Vol. 72/No. 18      May 5, 2008

The demonstration was called by the Laid-off Workers Council of United Auto Workers Local 93 in response to the institution of overtime for the first shift while 1,500 workers remain laid-off.

The hand-made signs on the picket line included one that said, “I’m hungry, give my Mommy back her job.” Some 30 percent of the picketers were women, reflecting the fact that the layoff of the second shift in July 1982 left virtually no women in the plant due to their low seniority.  
 
May 5, 1958
After the recent failure of the attempted overthrow of his regime by Fidel Castro, Cuban dictator Batista has been cracking the whip over the people.

A state of “national emergency” has already existed since April 1.

Except for territory in Oriente province held by the Castro forces, the Cuban people have had democratic rights for only 45 days this year—and these mostly on paper.

As Ward Cannel cynically observes in the April 15 New York World Telegram, “A democratic government would mean more people to pay off.”

But far worse could happen too. The Cuban workers and farmers could take advantage of democratic freedoms to organize against U.S. exploitation and end it once and for all.  
 
May 6, 1933
Fifteen hundred farmers, assembled at a convention of the National Holiday Association in Des Moines, Iowa, have voted drastic measures to be taken immediately, to relieve their misery and to stave off the attack of the bankers and the government.

Several days before, 600 farmers dragged Judge C. C. Bradley from his courtroom in Lemars, Iowa, when he refused to swear he would sign no more mortgage foreclosures. In Denison, the farmers, 800 strong, battled a sheriff and 40 deputies and prevented them from selling the farm of J. F. Shields.

The rebellion of the farmers can and should be coordinated with the movement of the workers against the Roosevelt program, which will further depress the living conditions of the city toilers.  
 
 
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