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SCARBOROUGH, Ontario - Striking Steelworkers at S.A. Armstrong, a pumping equipment manufacturer, intend to keep up their fight and save their union. Some 76 members of United Steelworkers of America Local 6971 have been on strike there since the last week of April, 1996.

This is one of the first industrial fights in Ontario where the bosses have attempted to bust the union since provincial premiere Michael Harris passed labor laws that allow companies to hire replacement workers/scabs during a strike. That's why it's important that working people stand up in solidarity with the strikers and help them go back to their jobs with their heads up high. So far not even a single unionist has crossed the picket line.

Solidarity actions have taken place in support of the strikers, but there hasn't been a massive mobilization that could shut down the plant, bring the employer to the negotiating table, and stop its union-busting policies. The largest mobilizations were of a few hundred in October.

The last solidarity action, which drew 60-70 people was on Jan. 13, 1997. Welcoming the support, striker Sam Singh, commented, "It will help us to stop the scabs and shut them down so they will negotiate. The bigger the picket lines the better." He noted that the company's "pick and choose offer" of selecting who can return to work after the strike means "if you shout too much on the picket line or stop the scabs they put a red mark under your name."

"Until this fire is out we will not surrender," said Greg, a 28-year-old steelworker who has spent more time on the picket line than his actual employment at S.A. Armstrong. Pointing to a fellow striker named George Lion, who has six months before retirement and has worked at the plant for 32 years, Greg said, "His name should be in the hall of fame. He is such a fighter."

Lion related, "Once at the beginning of the strike I asked Charles Armstrong, the owner, 'Why are you doing this to us,' and he told me to go in and work. I said 'No way, I'm not leaving my brothers behind and cross the picket line.' " That is the average attitude and fighting spirit of the strikers.

Pharmaceutical workers protest racist attacks
ELIZABETH, New Jersey - Two workers at Shering-Plough Corp. and one former worker led over a dozen supporters in a spirited march through the streets of Elizabeth and Union, New Jersey, January 20 as part of ongoing protests against racist attacks at the giant pharmaceutical company. Eric Arnold, a young Black worker, was called a "stupid nigger" by a supervisor last summer, and began the process of filing complaints with the company and the state. John D'Orazio, who is white, has been harassed including receiving death threats, for corroborating Eric's account. Dwayne Ross, who was fired from his job at Shering-Plough because of racism, also marched. Six workers in all have filed racial discrimination complaints against the company with the state Division on Civil Rights.

One worker who joined the march was Leon Pearson, who works at D&E Foods in Elizabeth. He told the Militant, "I came out to support these guys because I was terminated from my job unfairly myself. We have to stand up and fight these racial attacks."

On December 23, a noose was found in the maintenance area in Shering-Plough's Kenilworth plant with the handwritten words "Monkey Craft Bungee Jump."

The company claimed in November that it does not tolerate racism, investigates all reported incidents, and punishes violators. But, explained John D'Orazio, when the company made that claim, it only opened the floodgates to dozens more complaints. "Close to 50 workers [out of a workforce of 3,000] called the hot line we set up: Black, white, and 90 percent women," said Salaam Ismail, an activist who is supporting the workers' fight.

Although the company did fire the foreman who insulted Eric Arnold, other mostly middle level management have also been responsible for racist statements and actions. "We're not in this to make a million dollars," D'Orazio said. "We want to straighten this out for others." Besides settlements on the civil rights cases, the workers are demanding a task force be created to set up guidelines and deal with complaints.

The workers have been making their protests public, reaching out for support by holding press conferences, and holding signs in front of the plant protesting the company's racism. They launched a boycott of Shering-Plough products on February 5, when their demands were not met. Shering-Plough produces the antihistamine Claritin and Intron A, which is a treatment for malignant melanoma and hepatitis C, among other products. For the year 1996, their earnings rose 37 percent to $1.21 billion, compared to $886 million in 1995. Shering Plough employs some 20,000 workers worldwide.

Ali Yousefi, member of USWA Local 5338 in Toronto, and Martha Ressler, member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, contributed to this column.  
 
 
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