillusionment with the Bernie Sanders campaign, which served mainly as a vehicle to try to lead discontented people back into the par­ ty, have opened a space for the genu­ inely socialist left to share our perspec­ tives. This opening has been recognized even by right wingers—who felt the need to tear down posters advertising the conference at CCSU and elsewhere in an effort to suppress news of it.

The conference drew in many new faces, particularly young people. Social­ ist Action was able to build new rela­ tionships with workers, students, and activists, many of whom are enthusias­ tic to learn more about socialism and to join the struggle.

Capitalism’s crises are clear to any­ one who bothers to look. Scientists warn, for example, that capitalism is quickly pushing toward shattering cru­ cial thresholds on global warming and other environmental catastrophes.

The release of the “Paradise Papers” has exposed massive corruption among the ultra-rich members of the capitalist class. The assault on Puerto Rico has shown the class interests of the auster­ ity offensive against working people.

The revelations of Donna Brazile in her new book “Hacks,” concerning the inner workings of the Democratic Par­ ty, have confirmed once more its role as a bourgeois party owned and oper­ ated by capitalist elites and the need for workers to break from it.

These constitute only the tip of the iceberg; new outrages are arising on a daily basis. It is necessary, however, to construct and broadcast a socialist vi­ sion for society, and shatter the lie that there is no alternative to capitalism. As the anniversary of Russia’s October Revolution turns 100, it is imperative that we ensure that its memory and legacy do not fade away. As the Nov. 4 conference emphasized: the solution is socialism! n