Should the NDP support CETA?

A battle within the New Democratic Party in Canada is shaping up over the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Will organized labour stand for the NDP's Mulcair entering a trade agreement that will force austerity down the throats of Canadian workers and drastically slash living standards in Canada? If Mulcair and the NDP support CETA they can kiss all chances of winning national power good-bye. What a shame this would be. What CETA is really all about is assuring Canada a greater role in its development as an imperialist nation.

Is it in the interest of the socialist New Democratic Party and Canada's working class to have Canada become a stronger imperialist nation than what it already is? Definitely not.

We see the terrible price the American people and the U.S. working class is paying for the "pragmatism" of labor leaders supporting U.S. imperialism and for Canada to continue down the road of imperialism the cost and consequences to Canada's working people will be a disaster, too.

It should be noted that the U.S. CIA's labor front group, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), of which the Canadian Labour Congress and the AFL-CIO are prominent and leading members, continue to push workers towards acquiescing--- if not outright support--- for Wall Street's, Bay Street's and the Square Mile's (and the rest of the G-8/G-20) imperialist agenda in undermining the the influence of the most militant anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist and pro-socialist unions affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions and hundreds of other unions just as militantly anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist and pro-socialist without any international affiliations.

All of these so-called "trade agreements" are intended to weaken labor, further intensify the exploitation of labor and enable cheaper extraction of natural resources, processing of natural resources and manufacturing in maximizing the profits of the multi-national corporations.

Any union leader who pushes such "trade agreements" as being beneficial to the working class either is a dim-wit or collaborator with management and no political party supporting such agreements can be seen as pro-labor or a friend of labor let alone a working class based political party.

Thomas Mulcair, the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party shouldn't even be considering supporting CETA and anyone contemplating supporting or voting for the NDP (which should be each and every worker and every single union along with anti-imperialists in Canada or anyplace else in the world) should let Mulcair know he shouldn't even be entertaining ideas about supporting Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union.

Progressives and socialists work to weaken and defeat imperialism not prop it up and strengthen imperialism because we know the harm imperialism brings to working people everywhere so Thomas Mulcair's search for a position regarding CETA becomes something anti-imperialists from all countries need to be aware of and speaking out on.

It is when issues like this come up working people need some kind of organizational structure crossing borders in order to collaborate and strengthen the anti-imperialist movements.

For the Wall Street crowd the United States Postal Service is too public to save.

The United States Postal Service is being set up to fail as a public institution so an excuse can be found to privatize it.

If we had politicians working for the good of the people U.S. Postal Services should have been expanded to include a publicly owned Internet Service Provider and a publicly owned National Banking System. And the U.S. Postal Service should have expanded into the larger parcel delivery like Fed Ex and UPS. Had the U.S. Postal Service been enabled to expand small profits large enough to finance something like a National Public Child Care System could have come from this while saving the American people a lot of money, pain and misery. The pensions for U.S. Postal employees should have been consolidated with Social Security with everyone on Social Security receiving the same good pensions postal employees receive--- the additional funds required should have come from an increase in the payroll tax which would be insignificant compared to the benefits with the increase falling heaviest on employers.

Instead of looking to do what is good for society as a whole, these Wall Street bribed politicians we have sitting in Congress whose only constituents are the parasitical Wall Street crowd, they have enabled the wholesale robbery and gutting of the U.S. Postal Service choosing to allow their corporate friends who are bribing them to profit from the very services the U.S. Postal Service should have expanded into.

In addition, instead of lowering the price of postage for first class mail they lowered the price of postage on corporate junk mail and advertising which should be subjected to higher rates than first class postage--- again, everything is done backwards to serve corporate interests instead of the people.

The American people are being ripped off left and right so corporations can profit while our public institutions are driven into the ground and replaced with private for-profit businesses. 

Once again we have seen where the unions have failed to promote policies in line with what society needs and have tried to defend the interests of postal workers in a very narrow and short-sighted way and once again we see this very backwards thinking on the part of labor leaders who refuse to place all options on the table for their members to consider has left the very workers they claimed they were defending without jobs.

When are union leaders in this country going to learn they can't win anything by sucking up to management?

If unions are going to win they have to ally their members with what is good for the entire working class.

We have seen what the results are of this "sucking up to management" trade union policy very clearly with what is going on with the long, painful demise of the U.S. Postal Service; which, if it continues without massive intervention by the people the result will be a complete end to one of our oldest and most important public institutions--- and when these crooked and corrupt shysters sitting in the White House and in the halls of Congress are done we will be paying $5.00 to mail a letter instead of 50 cents.

Obviously, the Congressional Progressive Caucus has been out dining on a corporate paid lunch while all this has been going on since no progressive alternative has been advanced.

Contrary to what all these political hacks, Wall Street bribed politicians, the over-paid pundits and muddle-headed well-heeled middle class "economists" and fuzzy-headed professors are saying--- there is nothing the private for-profit sectors can do that publicly owned enterprises can't do better.

Strengthening and expanding and developing new public institutions and enterprises is the only way we are going to be able to extract ourselves from the social and economic crisis we find ourselves mired in which is not of our making. 

We are confronted with a failing U.S. Postal Service; less service, higher rates--- when the solution to saving the U.S. Postal Service is expanded and new services with lower rates.

