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[Scott Marshall]

Chris said:
<What the trade unions in the developed countries need to grasp is that
there must be mechanisms systematically to transfer wealth back to the
periphery of the capitalist world, and not out of patronising charity. If
that is part of a bargain that protects the workers of developed countries
from chaotic job losses, that looks like a good internationalist bargain.>

Scott replies:

What claptrap! with a small "c" and a smile.

This is not a perscription for struggle with global capitalism. It is not 
the resposibility of the unions in the developed countries to bail out 
imperialism, or solve it's problems. It is the Monsantos, the CitiBanks and 
the like that plunder and force poverty and underdevelopment on the 3rd 
world. That's where the fire should be aimed.

What the unions do have to do, and what I think they are beginning to try 
and figure out is: How to place their just demands to protect their jobs 
and living standards in a framework that builds international class 
solidarity. As they did in Seattle, they have to say: The corporations are 
the enemy and we will support your struggle against them in every way we 
can. The decline of wages and working conditions in the developed countries 
in no way have helped workers in underdeveloped countries - it has only 
increased the bottom line of the corporations. Unions advocating 
paternalistic "concern" is of no value, only joint struggle and class unity 
can win the day.

And Chris, what is this constant "no single organization has all the 
answers" stuff - who are you arguing with? I never said that.