[Col. Writ. 6/1/05] Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
With the judicial seal of approval of the United Airlines plan to
ditch its pensions, comes another battle in the long war of capital
against labor. By this attack on those who have spent their lives
making the fortunes of United, the 'business community' opens yet
another front in their rapacious war to gain more and more profits.
Now, thousands of disenfranchised workers must turn to the US
government for their pensions -- a government agency
known as the Pension Benefit Guaranty Board. But, guess what? The PBGC
itself is going bankrupt. And, even if it were not, the PBGC doesn't
intend to pay out full pensions. If some workers are lucky, they'll
receive *one third* of their expected pensions. Some workers, who
haven't built up enough seniority, will get nothing!
(So much for the holy right of Contract!)
As this tragedy unfolds, executives and management make out like
bandits. Like United's CEO, Glen Tilton, who, in 2002-2003 received
over $5.5 million in compensation -- with a pension for $4.5 million
locked up in a trust!
And, as United goes, so goes other companies in the airlines
industry, and also other US industries. That this comes along at the
same time as the Bush Administration is trying to scuttle Social
Security, is a social obscenity.
In fact, many of these companies are having pension problems because
they intentionally underfunded pension plans. They meant for it to
break down, and then they sought judicial support for their bailout plans.
Everybody wins -- except the workers.
This war against workers, unless it is vigorously opposed by workers
fighting in their own class interests, will result in nightmares where
elderly must work until they drop dead.
For, with no pensions, and no social security, how can it be otherwise?
This business-friendly, labor-hating government is actually trying
to set up a judicial, administrative, media regime that will undo the
New Deal.
After the Great Depression of 1929, mass movements, such as rent
riots, sit-ins, marches, and great demonstrations, struck the country.
One such movement was for pensions for those who spent their lives
working in hard toil. Movements such as these in the 1930s changed
things. Scholars Frances Fox Piven and (the late) Richard Cloward,
noted, in *The New Class War: Reagan's Attack on the Welfare State and
Its Consequences* (Pantheon Books: 1982/1985 [revised/expanded
edition]), p. 118: 'In other words, the movements changed reality; they
transformed the State.'
Business, however, in its never-ending quest for more profits,
continues its war through the political leaders that it buys, and by
furthering their agenda. Now, as assuredly as the earth revolves around
the sun, comes this vicious attack on pensions.
United Airlines is not the end; it is but the beginning of an end.
And it will be an end, unless working class people stand up, in their
own interest, and fight for what their fathers and mothers, at great
struggle and sacrifice, have won.
Consider the French, those people who are referred to, by many US
politicians, as quislings and cowards. They do not allow their
political or business leaders to buffalo them. They hit the streets, in
mass and militant protest, whenever the rights of working people are
compromised. Recently, they closed down the nation's transportation
because of threats to workers' pensions.
American politicians, who often claim to want to help 'working
families' are quiet as church-mice. The Democratic Party, which is as
much in big business's pocket as the Republicans, is mum.
People see it, and shake their heads, and go on.
They see it, and don't see it.
Instead of uniting, to fight it.
Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
With the judicial seal of approval of the United Airlines plan to
ditch its pensions, comes another battle in the long war of capital
against labor. By this attack on those who have spent their lives
making the fortunes of United, the 'business community' opens yet
another front in their rapacious war to gain more and more profits.
Now, thousands of disenfranchised workers must turn to the US
government for their pensions -- a government agency
known as the Pension Benefit Guaranty Board. But, guess what? The PBGC
itself is going bankrupt. And, even if it were not, the PBGC doesn't
intend to pay out full pensions. If some workers are lucky, they'll
receive *one third* of their expected pensions. Some workers, who
haven't built up enough seniority, will get nothing!
(So much for the holy right of Contract!)
As this tragedy unfolds, executives and management make out like
bandits. Like United's CEO, Glen Tilton, who, in 2002-2003 received
over $5.5 million in compensation -- with a pension for $4.5 million
locked up in a trust!
And, as United goes, so goes other companies in the airlines
industry, and also other US industries. That this comes along at the
same time as the Bush Administration is trying to scuttle Social
Security, is a social obscenity.
In fact, many of these companies are having pension problems because
they intentionally underfunded pension plans. They meant for it to
break down, and then they sought judicial support for their bailout plans.
Everybody wins -- except the workers.
This war against workers, unless it is vigorously opposed by workers
fighting in their own class interests, will result in nightmares where
elderly must work until they drop dead.
For, with no pensions, and no social security, how can it be otherwise?
This business-friendly, labor-hating government is actually trying
to set up a judicial, administrative, media regime that will undo the
New Deal.
After the Great Depression of 1929, mass movements, such as rent
riots, sit-ins, marches, and great demonstrations, struck the country.
One such movement was for pensions for those who spent their lives
working in hard toil. Movements such as these in the 1930s changed
things. Scholars Frances Fox Piven and (the late) Richard Cloward,
noted, in *The New Class War: Reagan's Attack on the Welfare State and
Its Consequences* (Pantheon Books: 1982/1985 [revised/expanded
edition]), p. 118: 'In other words, the movements changed reality; they
transformed the State.'
Business, however, in its never-ending quest for more profits,
continues its war through the political leaders that it buys, and by
furthering their agenda. Now, as assuredly as the earth revolves around
the sun, comes this vicious attack on pensions.
United Airlines is not the end; it is but the beginning of an end.
And it will be an end, unless working class people stand up, in their
own interest, and fight for what their fathers and mothers, at great
struggle and sacrifice, have won.
Consider the French, those people who are referred to, by many US
politicians, as quislings and cowards. They do not allow their
political or business leaders to buffalo them. They hit the streets, in
mass and militant protest, whenever the rights of working people are
compromised. Recently, they closed down the nation's transportation
because of threats to workers' pensions.
American politicians, who often claim to want to help 'working
families' are quiet as church-mice. The Democratic Party, which is as
much in big business's pocket as the Republicans, is mum.
People see it, and shake their heads, and go on.
They see it, and don't see it.
Instead of uniting, to fight it.
Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
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