CCDS Mobilizer

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NORTHEASTERN REGION

PEACE AND LABOR ACTIVISTS WORKING TOGETHER IN BOSTON - March 23, 2010

CCDS members working in Boston United for Justice with Peace have been connecting peace work with labor issues. CCDSers helped organize a contingent that joined the AFL-CIO jobs rally on March 23, carrying signs like "Healthcare, Not Warfare" and "Jobs not Drones." . A vigorous and spirited group of 150 protesters picketed Bank of Boston headquarters in downtown Boston, and then heard speeches on the theme, "Jobs Now, Make Wall Street Pay." There was lots of anger about the huge bailout the federal government gave Wall Street and the banks to survive the economic crisis which they had caused, with not much help at all given to workers or their families who are suffering the consequences. Addressing the crowd was former AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, Latino city councillor Felix Arroyo Jr, as well as the current head of Mass. AFL-CIO and the director of Jobs with Justice.

Later that day, peace activists also joined a militant rally of 1000 strong protesting budget cuts in education and layoffs of teachers in Boston and Massachusetts. Peace activists are also helping to organize a May 8 teach-in sponsored by Massachusetts Labor Coalition Against War, which will focus on educating workers about the disastrous war in Afghanistan and the huge, ever-increasing military budget. Boston United for Justice with Peace is a dues paying member of Massachusetts Jobs with Justice; earlier in the year it presented a resolution to the JwJ steering committee calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan. The resolution passed, although with some abstentions. This has helped pave the wave for more cooperation.

Boston Chapter Hosts Davidson Talk - February 03, 2010

CCDS cochair Carl Davidson spoke in Boston on Feb. 03 on the topic, "Responses to the Economic Crisis: Green Jobs and Solidarity Economy." The well-attended gathering was cosponsored by the Boston CCDS and the Majority Agenda Project, a Massachusetts effort to build collaboration among progressive movements and to craft a progressive message that engages broadly with the center and left.

Davidson began by telling the story of his home town of Aliquippa in Western Pennsylvania. For many years, the city was a vibrant center of steel production and working class solidarity. For example, workers in 1937 waged a battle taken to the US Supreme Court, leading to enabling the Wagner act, which facilitated organization of the CIO unions. Gradually, however, corporations shifted steel production overseas and most workers lost their jobs. Today Aliquippa is a virtual ghost town, with a barren brown seven-mile strip of turf where steel mills once belched smoke. Its main export is youth, who all leave searching for opportunity. The one virtue is the return of pristine natural beauty now that there is no soot from the mills.

Aliquippa workers understand well the story of neoliberalism and corporate globalization. Consequently, several years ago, a small group of CCDSers, together with other progressive friends formed a local chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, they found many receptive people. Going door-to-door and talking with folks, the CCDSers found that healthcare was a prime worry, and the resulting slogan "Healthcare not Warfare" resonated. PDA focuses on several main issues: 1) "out now" from the wars, 2) single payer healthcare -- HR bill 676; 3) Employee Free Choice Act; 4) green jobs; 5) debt relief, focused on stopping foreclosures and also giving relief to burdened young people.

Beaver County PDA stuck with their platform through the 2008 election season, from the early days of supporting Kucinich to the final push for Obama. The chapter always maintained Independence from the formal Democratic Party structure, keeping their own name lists and finances.

Green jobs was given a statewide twist, as the United Steelworkers union launched a program with a Spanish firm, GAMESA to convert former steel mills into wind turbine factories. The turbines could be moved down the Ohio River in barges if the locks along the way were rebuilt. Many green jobs would be created by this program. Davidson also discussed the agreement reached between the United Steelworkers and the Mondragon coops in Spain, exploring worker controlled businesses. Varieties of coops, ESOPs and alternative economic organization already employ about 12 million in the U.S.- as many as officially organized in unions. The cooperative arrangements modeled on Mondragon can be a bridge in the direction of socialism, while still operating in a capitalist economy.

Not all was rosy as Beaver County PDA encountered teabaggers, right wingers exercising their "right to bear arms," and hawks challenging the weekly peace vigil in front of the courthouse. Nonetheless, starting with a few determined individuals the PDA meetings now attract more than 100 people with hundreds more on the mailing list.

Davidson also stressed the importance of socialist study groups to expand CCDS, as well as building wider organizations. His account gave a tenacious example of persistent grassroots organizing, one that other CCDS chapters might learn from. The previous evening the local Boston chapter welcomed Davidson to their monthly meeting, which ended with an endorsement of the progressive democrat Grace Ross' challenge for the Mass.Democratic gubernatorial nomination. The Davidson visit helped the Boston chapter get exposure in the progressive community, pass out lots of literature and build energy and enthusiasm.

2010 NY Left Forum - New York City - Pace University - March 19-21

The 2010 NY Left Forum will be held in New York City at Pace University, March 19-21. Pace University is on Park Row in lower Manhattan, across the street from City Hall. National and Metro NY CCDS will have a literature table. If you are planning to attend and/or would like to spend a pleasant few hours with us, please let us know: metroccds@gmail.com.

International Day of Action - March and Rally in New York City - May 2, Sunday, 2 PM.

May 2, Sunday, 2 PM. International Day of Action - March and Rally in New York City. For peace and human needs - nuclear disarmament now! Rally location and march route not yet confirmed.

There will also be an international conference that will be held April 30-May 1 in New York City. These actions coincide with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations. They are part of an international campaign to highlight the need for nuclear disarmament linking it to the current economic crisis, the military budget and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. United for Peace and Justice and Abolition 2000 were the initiating organizations but there is now broad international participation and leadership. For more general information: www.peaceandjusticenow.org/wordpress/ / 646-723-1749.

Metro NY CCDS has endorsed the May 2 action and will be organizing a contingent. This will be a major action and nearby areas especially, should organize broad participation. To contact Metro NY CCDS via email: metroccds@gmail.com.