On critics from the left
The Communist Party USA’s party-wide preconvention discussion shows the overwhelming majority supports the strategic direction of its new draft program and main resolution and also includes many good suggestions to strengthen them. A scattering of members say we should instead retain the 1983 program as the starting point, updating certain points. Most of them characterize the new draft program as going in a “social democratic,” “right opportunist” direction.
Editorial: Partners in crime
“Money doesn’t talk,” Bob Dylan observed. “It swears.” Those words are certainly true for the Bush administration and its attitude toward the environment.
Editorial: Filibuster fiasco
As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Since the bipartisan agreement by 14 senators that resulted in a compromise deal on the Senate filibuster rule, three extreme right-wing judges have been confirmed for the federal bench. The Senate saved its rule, but the courts took a big hit.
GI resistance today: New challenges ahead
Today’s anti-militarist GI confronts a military that has changed enormously since the first Gulf War 15 years ago. The behemoth conscript military of the Vietnam era, with 4 million-plus GIs, bears little resemblance to today’s model.
Nationwide hearings support HR 676
From California to New York, from Alabama to Michigan, single-payer health care activists are organizing hearings to press Congress to listen to the human voices of the health crisis. The Campaign for a National Health Program NOW is calling on communities nationwide to organize citizen/congressional hearings to spotlight the need for action to secure a system of comprehensive health care for everyone in the United States.
IATSE members project a better image in NYC
NEW YORK — Union projectionists held an informational picket in front of the invitation-only gala at the new Independent Film Channel (IFC) theater here June 9, after management broke off talks with their union and hired nonunion, unlicensed projectionists, in violation of state law.
GM cuts 25,000: Bad news for whole working class
The action by General Motors in cutting 25,000 jobs — 22 percent of its U.S. workforce — spells big trouble for the U.S. working class.
New Mexico AFL-CIO: Call for labor unity, bring the troops home
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The biennial convention of the New Mexico Federation of Labor met here June 10-11. The 163 delegates began their full agenda with a greeting by Executive Director Daniel Rivera. Next followed a memorial in honor of recently deceased Los Angeles labor leader Miguel Contreras.
World Notes
S. Africa: Steel talks deadlock; S. Korea: Gov’t rejects migrant worker union; Uganda: President backs multiparty system; Colombia: Urge review of immunity pact; Australia: Protest U.S.-Australian military exercise
UN meet: Were losing the fight against AIDS
UNITED NATIONS — The world is losing ground in the fight against HIV and AIDS, UN officials told a special General Assembly conference here June 2.
