Communists to convene regional labor conferences

Special to the World

This article was reprinted from the December 2, 1995 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

The Communist Party will hold regional meetings in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles on Dec. 9-10 to map out the next steps in the struggles against the corporate assault on the rights of workers and the Contract on America. The centerpiece of today's political scene is the rank and file militancy that have propelled the big changes in the labor movement. And they've only just begun!

CPUSA National Chairman Gus Hall will keynote the meetings from New York City via teleconference. Hall's contribution in organizing the steel industry is legendary in Ohio's Mahoning Valley, where he was the leader of the 1937 Little Steel Strike at Republic Steel and is called the "father" of USWA local 1375. In June, he spoke at his home local in Warren, Ohio. Hall's homecoming visit was part of the preparations for what turned out to be a hard fought victorious battle for a contract with one of the most profitable steel corporations in the country.

After Hall's visit, the Warren Tribune Chronicle carried a commentary written by the business editor, Larry Ringler entitled "Hall Played Vital Role in Valley's Union History." He wrote, "In 1937, he drove the owner of powerful Republic Steel Co. to say he'd rather pick apples than recognize a union of steel workers."

The article says, "Almost 40 years later, in 1976, he ran for president on the Communist Party ticket. These two events are a good way to express what impact legendary labor leader Gus Hall had on American labor and political history. Of the two, Hall's labor role is clearly the most important." The article goes onto say that Hall's labor efforts will endure. "USWA Local 1375, born of the Hall-led strike against Republic Steel in 1937, is proof of that. Without Hall, the local probably wouldn't exist."

In preparing for the Dec. 9-10 regional meetings Hall addressed the national board of the CPUSA, saying: "The new developments in the labor movement, the new level of militancy and strikes reflect a turning point moment. For example, the steelworkers at WCI Steel in Warren won a victory over the corporations attempt to break the union, the Boeing workers rejection of the proposed contract and the AFL-CIO national convention reflect this new moment. All these highlight the enormous opportunities for changing the role, influence and power of the working class in our country," Hall said.

"Workers and unions are doing unprecedented, revolutionary things now, which culminated in the historic AFL-CIO Convention that is rocking the status quo boat and will result in new power, influence, labor unity and international solidarity on an unprecedented scale. The trade union movement is now in a position to lead a people's challenge that can defeat the Contract on America."

When talking about the Party in the new class struggle atmosphere, Hall projected, "These new, unprecedented developments also create a new role for our Party as a class conscious factor in transforming the new potential into reality. Our Party has to change in its relationship to the working class and to the trade union movement. This makes it possible for us to become a different kind of Party -- a truly mass party of the working class. That is our mandate, our responsibility at the Dec. 9-10 meetings on the working class and trade union movement. We have the opportunity to realize the new possibilities in the class struggle."

Hall discussed the all-sided effect that the new conditions will have in every arena of struggle. "Everything will now be re-molded. For example, how can we talk about the struggle against racism, for equality and affirmative action without understanding the new role and potential of the trade unions?" Hall asked.

"How can we talk about U.S. foreign policy, U.S. imperialism, without talking about the fact that the AFL-CIO International Department will eventually not be the conduit for CIA funds to support anti-labor, anti-union, counterrevolutionary and reactionary causes throughout the world? How can we talk about the elections without considering the new role of labor in running candidates to win and building a new independent party of labor."

For more information please call: NYC 212-989-4994, Chicago 312-842-5770, Los Angeles 213-733-3415.