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Vol. 75/No. 25      July 11, 2011

 
25, 50 and 75 years ago
 
July 11, 1986
The biggest timber strike in the Pacific Northwest since the early 1960s began June 16 when thousands of woodworkers shut down Weyerhaeuser, the industry giant. Weyerhaeuser Co. forced the strike on 7,500 workers in Oregon and Washington by insisting on massive wage and benefits cuts and union-busting work rules changes.

In mid-April the company proposed a $4.30 an hour cut in wages and benefits, mandatory overtime, elimination of the eight-hour workday, gutting seniority rights in bumping and promotions, and elimination of the right to strike over grievances. In return for wage cuts the company offered a productivity bonus plan.

A total of 22 Weyerhaeuser mills and logging operations have been struck. The outcome of the strike will affect the entire lumber industry in the United States and Canada.  
 
July 10 & 17, 1961
NEW YORK—The first annual conference of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, held here July 1-3, ended with a pledge by both leaders and members of the organization to redouble their efforts to reach more Americans with the truth about Cuba and to work harder to bring about an improvement of U.S.-Cuban relations.

The conference warned against further U.S. military, political and economic intervention in Cuba and condemned the Kennedy administration for continuing violations of the U.S. neutrality laws and international agreements respecting the sovereignty of Cuba.

In his opening report to the conference, FPCC Acting Executive Secretary Richard Gibson declared, “The threat to revolutionary Cuba is also a threat to men who would be free everywhere on this continent and, indeed, throughout the world.”  
 
December 5, 1936
Spain’s proletarian armies more than held their own as the siege of Madrid drew to the close of its fourth week.

The lines around Madrid held the fascists at bay, while flank and rear attacks on fascist lines forced Franco to divert to endangered points more and more of the troops previously facing Madrid.

All serious observers concur in the conviction that Hitler and Mussolini’s recognition of Franco’s regime has committed them irrevocably to a fascist victory in Spain. Fascist Italy and Germany are moving with caution at the moment, first testing the relation of forces in Europe to determine how speedily they can come to Franco’s aid, but their shipments to Franco continue. The military pact between Germany and Japan with Italy as silent partner is a decisive step in preparing for open intervention in Spain.  
 
 
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