I do find it interesting that the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has not added its voice to the public dialog on this most important issue concerning the future of the U.S. Postal Service (and thousands of jobs here in Minnesota) which, if allowed to go through as Obama and Congress plan will result in a lower quality of life for Minnesotans. Rural Minnesotans and people living on Indian Reservations are likely to suffer the most.

Women and people of color--- last hired, first fired--- are likely to suffer the most from losing these real living wage jobs with the United States Postal Service.

For the Wall Street crowd the United States Postal Service is too public to save.

I do find it interesting there is never a war too expensive to fund; but, when it comes to the U.S. Postal Service the politicians decide they need to be miserly and penny-pinching.

-- 

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Letter to Minnesota State Representative Erin Murphy.

On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 7:55 AM,

Alan Maki wrote:

Minnesota State Representative and Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party House Majority Leader Erin Murphy,

I appreciated receiving your rapid response phone call in response to my e-mail regarding these three issues suggesting you personally understand there is in urgency to these matters; but, for the time being, I would prefer we keep everything in writing. I am sure you can understand this given the importance of these three issues to Minnesota workers.

Perhaps you could tell me if these three issues were brought forward and discussed in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's Legislative Caucus meeting the other day? If so; what was the gist of the discussion concerning each issue and the decision? Can we expect the DFL with its super majority to take swift action on these three issues?

Several legislators have told me they don't expect to see any action on these three issues because the DFL has such a "full plate." However, with the issue of rescinding/repealing "At-will Employment" legislation I am kind of "first in line" with this issue as I did bring it before the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Convention over ten years ago where it received around 50% support, not quite enough for the resolution I introduced to pass like the Single-payer Universal Health Care Resolution I wrote finally passed; which all of you legislators seem to be ignoring even though you have this new super majority where the Republicans have no say.

I think these three issues are of such importance, and I am convinced from talking with Minnesota workers across the state, that these issues are of primary importance given the fact so many Minnesotans lose their jobs through the unjust firings provided by the law through "At-will employment" which gives an employer already with the upper-hand unjust control over workers in their places of employment; and, given the fact we see the trauma and tragedy working class families are experiencing as a result of the American Crystal Sugar Company lockout of 1,300 union employees and complicating the situation by bringing in scabs/replacement workers to do their jobs as a way to circumvent the collective bargaining process--- if the DFL does not act in a swift and responsible manner now that these issues have been properly framed and brought to your attention as I did with my previous e-mail to you--- and your phone call to me demonstrated you do understand the relevancy of these issues; but, apparently, neither you nor any members of your DFL legislative caucus understand the URGENCY of action required on these three important issues--- I have decided to take the following steps:

1. I have sent my first e-mail to thousands of people so they know these three concerns have been placed before you.

2. I will now begin to contact all these organizations and individuals always telling us we need the kind of super majority of liberal and progressive Democrats elected to public office so we can accomplish these kinds of very goals and objectives.

3. I will prepare MN DFL Precinct Caucus Resolutions to be discussed and acted at every Precinct Caucus meeting across Minnesota.

4. I will begin to initiate a discussion as to whether or not we need a new political party in Minnesota in line with the kind of party the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party was prior to its demise/merger with the Democratic Party.

One would think that you would have learned a bit from Minnesota history the chaos and violence that is spun by employer lockouts and the use of scabs during labor disputes and strikes--- there is a history of more than 100 years to present to look at in which any person with a sense of justice would have to conclude Minnesota needs anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation lest the employer initiated violence returns with the rage of the first union organizing drives in forestry, mining, transportation, auto and now this new form of corporate blackmail and terrorism as working class families are being subjected to in this American Crystal Sugar Company lockout as scabs have been replacing workers since day one of the lockout. As you are fully aware, the lockout is fact becoming the weapon of choice by employers across North America in both the United States and Canada. Minnesotans are in a position to put an end to these employer lockouts if the DFL with its super majority acts.

I am sure you are aware both British Columbia and Quebec have anti-scab legislation and the Canadian Labour Congress is adamant in seeing to it that every province enacts
anti-scab legislation as it pushes for more uniform national legislation.

I am going to be very frank and blunt with you, Representative Murphy. As I talked with people about this people suggested that a letter should be sent to you and and the members of the DFL legislative caucus providing you with the opportunity to act on these three issues.

My intent from the beginning was that we needed to look beyond the MNDFL for political solutions to the problems of working people. Personally, I have had more than I can stand from the MNDFL as far as the way you have betrayed casino workers in the Indian Gaming Industry. So, it has been as a courtesy to others I write and communicate with you. On the pother hand, if there is any possibility at all in seeing a resolution to these three issues without having to spend a lot of time, energy and resources doing things that may not be required, I am eager to to work together with you as your phone call suggested you are ready to do in finding a resolution through legislative remedy to these three issues.

If you still wish to meet to discuss these three issues, I would be happy to do so provided several other people concerned about these problems with whom I am working would be part of any such meeting.

Sincerely, 

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Cc: All members of the MN State House and Senate
      Shar Knutson, President, MN AFL-CIO

Why does the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party with it super majority continue to do nothing for workers?

