Labor Boycotts MCI Fundraising Bash (Re: UAW prez slams GoreonChina PNTR

[Stephen E Philion]

Andrew, 
Didn't I read about the ILWU (at what level I don't recall) last week
making a resolution against the opposition to the PMFN bill? It is true
that those opposed to opposing China's PMFN status have not played a very
active role in supporting China's PMFN. That is consistent with arguing
that it is not the battle that needs to be fought at the moment.  However,
it doesn't help the labor movement leadership's efforts to block China
PMFN  to not be having an ILWU involved actively in supporting that
leadership's efforts.  That is, the effect of those *in the labor mv't*
who have not chosen to support this battle might be a bit bigger than you
estimate.  

I'm not certain that the resolution I refer to is a passed resolution,
it's unclear from the post I got this from. However, when I scanned the
various ILWU locals' web pages, I noticed that none of them announced the
anti-China PMFN effort. My suspicion is that disaffection with this effort
within the labor mov't is bigger than you estimate (though certainly
you're right to assert it's a minority), which would confirm what Doug
Henwood reported a few months back from a conversation with an AFL-CIO
source. And it would seem to indicate that those opposed to this effort
are also not simply the usual sectarian crowd.

Steve

 Stephen Philion
Lecturer/PhD Candidate
Department of Sociology
2424 Maile Way
Social Sciences Bldg. # 247
Honolulu, HI 96822

On Wed, 24 May 2000, Andrew English wrote:


> If China PNTR passes, it will be because of the pressures from
> the White House on wavering Dems.   The left critics of labor's
> tactics on this issue are a tiny force with no significant impact
> on this battle.    The main ally of the corporate elite is Clinton.
> 
> -Andy English
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nathan Newman <nathan.newman at yale.edu>
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
> Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 4:51 PM
> Subject: Re: Labor Boycotts MCI Fundraising Bash (Re: UAW prez slams
> GoreonChina PNTR
> 
> 
> 
> >The ironies pile up.  Too bad the result looks to be a win for the
> >corporate elite on the China PNTR vote.
> >
> >-- Nathan Newman
> >
> 
> 
>