LETTERS, CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS
Build Communist Workers’ Collectives to Make Decisions that Serve the Masses
SEATTLE, USA—Boeing corporate headquarters mandated that every employee take part in “safety recommitment” meetings. We were forced to sit through a series of videotaped speeches by Boeing executives, starting with CEO Muilenburg.
These sermons were clearly written by the company’s Public Relations department. They were unmistakably connected to the ongoing 737 MAX investigations.
It didn’t take long for sarcastic interruptions to fill the room. Most managers didn’t even try to justify the corporate-speak.
“He looks like a deer in the headlights,” somebody shouted from the back of the audience. They were referring to the CEO droning on about how safety is our highest priority. He was obviously reading from a prepared script.
The other top executives were equally vague. One did, however, raise an interesting point. He urged every employee to say something if they felt something wasn’t safe.
This way, he said, we can make the good decisions. He hesitated, then clarified by saying good collective decisions.
Collective decision-making is a key point of communist society. Although the rhetoric sounds similar, his use of the words was completely different.
First, the collective he had in mind was a committee of bosses and their paid “experts.” When we talk about collectives, we mean collectives of those who do the work: the working class.
The next sentence really let the cat out of the bag. The aim of collective decisions was to “ensure Boeing remains a global corporate champion.”
“Yeah, he means making more profits at our expense,” shouted another worker.
There is a lesson here. Whenever we talk about our decision-making, we have to link it explicitly to our communist goal.
In this case, communism will eliminate the profit motive. Markets will be replaced by society’s commitment to the collective needs of the working class. It will end the division between mental and manual labor. It will prepare all workers to guarantee safe, reliable, free transportation.
“From each according to their ability and commitment, to each according to their needs” will define communist production. No more corporate champions. In fact, no more capitalist corporations at all.
Red Boeing Machinist
LOS ANGELES, USA—”What motivated you to be interested in the communist ideas of ICWP?” That was a question that was asked in our last study group with public transportation workers (MTA).
The idea was to show that their reasons are the same as those of many other workers. And that we have more in common than we have differences. We want to consolidate this group of comrades and readers of Red Flag into communist leaders.
The following are some of the answers:
“Through the study groups, especially on dialectics, I have learned that the class struggles are much broader than the bubble in which we have lived with our family and small circle of friends. I think that we are part of something bigger, of a global process, and that what happens in China, or El Salvador, is connected to our lives.
“Trade wars, sooner or later, will lead to a world war and it is very important to be organized to know what to do.”
“To realize that capitalism is not our system and that as a working class we must fight for communism.”
This type of communist culture that is emerging in these workplaces is a product of the internal struggle that the ICWP has carried out, with the confidence that the workers can be won over to our Party.
This plan for consolidation is the outcome of years of communist work in the MTA. As part of this political work, many mechanics, drivers and service workers have participated in various activities. We currently distribute internally an average of 30 to 40 Red Flags per edition.
Lately we have been consistent in holding study groups in which 2 to 6 workers participate. We have studied dialectical materialism, political economy, history of class struggle and many Red Flag articles.
This week 2 more workers committed themselves to participate in the study groups. We are also planning activities outside work to invite Red Flag readers from other divisions.
The most important aspect of this struggle is that we are winning the men and women workers to communist ideas directly. Although they may not respond as quickly as we would like, we can still see an important advance in our communist cell in the MTA.
From these activities a new leadership is emerging with a solid understanding of communist ideas and the urgent need to bring these ideas to other men and women workers.
Red Mechanic
EL SALVADOR—”I am glad that the International Communist Workers’ Party (ICWP) is not an electoral party,” were the words of a comrade who participated for the first time at the extended meeting of maquila workers, which is held every month.
“I really liked the meeting, I’m going to continue participating in the activities,” said a worker who was attending for the first time, but who marched with us on May 1. She brought another worker with her.
“These meetings are a good opportunity to put communist relations with our comrades and their families into practice, socializing and discussing communist ideas.”
Among these new comrades who attended the meeting there was one who was from another factory and we will struggle politically with him to begin building a strong cell inside this other factory
A report on the international meeting was given at the meeting. The report of the comrades in South Africa was a great political lesson for all of us. This report reminded us how important it is to study dialectical materialism in depth so that more and more workers will know it, analyze, and know that, yes, things are going to change, that everything is constantly changing.
We emphasized the importance of recruiting more men and women workers and also soldiers to mobilize the masses for communism.
Greetings comrades and let’s keep writing about the way you do party work in your areas. That helps us and others to evaluate how well our work is doing both in quality and quantity.
Young comrade
Honduran Masses in Open Rebellion Show Potential for Communist Revolution
June 26 — The working masses in Honduras are in open rebellion against the international capitalist system. The immediate cause of this popular uprising has been the imposition of drastic measures of austerity dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These will mean less funds, massive layoffs and the privatization of the public health and education sectors.
Its goal is to squeeze, in blood and fire, billions of dollars from Honduran workers to pay interest to local and international oligarchs.
Since the revolt began, the repressive forces have killed about ten students and workers, and have injured several dozen. Other previous measures of IMF austerity have caused the death of thousands of Hondurans and have drastically and massively reduced their standard of living. Unemployment and underemployment have skyrocketed from 35.6 percent in 2008 to more than 63 percent today.