Why does the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party with it super majority continue to do nothing:
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/188136771.html?refer=y

I just spent two days talking with locked out workers in the Red River Valley--- the American Crystal Sugar Company lockout of some 1,300 workers. Every single worker I spoke with along with members of their families supported the three pieces of legislation I have proposed. These are working class families who overwhelmingly support and vote for Democrats and they now expect this kind of very basic pro-worker legislation from the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer Labor Party's super majority.

If anyone doesn't believe me that there is overwhelming support for Minnesota Democrats to enact the following legislation they can go ask Minnesota workers themselves:

1. Anti-lockout legislation.

2. Anti-scab legislation.

3. Repeal and rescind "At-will Employment" legislation.

Want to contact Minnesota Legislators? Here are their e-mail addresses; just copy and paste:

rep.jim.abeler@house.mn,
 rep.tony.albright@house.mn,
 rep.susan.allen@house.mn,
 rep.mark.anderson@house.mn,
 rep.paul.anderson@house.mn,
 rep.sarah.anderson@house.mn,
 rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn,
 rep.joe.atkins@house.mn,
 rep.bob.barrett@house.mn,
 rep.mike.beard@house.mn,
 rep.john.benson@house.mn,
 rep.mike.benson@house.mn,
 rep.connie.bernardy@house.mn,
 rep.david.bly@house.mn,
 rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn,
 rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn,
 rep.karen.clark@house.mn,
 rep.tony.cornish@house.mn,
 rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn,
 rep.greg.davids@house.mn,
 rep.jim.davnie@house.mn,
 rep.matt.dean@house.mn,
 rep.raymond.dehn@house.mn,
 rep.bob.dettmer@house.mn,
 rep.david.dill@house.mn,
 rep.zachary.dorholt@house.mn,
 rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn,
 rep.ron.erhardt@house.mn,
 rep.roger.erickson@house.mn,
 rep.sondra.erickson@house.mn,
 rep.dan.fabian@house.mn,
 rep.andrew.falk@house.mn,
 rep.tim.faust@house.mn,
 rep.peter.fischer@house.mn,
 rep.david.fitzsimmons@house.mn,
 rep.mary.franson@house.mn,
 rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn,
 rep.patti.fritz@house.mn,
 rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn,
 rep.steve.green@house.mn,
 rep.glenn.gruenhagen@house.mn,
 rep.bob.gunther@house.mn,
 rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn,
 rep.laurie.halverson@house.mn,
 rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn,
 rep.rick.hansen@house.mn,
 rep.alice.hausman@house.mn,
 rep.jerry.hertaus@house.mn,
 rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn,
 rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn,
 rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn,
 rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn,
 rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn,
 rep.jeff.howe@house.mn,
 rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn,
 rep.jason.isaacson@house.mn,
 rep.brian.johnson@house.mn,
 rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn,
 rep.phyllis.kahn@house.mn,
 rep.tim.kelly@house.mn,
 rep.andrea.kieffer@house.mn,
 rep.deb.kiel@house.mn,
 rep.ron.kresha@house.mn,
 rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn,
 rep.ernie.leidiger@house.mn,
 rep.ann.lenczewski@house.mn,
 rep.john.lesch@house.mn,
 rep.tina.liebling@house.mn,
 rep.ben.lien@house.mn,
 rep.leon.lillie@house.mn,
 rep.diane.loeffler@house.mn,
 rep.kathy.lohmer@house.mn,
 rep.jenifer.loon@house.mn,
 rep.tara.mack@house.mn,
 rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn,
 rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn,
 rep.paul.marquart@house.mn,
 rep.sandra.masin@house.mn,
 rep.joe.mcdonald@house.mn,
 rep.jay.mcnamar@house.mn,
 rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn,
 rep.carly.melin@house.mn,
 rep.jason.metsa@house.mn,
 rep.rena.moran@house.mn,
 rep.will.morgan@house.mn,
 rep.joe.mullery@house.mn,
 rep.erin.murphy@house.mn,
 rep.mary.murphy@house.mn,
 rep.pam.myhra@house.mn,
 rep.michael.nelson@house.mn,
 rep.jim.newberger@house.mn,
 rep.jerry.newton@house.mn,
 rep.bud.nornes@house.mn,
 rep.kim.norton@house.mn,
 rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn,
 rep.marion.oneill@house.mn,
 rep.michael.paymar@house.mn,
 rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn,
 rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn,
 rep.john.persell@house.mn,
 rep.john.petersburg@house.mn,
 rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn,
 rep.cindy.pugh@house.mn,
 rep.duane.quam@house.mn,
 rep.joe.radinovich@house.mn,
 rep.paul.rosenthal@house.mn,
 rep.linda.runbeck@house.mn,
 rep.tim.sanders@house.mn,
 rep.shannon.savick@house.mn,
 rep.mary.sawatzky@house.mn,
 rep.dan.schoen@house.mn,
 rep.joe.schomacker@house.mn,
 rep.peggy.scott@house.mn,
 rep.yvonne.selcer@house.mn,
 rep.steve.simon@house.mn,
 rep.erik.simonson@house.mn,
 rep.linda.slocum@house.mn,
 rep.mike.sundin@house.mn,
 rep.chris.swedzinski@house.mn,
 rep.paul.thissen@house.mn,
 rep.paul.torkelson@house.mn,
 rep.mark.uglem@house.mn,
 rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn,
 rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn,
 rep.joann.ward@house.mn,
 rep.john.ward@house.mn,
 rep.anna.wills@house.mn,
 rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn,
 rep.kelby.woodard@house.mn,
 rep.barb.yarusso@house.mn,
 rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn,
 rep.nick.zerwas@house.mn,
 sen.terri.bonoff@senate.mn,
 sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn,
 sen.bobby.champion@senate.mn,
 sen.kevin.dahle@senate.mn,
 sen.jim.carlson@senate.mn,
 sen.greg.clausen@senate.mn,
 sen.kent.eken@senate.mn,
 sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn,
 sen.vicki.jensen@senate.mn,
 sen.foung.hawj@senate.mn,
 sen.lyle.koenen@senate.mn,
 sen.melisa.franzen@senate.mn,
 sen.jeff.hayden@senate.mn,
 sen.jim.metzen@senate.mn,
 sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn,
 sen.roger.reinert@senate.mn,
 sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn,
 sen.melissa.wiklund@senate.mn,
 sen.bev.scalze@senate.mn,
 sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn,
 sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn,
 sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn,
 sen.matt.schmit@senate.mn,
 sen.katie.sieben@senate.mn,
 sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn,
 sen.dave.thompson@senate.mn,
 sen.warren.limmer@senate.mn,
 sen.roger.chamberlain@senate.mn,
 sen.carla.nelson@senate.mn,
 sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn,
 sen.michelle.benson@senate.mn

