A16 and Labor

[Alex LoCascio]

Yoshie points out how the methodology of DAN tends to work against
meaningful participation by people of color.  The May 2000 issue of
International Viewpoint (the english-language Fourth International organ)
has an article by Rodney Ward and Rick Wadsworth on the A16 events which
briefly mentions the problems encountered in getting the DAN folks to take
seriously the idea of involving organized labor in A16.  Wadsworth, it
should be noted, was one of a handful of local activists (along with a local
AFGE rank-and-filer, various DC Labor Party members, and a few TDU members)
to agitate for the creation of a Labor Outreach Committee.  After this
initial agitation the decision was finally made to create a permitted march
and rally group, and the DAN folks brought on a Jobs with Justice organizer
to handle the labor work from that point on.

Here's an excerpt from the piece:

"Many of the leading figures of the DAN understood the utility of labor
ties.  But others looked to the voluntaristic direct action of a small
minority as the only way forward.  They consequently say efforts to build
the sort of broad actions that might draw labor support as a snare and a
diversion.  Nevertheless, intervention by local labor activists in their
first general meeting led to agreement to build - alongside direct actions -
the sort of march and rally the AFL-CIO might possibly endorse.

"Moreover, effort was given to the overall name of Mobilization for Global
Justice.  The AFL-CIO Executive Council had named their campaign around
global trade issues the Campaign for Global Fairness.

"In view of the AFL-CIO's strong backing of the Gore presidential campaign
and deep implantation in Democratic Party politics, it was clear that no
friendliness toward extralegal actions was to be looked for.  It also needs
to be kept in mind that so far as most American workers are concerned, they
absolutely-positively-cannot-be-in-jail-on-Monday-morning.

"Aside from the fact that no one relishes going into captivity, U.S. social
conditions, relative to Europe, create a special barrier (to give some
examples: no legal right to employment security; denial of unemployment
insurance - in many states - if discharged due to arrest; no public or
affordable childcare; little or no public transportation; and so on).

"Following the community meeting in late January where the name change was
made, preparations for the anti-IMF/WB actions, usually referred to as A16,
while formally unified, tended to proceed in two tracks.  One of these aimed
at outreach mainly to students and young bohemians and the formation of
affinity groups as well as a spokes-council for the direct action.  The
other was a more conventional coalition building toward a rally and march. 
Some people, of course, took part in both."

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