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KC Labor Newsletter
Week In Review, March 7, 2004
March 8 A Big Date
International Women's Day
IWD is a holiday, like May Day, with roots in the USA but celebrated mainly in
other lands. The first Women's Day was organized in 1908 by socialist women
fighting for the right to vote and promoting organization of women workers
through the Women's Trade Union League. The following year they organized a mass
demonstration in New York in preparation for a major garment worker strike.
Their actions inspired a 1910 Women's Conference of the Socialist International
to proclaim an annual coordinated International Women's Day, beginning in 1911.
We’ll carry some special IWD features on the
Daily Labor News Digest
Monday.
Anniversary of the Beginning of the Russian Revolution
In 1917 an IWD demonstration in Petrograd (later Leningrad, now St Petersburg)
became the launching pad for the revolution that overthrew the Russian Czar.
Eight months later the Bolsheviks completed the revolution that established the
Soviet Union. IWD was then established as an official national holiday by the
Soviet government.
KC Labor Launched In 2000
Okay, maybe not on the same scale, but we are observing completion of four years
of operation of this web site. With your continued support we look forward to
the fifth.
Speaking of May Day...
For those of you in the Kansas City area please hold the date of Saturday
afternoon, May 1. The local Labor Party is in the process of contacting other
groups to put together an old-fashioned May Day celebration. We’ll keep you
informed of progress.
New ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in
Haiti
Some opponents of the Iraq war used to carry French tri-colors at antiwar
demonstrations to show appreciation for what they perceived as the peace loving
French government. Hawks and chicken-hawks on the other hand switched to
California wine and Freedom Fries to protest French betrayal. But the two
governments are back arm-in-arm again in a joint operation to carry out a coup
in Haiti and to occupy the poorest country in our hemisphere. They have drawn in
some others who were reluctant to embrace the Bush Doctrine in Iraq—such as
Canada, Chile, and even the "workers government" in Brazil. A reminder that
while bosses’ governments may have tactical differences among themselves from
time to time we can’t rely upon them to achieve peace. That’s why working people
need a strong, independent antiwar movement.
He Said a Mouth Full...
Billionaire Democrat Warren Buffett, commenting on Bush’s tax cuts for the rich,
"If this is class war then my class is winning."
A Familiar Refrain From Twin
Cities Transit Bosses
Slashed health care benefits. That’s perhaps the number one threat confronting
ATU Local 1005 in the Twin Cities. They hit the bricks early Thursday morning
and expect to be out quite some time. The company wants to cut health care for
retirees as well as the 2200 union drivers, maintenance and clerical workers
presently employed. The final offer included a wage freeze for the first year,
followed by a whopping one per cent in the second, and establishing two-tier
rates in some classifications.
Can You Help Us Out Through Year Five?
A one time donation:
Or join the Sawbuck Club with a Ten Dollar a Month Sustainer:
In solidarity,
Bill Onasch
webmaster, kclabor.org