A burlesque entertainer comes in for scathing criticism while the Indian Gaming Industry gets no comment

There is no lack of hypocrisy on the part of those who recently criticized a young burlesque entertainer who has been an activist in the Occupy Wall Street and Idle No More movements and struggles. I find it very interesting, and very hypocritical, of these critics--- many of whom are now holding Idle No More events in the casinos of the Indian Gaming Industry and even taking funding from these casino managements while overlooking the fact that so many Native Americans and workers of all races are forced to work in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights nor voices at work in an industry where a bunch of wealthy white mobsters own ALL the slot machines, table games, hotels,motels,bars and restaurants.

Perhaps someone who has led the attacks on this young burlesque entertainer can explain the duplicity and hypocrisy in letting the Indian Gaming Industry off the hook since, other than the United States government, state governments and corrupt tribal governments, there is no greater perversion of treaty rights, sovereignty and Indian culture than in this Indian Gaming Industry where a bunch of wealthy white mobsters continue to be allowed to run off with all the profits.  

And what about all of these casinos getting away with selling in the casino Gift Shops all these "Native Crafts and Jewelry"... manufactured in China?

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

Liberal Democrats in Minnesota have a super majority; it can't get any better for Democrats.

Democrats in Minnesota have a super majority; Republicans have no say about anything.

Why isn't organized labor insisting the Democrats enact:

1. Anti-lockout legislation.

2. Anti-scab legislation.

3. Repeal and rescind "At-will Employment" legislation.

Let the dirty Republican rags like the Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Duluth News Tribune howl as they complain about "over-reach" and let the Republicans cry.

What is the obstacle to Democrats passing three very simple pieces of legislation that won't cost tax-payers one single penny?

What was the reason MNDFL Chair, Ken Martin, refused to allow these three issues to be tabled for discussion at this past Saturday's Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Central Committee Meeting as 1,300 American Crystal Sugar Company workers remain locked out of their jobs here in the Red River Valley?

Does anyone think voters would respond with anything but a big "Thank You" to the Democrats for taking this kind of legislative action? No.

So, what is the obstacle here?

Obviously here in Minnesota it is liberal Democrats who hold the upper hand beginning with Governor Mark Dayton; State Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (who boasts of having come to politics straight out of the Building and Construction Trades Unions) with nothing but liberals backing him up:

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/index.php?ls=#leader;

Liberal Democrat Paul Thissen is the Speaker of the House; and liberal Democrat Erin Murphy is the House Leader for the Democrats.

No where, not ever could a more liberal bunch of Democrats ever be elected here in the United States... not to any other state legislatures nor to the United States Congress.

So, if Democrats are ever going to be able to be counted on to address the needs and problems/solutions of working people here in Minnesota--- or anyplace else in the country--- right here and now is where this will be done; correct?

Every single problem any working person or their unions and other organizations have ever brought before these very liberal Democrats the answer has always been:

We would like to help you out but these damn Republicans won't let us help you; give us a solid Democratic majority and we will take care of you.

Are these Democrats with their super majority now taking care of the needs of working people?

If not; why not?

If Democrats won't do what workers elected them to do; who will?

Should progressives be thinking of convening a conference intending to build a new working class based people's party?

Really; no three issues could be more worthy of swift legislative action. No need for discussion. No need for debate. Just straight forward and straight up legislative action:

1. Anti-lockout legislation.

2. Anti-scab legislation.

3. Repeal and rescind "At-will Employment" legislation.

Draft the legislation; push it through the appropriate committees; bring the legislation to the House and Senate floors for approval and let the liberal Governor Mark Dayton put his name to these three pieces of legislation.

How long should this take? No longer than it took the Republican super majority in Michigan to pass Right-to-Work-for-Less legislation--- three pieces of pro-worker legislation all about justice with no financial burden to tax-payers; three days, tops.

