[van-discuss] Re: [van-announce] Steelworkers rally Sat., May 31st - more info

[Eric R.]

On May 28, 2003 at 9:03 PM (PDT), Marjorie Brown wrote:

> "KEEP CANADIAN STEEL STRONG" DEMONSTRATION
>
> * 12:30 PM - Saturday, May 31, 2003
> * Westin Bayshore Hotel
> * Vancouver
>
> BC Steelworkers are planning a welcoming demonstration for federal Liberal
> leadership candidates to raise the issue of cheaply imported steel being
> dumped on the Canadian market.
>
> For over sixty years, the United Steelworkers of America have represented
> Canadian workers in the steel industry. In recent years, Steelworkers
> employed in the industry dropped from over 100,000 members to
approximately
> 40,000 workers.
>
> THE CURRENT SITUATION IS DIRE!  Tens of thousands of jobs throughout the
> entire Canadian steel industry are now at risk due to unfairly and cheaply
> imported steel that is being dumped on Canadian shores by foreign steel
> producers.
>
> Steel companies in Canada that are among the world leaders in production
> technology, efficiency and product quality may not survive.
>
> Canadian workers, their families and surrounding small businesses who are
> located in these steel industry dependent communities are facing uncertain
> and potentially catastrophic futures.
>
> Support the Steelworkers' call for action by the Federal government by
> joining them at this important event.
>
> For more information, contact:
>
> Scott McRitchie
> President USWA 2952
> mailto:lu2592 at telus.net

So, let's see, the aim of this action is to "KEEP CANADIAN STEEL STRONG".
What does that mean? As far as I can see, it can mean nothing other than:
protest in order to defend the CANADIAN steel industry. That is, to defend
CANADIAN steel corporations!

"Steel companies in Canada that are among the world leaders in production
technology, efficiency and product quality may not survive." Just like
Canadian mining companies that were once "among the world leaders in
production technology, efficiency and product quality" were unable to
survive as a result of global competition forcing down the prices (and
therefore also the profits) of said companies, resulting in "Canadian
[mining] workers, their families and surrounding small businesses who are
located in these [mining] industry dependent communities [facing] uncertain
and potentially catastrophic futures." And just as is currently occurring
also in the forest/lumber industry.

It's time to wake up! This is how capitalism works. Get used to it or get
involved in the struggle to overthrow the global capitalist system, rather
than defending the steel (or forestry or ...) industry in CANADA. The
struggle against capitalism is a global struggle. That means that it is
completely antithetical (i.e. opposed to) all NATIONALIST struggles; that
is, all struggles which defend ONE NATION or one people as against OTHER
nations or other peoples.

But, you might respond, we aren't opposed to any other ('FOREIGN') countries
or peoples. But in fact, insofar as you engage in the actions promoted in
your message, you are. What about the "workers, their families and
surrounding small businesses who are located in  steel industry dependent
communities" in the countries where this "unfairly and cheaply imported
steel that is being dumped on Canadian shores" is produced? The action you
are promoting is in reality an attack on those (FOREIGN) workers, their
families and surrounding small businesses, whether or not you recognize it
to be so.

This Steelworkers strategy of BLAMING foreign steel workers for the problems
of OUR local steel industry is one of the most reactionary things going on
within the supposedly "progressive" activist community. Remember the
Steelworkers in Seattle on N30/1999, when they "dumped" a load of FOREIGN
steel into the Seattle harbour? It was sickening (to some of us, atleast)
and had no connection whatsoever to the most radical, promising actions that
were occurring in Seattle at that time.

Make no mistake, the Steelworkers campaign is based on a latently RACIST
perspective, because the problems of OUR (Canadian or American or ...)
industry are blamed on those OTHERS, those FOREIGNERS who are UNFAIR (in the
capitalist sense of what constitutes FAIR COMPETITION) and are CHEATING us.
The real problem isn't FORIEGN workers or even FOREIGN companies. OUR
(Canadian) steel companies are no better, no FAIRER than any other steel
companies from any other countries. ALL capitalist enterprises are equally
opposed to the fundamental interests of all workers, all (non-capitalist)
human beings, all living beings, and even the earth itself. To defend ONE
group of capitalist enterprises in their fight against OTHERS, their
competitors, is to defend capitalist barbarism (including imperialism, war,
etc.) as against the fundamental historical interests (including survival)
of humanity. One needs to ask herself the question: which side am I on?

Workers of the world unite!

You have no country to defend!

You have nothing to lose but your chains!

Capitalism is gradually collapsing. It does not need our help to save itself
from its own excesses and insanity. The sooner ALL capitalist industies
collapse the better for all  workers, other humans, other (non-capitalist)
living beings and the planet itself.

Btw, foreign steel is not "dumped on Canadian shores by foreign steel
producers". This is the distorted, thoroughly self-interested view of the
Canadian steel producing corporations. In reality, certain Canadian
importers are trying to buy/import this "cheap", "unfair" steel for their
own self-interested reasons -- that is, to maximize their own profits
(surprise, surprise!). These supposedly "unfair" foreign steel producers are
not FORCING their "cheap" steel onto Canada. Again, it is other Canadian
companies that are trying to bring it into Canada. Your beef is really with
them (those "cheap" Canadian importers). If you really want to defend the
Canadian steel industry, you should target them by trying to convince them
of the benefit of BUYING CANADIAN steel. Doesn't that really make more
sense? Nationalist protectionism -- which the Steelworkers campaign is a
clear instance of -- has a well known track record of leading, during times
of severe international economic crisis -- such as we are now in the midst
of -- to imperialist war and mass slaughter. This madness has to stop soon.
Humanity needs to wake up soon if it is to survive.


Wage Slave X


website: www.geocities.com/wageslavex/