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Vol. 78/No. 35      October 6, 2014

 
25, 50, and 75 Years Ago

October 6, 1989

As Exxon abruptly ended its Alaska oil spill cleanup Sept. 15, state officials charged that as much as seven million gallons of crude oil continue to foul the area of Prince William Sound.

More than 300 miles of treated shoreline remains saturated with muck, as much as three feet deep.

After the Exxon Valdez crashed onto a reef last March, spilling 11 million gallons of oil, Exxon said cleanup crews would remain until the 1,300 miles of polluted shoreline were clean. In calling off the operation, it refused to commit itself to returning in the spring.

Instead, the company declared the area “environmentally stable” and split.

So far 33,000 dead sea birds and 980 sea otters have been found.

October 5, 1964

The leading organization of the independent African nations last week pointed the finger of blame for the situation in the Congo directly at the U.S. To make clear to the world that Africans do not support Moise Tshombe, Washington’s and Brussels’ reactionary Congolese puppet, or the war he is waging with white mercenaries against his own people, the Organization of African Unity is sending its African Reconciliation Commission to the U.S. Its mission is to tell President Johnson to stop sending military personnel and supplies to the Congo.

Washington was thrown into a fury and the State Department, dispensing with usual diplomatic courtesies, announced that the African delegates would not be received.

October 6, 1939

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — The AFL Teamsters and the CIO Packing House Workers Organizing Committee joined forces today in a 100% tie-up of the Cudahy Packing Company’s plant here. Over 1,000 workers were out, with a strong picket line, manned mainly by CIO members, blocking any attempts to reopen.

The strike was called when the Company refused to deal with the Teamsters for 18 truck drivers. The Packing House Workers pulled out in sympathy, to force recognition and to secure the reinstatements of 12 men discharged for union activity.

According to E.G. Williamson, chairman of the CIO Local, his Union has been trying to settle the question of bargaining rights through an NLRB election for some time without success.

 
 
 
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