No money for a not-for-profit health care system; but...

Minnesota Democrats who have refused to support single-payer universal health care or a public health care system are now going to invest over one-half billion dollars in the private, for-profit Mayo clinic.

For less than this amount of money the state of Minnesota could create a for free public primary health care system serving the needs of all Minnesotans simply by taking over abandoned buildings to be used as health care centers.

The now abandoned St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant situated on the beautiful picturesque banks of the Mississippi River could become the most modern specialized public health care center in the world rivaling the for-profit Mayo Clinic which would be more centrally located in the heart of Minnesota's most populated urban center.

Old factories are being turned into all kinds of apartments, offices and for-profit health clinics all over the United States and around the world as Democrats and Republicans sit idly by cheering on the demolition of abandoned factories here in the United States so real-estate developers and construction firms can profit in one way or another.

One billion dollars of tax-payer money pumped into the private for-profit Viking football stadium along with public infrastructure improvements required for the Stadium; one-billion dollars for a bridge over the St. Croix River that could be built for one-quarter of the cost built more modestly as a public works project leaving the for-profit sector out; a now abandoned St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant subsidized by tax-payers to the hilt the last 85 years to the tune over four-billion dollars (in today's dollars) and these elected public officials whose counterparts in Washington squander trillions of public dollars on senseless barbaric wars complain there is no money to create a National or State Public Health Care System but somehow always manage to use our public funds to invest in for-profit corporations from which we, as tax-payers, get nothing in return.

Tax-payers even funded the Ford Dam on the Mississippi River adjacent to the Ford Plant supplying Ford's operation with power for free with taxpayers even footing the bill to upgrade the hydro plant's new turbines and even building the thirty-million dollar training and research center attached to the plant all of which is scheduled to be bulldozed over leaving tax-payers to continue paying this unpaid debt for another thirty years.

Mark Froemke is crying because he doesn't think i have a right to be commenting on the American Crystal Sugar lockout.

I have received a lot of private messages and e-mails suggesting I shouldn't be talking about the "internal problems" of the labor movement while workers are fighting for their rights, their jobs, the survival of their union and to protect and defend their living standards.

Mark Froemke is the biggest cry-baby of all. He is the one who led workers into this mess and now he would rather no one discuss the mess.

I don't buy this line of thinking at all because it is when workers are in struggle is when they draw the best conclusions when everything is fresh in their minds.

The time to analyze is now not later so the mistakes can be corrected--- if not by the leaders than the rank-and-file. Workers have a right to mull over all views. To suggest workers can't think during a struggle is a bunch of crap. This view that all critical comments should be withheld until after the struggle is over only serves the interest of the most bureaucratic union leaders who are generally the most corrupt, too.

The fact is, the local and international leadership of BCTGM is notorious for sucking workers into these kinds of no-win lock-outs and the leadership snuffs out rank-and-file activists who question any of this.

This lockout has gone on for some eighteen months. There is now only one thing left to salvage--- the union. And the longer this lockout continues the more difficult it will become to salvage the union.

We know this from past history. If we look at the lockouts that have gone on for long periods of time like this many workers are forced to find employment elsewhere and the scabs then are brought into the union. What kind of union do you end up with--- if the union is even left standing--- if you have a union full of scabs.

The United Steelworkers have had to deal with this on the Iron Range for several generations now. Anyone can see how this has retarded the union's militancy.

it is simply dishonest for union leaders to fail to put ALL options on the table for workers to discuss and decide how they want to proceed when facing a lockout by management.

Workers should have had the right to at least discuss the occupations of the plants as one of their options.

It was at the point where the leadership of BCTGM prevented this full discussion that these union leaders put the union and members' jobs at risk.

Everything these union leaders have done since has been too little and too late and done wrong.

Obviously these union leaders from the local union leaders right on up the ladder to Richard Trumka thought they had cultivated a very cozy relationship with management. Anyone can read their statements. These statements are there in writing. And they really expected the Democrats like Congressman Collin Peterson who "represents" the area with these plants and the self-proclaimed big-time liberal billionaire Democratic Governor Mark Dayton to bail them out.

And now this same BCTGM leadership lacks the courage to hold these politicians accountable by insisting this Democratic super-majority passes anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation.

I don't mind going out and leafleting the supermarkets in solidarity with American Crystal Sugar Company workers but that doesn't mean I have to keep my mouth shut about these "leaders." If they were leading this struggle from a position of working class consciousness this would be different.

I would note that these same BCTGM "leaders" who resent workers thinking about their situation and what others have to say are the very same union officials who try to silence progressives voices in general be it inside the Democratic Party or outside the Democratic Party or during other struggles.

I would note that it was Mark Froemke, a leader of this BCTGM union and a Vice-President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO who stuck his nose into quashing a resolution calling on the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Convention delegates to support rescinding "At-will hiring; at-will firing" which is the main impediment to union organizing in this country. Froemke also stuck his nose into the struggle to save the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant as he "lobbied" labor leaders and activists not to support trying to save the Plant and two-thousand UAW jobs through public ownership. I could go on and on about how Froemke stepped in and nominated Collin Peterson who is nothing but a Republican pretending to be a Democrat because the management of American Crystal Sugar wanted Peterson elected because they own him even though a peace activist was poised to get the nomination--- and Froemke was a registered voter in North Dakota at the time!

