‘I like your ideas, how you live and give leadership…’ Jobs Conference Unites Workers, Exposes Capitalist Unemployment

NEW YORK CITY, September 25 — Today  90 workers — black, Latino and white, men and women, immigrants and citizens, young and old, employed and unemployed — came together in a conference to fight for jobs. The room was alive with workers’ solidarity and strength. Our goal is to build a mighty movement, worker by worker and action by action, to confront capitalist unemployment, exploitation, racism and war. “Our movement is based on workers’ power, not the politicians,” one speaker said. “We say, ‘Make the bosses and bankers pay.’”

Workers stood and applauded as a striker from the Central Park Boathouse described how they’d organized their strike and won a victory (see page 3). Conference participants will send a letter of congratulations and solidarity. We also pledged support to the Boathouse workers in their future confrontations with fascist immigration enforcement, job insecurity, layoffs and racist and sexist treatment. Any “victory” for workers can only be temporary until the working class takes state power.

A woman worker from Harlem talked about their fight-back against racist Columbia University, which is building a new satellite campus in West Harlem. After promising jobs to workers in the community, Columbia has hired only two. The conference pledged to turn up the heat on the university by marching in Harlem on October 10.

Then a woman stood and greeted the conference. We soon realized that she was the boss of a group of homecare workers in attendance — whom she owes thousands of dollars in back wages! With one voice, we chanted “Get out!” and “Paque lo que debe!” (pay what you owe). The boss took notice and is now offering part of what she owes. The fight will continue, with the conference pledging support for these workers and a demonstration when they need it. A leader from the Stella D’oro strike last year emphasized the need for workers’ determination and boldness as we fight back.

Before we divided into small groups, five workers in Progressive Labor study groups gave short presentations about unemployment and its brutal impact on the working class. They helped us reach a clearer understanding of why unemployment is both inevitable and necessary under capitalism, how it is essentially racist, and how it relates to the anti-immigrant movement and the accelerated U.S. move toward war. The reports also emphasized the need for workers’ unity in a period of rising joblessness.

In our small groups, we discussed what we’re doing to fight for jobs. We have made a good beginning, but need more specific plans. We need to struggle with our friends to build a stronger base for the Party with their families, friends, co-workers, neighbors and classmates.

As the conference ended, we enjoyed a delicious meal of Mexican chicken, rice and salad prepared by two women who volunteered their time and labor for us.

Workers Speak About
the Conference

“I was happy. I never experienced a meeting like this.”

“I want to participate in this fight.”

“We should have more events like this.”

“I was surprised. I missed an opportunity to invite more workers.”

“I like your ideas, how you live and give leadership.”

When asked why workers had such a positive reaction to the conference, a comrade organizer responded, “Because we were talking about workers’ real issues, real solidarity and fight-back for the working class, not about politicians, laws and legislation.”

The conference has moved the Party forward in several areas, and will enable PL to widen and deepen the workers’ fight-back. As PL members continue to build a base in the working class, especially in capitalist-led organizations, they will distribute more CHALLENGE and win other workers to do the same. They will organize more Party study groups to help workers understand the role of communist ideas and leadership. In turn, more workers will join and lead PL in the long march toward revolution and a truly communist, egalitarian society.J