Worried about their backyard – convulsed by mass anti-capitalist movements from Mexico, through Central America, to Brazil – the US imperialists are determined to drown them in blood. That’s why the head of the US Southern Command arrived in Honduras with 300 marines and sailors, in the middle of these protests with his Rapid Deployment Force.
The motto of the masses has been “ JOH—Out!” Replacing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez is not the solution. It doesn’t change the capitalist system, much less the imposition of imperialism internationally. The motto of the angry Honduran masses should be “Mobilize the masses for communism.”
Only an international movement, rooted in the working masses, and led by the International Communist Workers’ Party can confront capitalism-imperialism and overthrow them to build a new communist society.
Communist society will eliminate money, banks and their interests. It will not have buying and selling. Collectively we will meet the needs of all.
Forward, comrades. We have a world to win!
Learning from the Communist School
The recent communist school in South Africa was very informative. It went into more detail about the objectives and goals of the party and how we as the party are going to achieve our goals.
Dividing people who attended into small groups made it easier for everyone to put his/her input into the discussion and to ask questions. Not everyone is comfortable to talk in a group of many people.
There were some few things I also took home from the discussions. Amongst them is the issue of religion and how it is used as one of the tools of capitalism. I will make an example about Christianity as it is the most practiced in our country.
In the church there’s a pastor who’s the leader. He’s considered to be above everyone because everyone follows his instructions. In a communist society no one will be considered above another. Individualism will not be promoted. We will all be one working class. There will be no one giving instructions to be followed.
Religion says it’s okay for the working class to suffer. It justifies this by saying there is life after death and workers have to suffer so that they can enter heaven, which is not true. Religion is also used to justify wars that are caused by individuals to serve the interest of the few.
The second thing I took home from the communist school was the barriers that are put divide the working class (racism, sexism etc.). The capitalists fear the working class. They want us not to be united and say one thing because that will result into a revolution.
We have a duty as communists to mobilise and recruit the masses to join ICWP. One obstacle that is holding me from recruiting more people to join the party is that I don’t read enough literature. This results in me not being confident enough to engage in debates. People ask questions and for a person to believe in what you are saying or to be convinced you have to show confidence in what you’re saying and be able to respond to difficult questions.
—South Africa Comrade
Inspiring Camping Trip Motivates Fight Against Sexism
The Youth Collective here in South Africa for the first time went on camping. We normally go and mobilize around shopping malls, rallies, factories and schools but this time it was different. Instead, we went out with the new comrades.
It was a very inspiring experience. We need to continue with these kinds of activities for the political development of all members of our collective.
We began by analyzing some articles from Red Flag. This discussion ignited the spirits of all members of my collective and raised questions. Mainly we talked about “building communist relations and fighting sexism to advance the party” (article from the previous issue) and came up with some new ideas.
This discussion was extremely important because we have new female Comrades who just joined the movement. Now we are more motivated to say we are fighting against sexism because we have both male and female comrades in our collective. This also gives us confidence to talk to the masses about Communism. The new comrades have a clear understanding about what we do. Communism is not only theoretical but also it is practical, something that you are living.
We need to build these communist relations because they help us grow as a collective if we are consistent enough about our work and meetings.
Thanks to young lions.
Youth in South Africa
Reflection on Sexism
I had a great time with my comrades at the camp. We read the pamphlet on sexism, which was very interesting. A lot was said in the meeting.
Later, I came to know that sexism emerged with capitalism. It became clear to me on how capitalists use culture, religion, media, businesses and schools to carry out their sexist practices.
In the meeting, someone said that “sameness doesn’t equate to equality. “ We know that men and women are not the same. However, this doesn’t mean that men are superior to woman.
In ancient Egypt most Gods were females because they were seen or regarded as life givers: there can be no man without a woman.
Sexism is associated with the Amaxhosa culture. I grew up believing that women are men’s possessions, that they are caregivers, inferior to men, and must obey men. I saw this happening in our societies and in villages especially. I accepted it without questioning.
I’m an history student. I value tribal history. As I was looking at Xhosa history, I found out that these sexist practices that exist today in Xhosa culture were not practiced in ancient times.
The Red Flag article said that “women gathered most of the food everyone needed. Men were most often hunters. Nobody’s work was valued more or less than someone else.” This is very true. Xhosa people operated this way during the 16th and early 17th centuries.
“All adults generally participated in community decision making, problem – solving and rituals.” This is even practiced today in my village.
After I studied Xhosa history, I concluded that inequality in Xhosa culture is practiced based on age stages, not on gender: “RESPECT YOUR ELDER.” I have learnt that sexist practices were accepted in the Xhosa culture after they met the missionaries.
It is an undeniable fact that religious ideology promotes and condones sexism. Evidence can be quoted in multiple chapters in the Bible and other religious texts. In the meeting, I also learnt that businesses, schools and media play a huge role in promoting and justifying sexism.
In the meeting we disagreed about some of the things, such as the statement that private property is the material basis for sexism. I wish to discuss this more to get a further elaboration on how is it possible.
From now on I will dedicate most of my time to learning and struggling with others about communism. It is a sure thing that capitalism is in its dying stages. The only solution to our problems is to get rid of capitalism to ensure a society free from sexism and racism. A society without borders where everyone will work according to need.
—Comrade in South Africa
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