So, we all have a right to have a say and bring forward our views regarding this lockout.

Will members of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Central Committee sip coffee and tea loaded with scab American Crystal Sugar?

Here is an article from Minnesota's leading labor newspaper. Not so much as a mention concerning the need to have legislation banning employer lockouts and the use of scabs. If the unions and workers aren't going to bring these demands forward, does anyone think these worthless Democratic Party politicians still ordering American Crystal Sugar for their coffee and tea and cafeteria deserts are going to?

http://advocate.stpaulunions.org/2013/01/24/with-lockouts-on-the-rise-state-lawmakers-weigh-social-economic-impacts/

There is a Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee meeting tomorrow; will any of the members of the MNDFL State Central Committee bring forward the need for anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation? Quite doubtful. Like one member of the State Central Committee just wrote me: "... I better look to see what kind of sugar I will be putting in my coffee but knowing you, you will have someone at the meeting ready to put my picture on your blog..."

Note: I just called the "Daily Grind Coffee House" the site of this "informal DFL gathering listed below and asked them if they use American Crystal Sugar; the person answering the phone proudly stated: "It's the only kind of sugar we use."

I wonder how long they will be so proudly making this proclamation?

(763) 537-6305

Coffee with DFL State Outreach and Inclusion Committee
When
Sat, February 2, 8:30am – 9:30am
Where
The Daily Grind Coffee House - 4801 W Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Description

(763) 537-6305

DFL Business Conference
Business will include the election of State Party Officers When Sat Feb 2, 2013

Saturday, February 2

DFL Business Conference
8:30am

Coffee with DFL State Outreach and Inclusion Committee
When
Sat, February 2, 8:30am – 9:30am
Where
The Daily Grind Coffee House - 4801 W Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Description

Fellow DFL State Central Committee Members:

On behalf of the DFL State Outreach and Inclusion Committee you are cordially invited to 'Coffee with the Outreach and Inclusion Committee' an informal gathering among fellow DFL'ers to meet and socialize with current members of the Outreach and Inclusion Committee including Congressional and State Party O&I Officers.

This is your opportunity to talk with Outreach Officers from across the state, and to hear first hand about the work the Outreach and Inclusion Committee is doing for you! We hope that you can join us before the business conference and that you will also consider attending one of the state party training sessions (for any questions and to RSVP for training sessions; please contact Vicki Wright, vwright@dfl.org) prior to the Business Conference beginning at 9:30 AM.

So come grab an early morning cup o'Joe before you head over to the Business Conference.

RSVP: Eric Margolis (aao@dfl.org) by Friday Feb 1st 2013

9:30am

State DFL Trainings: VAN and Convention Chair
When
Sat, February 2, 9:30am – 11:30am
Where
Robbinsdale Middle School Classrooms 132 and 134, 3730 Toledo Avenue, N, Robbinsdale, MN
Description

For any additional questions and the RSVP, please contact Vicki Wright, vwright@dfl.orgvwright@dfl.org>

1. TRAINING SESSIONS KEY:

VAN

* My Voters vs. My Campaign
* Voter Profile
* Making Lists
* Turf Cutting
* Blast Email

CONVENTION CHAIR

Overview of the procedures for:

* Officer elections
* Constitutional amendments - debate and voting
* Candidate endorsement
* Other tips for running an effective convention

State DFL Trainings: VAN and Convention Chair
For any additional questions and the RSVP, please contact Vicki Wright, vwright@dfl.orgvwright@dfl.org>

1. TRAINING SESSIONS KEY:

VAN

* My Voters vs. My Campaign
* Voter Profile
* Making Lists
* Turf Cutting
* Blast Email

CONVENTION CHAIR

Overview of the procedures for:

* Officer elections
* Constitutional amendments - debate and voting
* Candidate endorsement
* Other tips for running an effective convention

--
When Sat Feb 2, 2013 9:30am – 11:30am Central Time
Where Robbinsdale Middle School Classrooms 132 and 134, 3730 Toledo Avenue, N, Robbinsdale, MN

With lockouts on the rise, state lawmakers weigh social, economic impacts

advocate.stpaulunions.orgLockouts have gained popularity among Minnesota employers looking to flex their muscles in contract negotiations with union workers, but state lawmakers yesterday began examining the impact these p...

Awwwwww, shucks; the Minneapolis Star Tribune doesn't like me.

Several people have asked me what kind of things Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Jane Friedmann sends out about me. Well, it only took about 45 minutes to get her response to my sending the blog post below today:

On Fri, February 1, 2013 at 1:15 PM, Friedmann, Jane wrote:
Dear Shar,

I have watched for months, nay years, the harassment and abuse Alan Maki had inflicted on people whose sole infraction was being chosen for inclusion on Mr. Maki's email mailing list.

I don't know the bastard from Adam, but nevertheless I am disgusted with his attacks on Minnesota businesses.

I firmly believe that the man is mentally ill, and if it exists within your power, or the power of those close to him, to have him be evaluated for treatment, please proceed.

