Dec. 17, 2005

Teachers fired; New Orleans’ march for action; Louisiana workers speak out on human rights

The Cuban Five have been in prison for seven years. The U.S. government prevents wives from visiting husbands in prison. It’s time for action.

UNITED NATIONS — After an October report to the UN Security Council implicating Syria in the February assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Detliv Mehlis, who leads the investigation, presented his second set of findings on Dec. 12. The new Mehlis commission report claims additional, unspecified evidence of Syria’s involvement, and charges Syria with foot-dragging in the probe.

Recent comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, including his provocative rhetoric toward Israel and the U.S., can only be understood in the context of Iran’s troubled domestic politics.

S. Africa: Call for trade justice; El Salvador: Protesters block roads; Ireland: Massive turnout for protest; S. Korea: Migrant workers occupy government office; World unionists demand freedom for Cuban 5

Some 7,000 New York City transit workers packed a cavernous hall at the Javits Convention Center Dec. 10 to hear a report from the leadership of Transit Workers Union Local 100 on the status of contract negotiations.

Wages, pensions, public health, education are all devastated

George Bush preached “democracy” to China last month, just as his father and Ronald Reagan preached “democracy” to the Soviet Union in the 1980s. By democracy, Bush and Reagan mean capitalist democracy, where everyone is formally equal, while the class of exploiters enforces its narrow interests. Workers’ democracy involves informed participation. It is open and honest about class interests and it represents the interests of the overwhelming majority.

Class struggle heats up; Miners organize; New support for HR 676; CBTU gathers hurricane relief; Stanford strike; ‘Union protection’ takes on new meaning

A heated battle is raging across Missouri over the issue of stem cell research and therapy. On one side is the fanatic anti-abortion element of the religious right. On the other is an incredibly broad coalition of health professionals, academic institutions, disabled citizens, progressive organizations, private corporations and wealthy individuals. The latter include major donors to the Bush election campaign. The outcome in this state could presage the coming conflict at the federal level.

On Nov. 3, 2004, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney convened a news conference at the labor federation’s headquarters to comment on George W. Bush’s narrow presidential win the night before.