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The revolution is not something down the road.  It is a continuing thing happening now, as we fight for jobs in this economic crisis, and as we fight the roadblocks that the ruling class puts up in front of us.  When workers see what they have to do to win,  in most cases they are ready to put themselves on the line. 

During the 1979 strike at Winchester, the media said to us workers, “Be thankful you have a job.” In other words, you shouldn’t be standing up for your rights.  The corporate class says workers only deserve crumbs.  They use the media to distort the truth on all levels.  From studying labor history we can see how the labor movement continues to change and the struggles are more advanced. 

George Meyers, who was Labor Secretary of the Communist Party at that time, came to New Haven.  He lead workers’ struggles in the 1930’s and had deep insight.  From our meetings came ideas that helped win the strike.  He advised us to get broad labor and community support and to utilize the media, leaflets, and picketline discussions to keep the people inspired.  The Central Labor Council, community organizations and committees for family needs were all mobilized to support the strikers. 

That scares the capitalist class.  They try to distort the truth and turn labor away from progressive ideas. 

We shouldn’t think capitalism can’t survive in these situations.  When the banks were going to fail, they went to George W. Bush and their friends in government.  They made Congress believe that the little guy would be hurt more than them. 

President Obama is trying to turn the situation around, which is making the corporations and the right-wing angry.  They have used the media to distort the truth about healthcare reform.  Lobbyists for the insurance and pharmaceutical companies are filling the coffers of Senators who are more interested in their own careers than serving the needs of their constituents.

They have used the media to stir up racism and fear and instigate “tea baggers” to break the unity that got President Obama elected.  This is not the time to cave in to scare tactics.

Communists don’t stand aloof.  We have to put the truth out there.  That’s why we need a bigger organization and newspaper.

Barack Obama brings all his experiences with him.  He is not a George W Bush. Neither is he a Bill Clinton.  President Obama brings a different perspective for a more democratic society. 

Opportunities arise at certain periods of time as the workers’ struggle increases.  Everyone may not accept it, but it is a seed planted that must be nurtured until the flower blooms.  Workers change slowly, not overnight. 

Our Convention discussion is a time to recommit ourselves to the idea that the working class has ideas, strength and motivation to make things change.  We workers are the ones that have to scuffle day in and day out to make a living, hoping at some point to be able to change the relationship with our job.

Workers want to work, be creative, take care of their family, enable their children to go to college.  The capitalist class wants to keep us at a certain level and stop us from getting a bigger share of the wealth we create.  Our job is to teach the workers where the wealth comes from.  We are the ones that create wealth.

Communists have to look at the contending forces and find the broad based ideas that will move large numbers of people to take action.

The biggest need in this economic crisis is for jobs.  Labor’s five point job program has to be activated in every community.  Coalitions must come together at the local level.  We need local and national demonstrations to support the Obama administration and large-scale public works job creation.  We have to fight to put people in office that won’t turn their backs on us.

We need to develop the poer that can enable President Obama to move forward.  This starts with building local coalitions around a common demand, and regrouping around the message that got him elected.  Like Lyndon Baines Johnson told civil rights leaders in the Oval Office in his time,  ” I agree with the need for legislation, now go make me do it.” 

On the job, the company is always looking to take back what the workers’ won.  The same is true in politics.  With leadership, workers will resist that, at the point of struggle on the job, and at the point of fighting back.  That’s the revolution.

If we are able to give good information to workers they will struggle.  Fox and the media distort the truth.  Communists have to get the truth to the workers.

Every contract struggle with the company we have to increase our demands.  After every contract, the company sends out the line foremen to destroy what they can.  If workers don’t resist that, right at the point of struggle, at the point of fighting back.  That’s the revolution.

If the company sees inactivity among workers they bring an inactive contract proposal to the bargaining table.  It is harder to fight for a progressive contract if the union has been sleeping for the last three years.  that’s why leadership has to be active.  The company is always looking to take back.

companies with organized workers keep unorganized companies abrest, so tey can keep the wages and benefits just a little bit lowers.

Workers at Pratt & Whitney fought to keep that plant open.  They offered 8 million in concessions, but the company said that wasn’t enough.  They are still trying to leave despite the court decision in the union’s favor.

The challenge is to educate and communicate with the people about what has to be done and then build the coalition and organize enough voice and action. 

Affirmative action is one of the building blocks for civil rights.  It is one of the things that will set all workers free and make society better.  to get white people interested show them where inequality hurts them.

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