Whether or not Mr. Maki adheres to ideals of human decency, unions would do well to keep as much separation from the mentally-unstable Maki as possible. And please ... If it is within your power to prevent him from tormenting the innocent, namely those on his mailing list and the upstanding members of our business community, don't hesitate.

Regards,

Jane

Democrats and labor.

Why labor needs to dump the Democrats and build its own progressive working class based people's political party:

The Minneapolis Star Tribune on January 29, 2013 claims the American Crystal Sugar Company lockout of 1,300 workers here in the Red River Valley is a “work stoppage.”

Does anyone see any workers who stopped working?

This is NOT a work stoppage as claimed by the union bashing Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper.

Workers did not stop working; nor did workers go on strike.

The company locked workers out of the plants and their jobs; and the work in these plants goes on with the American Crystal Sugar Company using scab labor.

The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Miller's (BCTGM) International Union’s leaders even insisted workers had to train these scabs who workers knew would be used to replace them over many months should workers turn down American Crystal Sugar Company's “final offer.”

Why hasn't the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party with its controlling majorities in the Minnesota State House and Senate and a Democratic Governor brought forward both anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation?

What good is having this super majority if it isn’t going to be used in the interests of workers?

Why isn't the call for this kind of legislation being brought forward by any DFL legislators, members of the DFL state central committee or DFL county committees?

Why haven't the union representing the workers and the Minnesota AFL-CIO insisted their DFL partners bring forward anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation?

Why haven't rank and file union members insisted on getting this legislation out of the MNDFL in return for their votes?

This is one more very typical case where labor leaders refuse to act responsibly in defense of the workers rights and interests  they are supposed to represent and to make sure this never happens again to any workers in Minnesota.

The first cowardly mistake these labor leaders made was telling workers they had to leave these plants as ordered by American Crystal Sugar Management instead of occupying these plants from the very beginning.

These labor leaders should have had the decency to place plant occupations before American Crystal Sugar workers to let them make a democratic decision as to what they wanted to do in order to defend their rights and their livelihoods.

The Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Miller's (BCTGM) International Union is a union that has been engaged in working class betrayal for years both in the United States and Canada and it has operated to the detriment of not only its own members, but the entire working class as a whole when it comes to refusing to insist on a real living wage for the minimum wage. In plant after plant and workplace after workplace the national leadership of the BCTGM International Union has pursued the very worst kinds of class collaborationist policies, and often very racist policies, of stabbing militant rank-and-file activists in the back over even very obviously legitimate workplace grievances in which the International repeatedly takes the side of management and insists local labor leaders tow this non-struggle line.   

As for this so-called "boycott" Richard Trumka and the "leaders" of the AFL-CIO have initiated; workers employed in union plants all across the country are still handling and using American Crystal Sugar in the production of everything and anything requiring sugar. From the shipping to processing to retail sales. What kind of a boycott do you call this where the public is being asked to boycott a product union members are still handling?

And why is a petition campaign underway "asking" a Democratic Governor and Democratic State Legislators here in Minnesota to stop purchasing and using American Crystal Sugar? Shouldn't these Democrats who know to come to workers for their money and their votes not to mention insisting the unions do their "heavy lifting" know enough on their own not to be purchasing and using a scab product? Apparently not.

If this lockout by the American Crystal Sugar Company's management and the failure of the Democrats to properly respond isn't a good enough reason to start a progressive working class based people's party on top of the firm foundation of what remains of the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, I don't know what it is going to take.

Reactionary shit-ass Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters like Jane Friedmann take it upon themselves to attack me time and time again but this dirty anti-working class rag can’t even get it straight that there has been no work stoppage as it declares:

“...It (American Crystal Sugar Company-ALM))has grown into one of the longest work stoppages in Minnesota history. Unemployment benefits for workers have expired…”

Lie after lie when it comes to this anti-labor rag.

What needs to be done to break free from this two-party trap?

I think the left has confused "a labor based" party with a labor "leadership" party so I use the term "working class" based people's party.

Working people need not wait for these labor "leaders" to initiate this struggle to break free from this two-party trap.

Left wing and progressive working class grassroots and rank-and-file activists must become the initiating leaders of the movement to break free from this two-party trap.

As with any attempt to improve the lives, livelihoods and standard of living of working people, it is the left which is going to have to be the catalyst initiating this new party which simultaneously is building a movement that reflects the idea that we need a labor movement acting responsibly in taking up the problems and needs of the entire working class--- insisting on a government responsible for full employment is the place to start both a political party and a movement.

If we look at the executive council of the AFL-CIO there are maybe four members who might join efforts once WELL underway to create a progressive working class based people's party similar to the socialist New Democratic Party in Canada:

http://www.aflcio.org/About/Leadership/Executive-Council-Members

There is a basis for the left to become a catalyst to launch a working class based people's party working around this:

"There is no way to fund what we must do as a nation without bringing our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The militarization of our foreign policy has proven to be a costly mistake. It is time to invest at home."

AFL-CIO Executive Council
August 3, 2011

And this:

"The U.S. has not just misplaced its priorities. When the most powerful country ever to inhabit the earth finds it so easy to plunge into the horror of warfare but almost impossible to find adequate work for its people or to properly educate its young, it has lost its way entirely.

