Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1982. január-június (36. évfolyam, 1-25. szám)
1982-03-25 / 12. szám
Thursday, March 25 1982 AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO 11. THREE MAJOR WORLD PROBLEMS REPORT ON THE WFTU CONGRESS IN HAVANA by James Lustig Three maior world problems were discussed at the 10th Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions in Havana, Cuba. One delegate after the other-from India to Indonesia, from the Philippines to the Fiji Islands, from Ghana to Guatemala- said: “We are robbed by the multinational corporations. They are buying our coffee, cocoa, rubber, zinc and other raw materials for a pittance, and we are obliged to pay exorbitant prices for their manufactured good and their technology.” This situation must end, they said, and that is the reason we demand a NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER, which will make it possible to equalize the prices of raw materials and manufactured goods. The second problem was the grave situation in which workers in the developed, industrial countries find themselves. This is most clearly manifested in the USA where the workers in all basic industries* like steel, auto, rubber, transportation, were forced to give basic concessions in wages and working conditions. The multinational, transnational corporations, like General Motors, say: If the workers are not ready and willing to give concessions, we will transfer our production to foreign countries. The leaders of the American trade unions,instead of searching for means how to counter this unprecedented offensive, caved in and gave concession after concession in wages and working conditions for which these workers were fighting for many years. The delegates to the 10th Congress pointed out that there is a remedy, the ONLY ONE to withstand the attacks of the monopolies on the living standards of the workers, and that is UNITY, SOLIDARITY, JOINT UNITED ACTION. Solidarity is indispensable Without it no succes- ful fight is possible. Solidarity on the shop-level,on the industry level. Solidarity between one union and all the other unions within a country. But, unity described above, was sufficient in the past., it is not sufficient at the present. Concerns like GM, have plants in 34 countries, the world over. Therefore it is necessary to have INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY. There was a brilliant exposition of international solidarity at the Congress when the delegates from Great Britain related how the dockworkers in a number of countries gave aid and support to the dockworkers’ strike in Englad which made it possible to end the strike with complete victory. It has been stated: the monopolies are better organized internationally than the workers. GM might show a deficit at a given year on its production in the US, but if at the same time the Japanese Isuzu Motors makes a profit, GM also makes a profit, because it owns 34.2 % of Isuzu stocks. And if the Ford Motor Co. shows a deficit on its US production, it still makes a profit, if the Toyo Kogyo firm in Japan makes a profit, because the Ford Co. owns 25 % of Kogyo’s stocks. The largest automaker in the USA, GM is negotiating with Toyota to bring about a joint venture, for profit. It is interesting to note that while these large corporations are fighting one another to capture the market, at the same time they are cooperating, i.e. both fight and cooperation has the aim to make profit for these monopolies. If the employers can work together to promote their interest, why cannot the workers of all countries work and act together since their interests are the same. Yet, we must confess and face the sad fact: this cooperation and joint action is in embrió form. This was manifested at a joint meeting with the delegates from the USA and Canada where this question was discussed. An exchange of information is the most elementary stage of cooperation, and even this is missing, on many, if not most occasions. If, for instance, the GM workers are faced with a confrontation with the company, it is necessary that all workers in all countries be informed about the nature of the dispute, the progress or lack of progress of the negotiations, and prepare all the workers if the workers are forced to call a strike. The fact is that by joint action before a strike, many strikes could be avoided and satisfactory agreements reached with management. The function of the multinational corporations forces the labor movement of all capitalist count - ries to work out a new strategy, required by the new situation, new circumstances, new relationship of forces. THE FIGHT FOR PEACE The last but far from the least important problem at the Congress was the struggle to prevent the outbreak of a nuclear war. It was stressed by every delegate that the immediate end of the armament’s race is imperative for the wellbeing of every man, woman and child. It was pointed out that: 1. ) Half the resources at present allocated to military expenditures for one day would suffice to finance a program for the total eradication of malaria, a disease which affects 66 countries where Vi of mankind lives, and which kills just in Africa over a millions children a year. 2. ) In five hours the world spends for military expenditures the equivalent of the overall yearly budget of UNICEF for infant care. 3. ) The amount of people working in military-related activities, including the armed forces, is today twice as much as that of teachers, physicians and nurses around the world. 4. ) Approximately 25 % of the world’s scientific personnel is dedicated to military activities. It is estimated that 60 % of the overall scientific research expenditures are absorbed by military programs. The volume of such research projects is five times greater than that of the projects devoted to the protection of health. 5. ) The price of a Trident nuclear submarine equals 400.000 living quarters for two million people. I could continue this listing but it should be enough to demonstrate the insanity and ciminali- ty of the arms race. The delegates at the Congress were unanimous in designating the Reagan Administration as the Part of the US delegation listening to the speakers, at the 10th Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions in Havana, Cuba. main culprit. It is the Reagan Administration that refuses to endorse the SA LT II Agreement, that refuses to negotiate the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons. That intends to spend 1.3 trillion dollars for B-l bombers, MX and Cruise missiles, Trident submarines. This situation places a historic responsibility on the American people. We can’t avoid, or ignore this responsibility. The American people seem to recognize this responsibility. At one Town Meeting after another in the “reactionary, conservative” state of Vermont, the people raised their voices and demanded disarmament and liquidation of all nuclear weapons on earth. We have to take note of the meeting that was held Wednesday, March 10th at the campus of American University, where Senator Edward M. Kennedy (Dem. Mass.), senator Mark O.Hatfield ( Rep. Oregon), William Colby, former CIA director, a number of representatives of the Catholic Church, and others spoke. They expressed the opinion that we must put an end to the arms race and reach an agreement with the Soviet Union to disarm. Famous Hollywood stars, like Joanne Woodward, Warren Beatty, Mario Thomas, and others - are collecting one million signatures for peace and disarmament. 17 senators and 122 congressmen sponsored a resolution calling for a freeze in the level of Soviet- American atomic arsenal. This action of the legislators is nothing else than echo to the grumblings going on among the American people. In the states of South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Hampshire, Maine and Missourion city and county meetings, those present took the same stand as those attending the Town Meetings in Vermont. However we must face reality. It is a sad fact that the majority of the top leaders of the AFL- CIO are not only inactive in the fight for peace but actually are trying to hinder the work of the rank and file. This is the last hindrance that must be overcome, to accomplish our historic mission: compell the US government to reach an understanding with the Soviet Union first to freeze the atomic arsenal, and then agree to liquidate all existing atomic weapons. Once this is accomplished, humanity can work out all the other problems, without endangering the existence of civilization.
