BY OSCAR CORRAL  
The head of Goodwill Industries of South Florida has fired Miami mayoral candidate Michael Italie, a member of the Socialist Workers Party, because he is a "subversive" presence in the company.

Dennis Pastrana, chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization, had Italie fired Oct. 22 after reading campaign pamphlets that supported Cuba's communist revolution and criticized the United States for its presence in Afghanistan.

"We cannot have anyone who is attempting to subvert the United States of America," Pastrana said. "His political beliefs are those of a communist who would like to destroy private ownership of American enterprises and install a communist regime in the United States."

Italie, an obscure candidate for mayor who moved to Miami 18 months ago from Atlanta, says Pastrana is discriminating against him.

Italie had a minimum-wage job sewing jackets for the military. He worked at Goodwill's Allapattah factory for seven months.

"This is an attack on all workers who should not have to fear the loss of their jobs for having an opinion," Italie said.

The Miami branch of the American Civil Liberties Union was contacted by Italie and is investigating whether his civil rights may have been violated, chapter president Lida Rodriguez-Taseff said.

"If it is determined that Goodwill gets government funding, he might have a case," she said.

William Amlong, a prominent Fort Lauderdale labor attorney, said he doesn't believe Italie has much of a legal case.

"I think it's an outrageous, but probably a legal move," said Amlong, who added that by firing Italie, Pastrana may have given him a popularity boost. "This guy has gone from being a very minor mayoral candidate to a martyr. Anybody who would have given a socialist a snowball's chance in hell in the Miami election would need to have his head examined."

Pastrana said he researched the matter and fired Italie after receiving legal advice from lawyers he knows. He said he realizes he can't fire someone based on gender, race, religion or sexual orientation, but that firing someone for political views is legal.

Italie is one of nine candidates running for mayor of Miami against incumbent Joe Carollo.

He seldom attends forums and debates, but when he does, he stirs controversy because of his political stance.

He is an outspoken supporter of the Cuban revolution and critic of the U.S. war on terrorism.

At one debate at Miami-Dade Community College's Wolfson campus the week before he was fired, Italie butted heads with Carollo over the U.S. campaign against Afghanistan.

Carollo had few sympathetic words for Italie when he heard that he had been fired.

"I think the man has treasonous points of view," Carollo said. "I think he would have made Benedict Arnold seem like a patriot."

Italie said he is aware of Miami's powerful anticommunist stance, which is strengthened by large numbers of Cuban exiles--including Pastrana--who fled Fidel Castro's regime. But Italie believes he is representing the rights of all workers.

"I was not asked for my political point of view when I was hired," Italie said.

He said Goodwill officials began asking him about his beliefs the day after the televised MDCC debate. Three days later, they told him that "because of your views on the U.S. government, you are a disruptive force and cannot work here any longer. Get your things and go," Italie said.

Pastrana said Italie's views are not compatible with Goodwill's mission.

Goodwill of South Florida has a multimillion-dollar contract with the United States government to produce clothes for the military and flags that will be used to adorn the coffins of soldiers killed in action, Pastrana said.

"Goodwill will not allow anyone to bring dishonor to such an important symbol," Pastrana said.

Amlong said that while it may not be illegal to fire an employee based on political views, it sets a dangerous precedent of stifling political discourse in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I find it kind of ironic that a company making American flags is firing somebody for having diverse points of view," Amlong said.
 
 
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