Bob Herbert, Columnist New York Times

We need to be very honest here--- there is no one left wing party in this country that could have led the organizing drives of the industrial unions; there was never any one left wing group which, on its own, could have led the civil rights or anti-Vietnam War movements; why would anyone think that there is any one left wing party or organization today that could lead the struggle to take on Wall Street?

If we pool our little resources and look at where we each have local and regional strengths we form a network capable of running slates of candidates while putting the most important issue on the national agenda:

Full employment based on peace putting people to work solving the problems working people are experiencing.

Maybe we should be thinking of convening some kind of national conference where we can meet face-to-face to kick this kind of thinking around to see if we can't reach some kind of "meeting of the minds?"

This article could be the basis and foundation of a new working class based people's party and a movement for peace, jobs and needed reforms:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/opinion/26herbert.html?_r=0

Quite frankly, I don't think there is a more revolutionary socialist initiative and activity we could undertake right now.

Yes; we all have our differences but lets agree not to set aside our differences but to air our differences in a very transparent way through roundtable discussions and debates as we let the working class see that we can work together when it really counts around issues and concerns that really matter.

Again, check out the blog on full employment I have created... it is open for any of you to comment:

http://fullemploymentnow.blogspot.com/

Complaint filed in support of Affirmative Action and for honest and open government... please share widely:

January 28, 2013

James Nobel, Legislative Auditor
Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor
Room 140
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY - Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority

Re: Complaint and evaluation requested of the following individuals and their organizations as it pertains to the procedures and following of legislation for Minnesota public works project named the “People Stadium,” (Minnesota Vikings Stadium):

• Minnesota Sports Authority Facility (MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY) Michele Kelm-Helgen and communications director Jennifer Hathaway;
• Met Council and it’s employees Wanda Kirkpatrick and Adam Koski;
• Velma Korbel in her capacity as Director of Minneapolis Department Civil Rights and Michael McHugh in his capacity as Contract Compliance director for the city of Minneapolis;
• Minnesota Department of Human Rights and Commissioner Kevin Lindsey


Complainants: Ronald A. Edwards and Donald Allen on behalf of Minnesota’s Our Black News Networks (www.ourblacknews.com).

On Thursday, January 24, 2013 a meeting was held at the Metrodome (Halsey Hall Room) Vikings Stadium Equity Plan - Public Comment Session. Met Council's Wanda Kirkpatrick and Minneapolis' civil rights director Velma Korbel were in attendance along with legal council for the MSFA and an assistant to Wanda Kirkpatrick.

Minnesota Human Rights commissioner Kevin Lindsey was also in attendance, as were another 23 people.

The following is prima facie evidence and all of the essential facts in this complaint to open an investigation:

• A) Stadium officials, MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY have scheduled a number of meetings over the last three months. Some meetings are deemed “public meetings” – but the “public” is not being notified of said meetings. In the case of the meeting on 1/24/13, there was no press release sent out from the MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY per its communications director Jennifer Hathaway who we have been in contact with since October 26, 2012. Complaints claim probable cause, which might be in violations of the federal RICO Act by the MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY, and it’s officials. If there is no public messaging sent out to the public for a “public meeting,” MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY officials must be hand-picking people who they want in the room to hear information in an effort to assist those people in obtaining information to successfully engage the MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY. This could be considered racketeering in one of its many meanings, in this case: “Obstruction of justice in furtherance of illegal business activities.”
• B) Veterans Preference on Vikings Stadium Workforce: In the meeting on 1/24/13 Met Council employee Wanda Kirkpatrick and Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights director Velma Korbel stated the state legislators did not have any workforce goals for veterans or veterans preference. As we know, the Veterans Preference in Minnesota Public Employment states, “The Minnesota Veterans Preference Act (VPA) grants most veterans a limited preference over non-veterans in hiring and promotion for most Minnesota public employment positions, as granted in Minnesota Statutes 197.48, 43A.11, and 197.455. These statues may apply to certain spouses of veterans. The Minnesota VPA Statutes apply to Minnesota public employment, civil service laws, charter provisions, ordinances, rules or regulations of a county, city, town, school district, or other municipality or political subdivision of this state." Complainants feel both Korbel and Kirkpatrick were uninformed and rude in their discussion about Minnesota’s veterans working on the people’s stadium. (Please see the video of conversation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFgew4L8b90).
• C) Good Faith Efforts: MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY officials could not explain how the enforcement of Good Faith Efforts will be handled other than to say the MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY board will handle enforcement. This information has not been clearly made available for the MFSA nor the Met Council or the Minnesota Department of Transportation. See video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFgew4L8b90
• D) We request an investigation on contracts between Met Council’s Wanda Kirkpatrick and Aaron Koski, (September 14, 2012 meeting).
• E) Request for information on equitable hiring inside of MSFA as it pertains to women and people of color. Also we would request a copy of the MSFA-MINNESOTA SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY’s Affirmative Action Plan.
Summary Complaint:
Both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Allen feel the MSFA has been less than cordial and diplomatic in delivering information in real time to local and statewide community members. The number of private, “public meetings” held is a heinous reflection on the MSFA and how they do business.
We request full remedies in each of these situations including public meeting held to review each complaint.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 612.986.0010 (Allen) or 763.228.1748 (Edwards).
Best in success,

Ronald A. Edwards and Donald Allen
RAE/da

War