Growing ICWP Transit Workers’ Collective
LOS ANGELES (USA), January 27—The political work of organizing the International Communist Workers’ Party (ICWP) at Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is a sea of opportunities to spread communist ideas among this sector of the workers. For some time now we have been working for this. Through the distribution of Red Flag and follow-up to with interested workers, we have consolidated a party cell that is distributed in three different locations. We have been able to hold study groups and other activities inside and outside our workplace.
Some new members are giving outstanding leadership and others are on that path. We are planning to use Zoom, video calls, etc., to continue learning more about communist ideas and history.
A comrade talks about his recent experiences.
Sharp Political Disagreements on the Job
“The fascist attack that took place on January 6th, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol opened some conversations with different co-workers and members of the ICWP. We have many co-workers that support the fascist attacks and knew that they were all planned because they were heavily discussed on social media platforms. What amazed me was how vocal some people were. I felt like they wanted to intimidate others with their hateful beliefs.
“But later that day, a co-worker mentioned that he enjoyed that we were like-minded and able to discuss these things and at times disagree but still be respectful to one another. These discussions will help change the mood on the shop floor and help us advance our work.
“In the last meeting of industrial workers of the party at the international level, four MTA workers participated. It was very positive because this is consolidating this group more and more.
“The meeting helped me realize some important factors of the development of the ICWP here at MTA and worldwide. To see the faces of some co-workers that attended, how positive they were, motivated me to do more for the ICWP.
“I was trying to analyze why our party’s growth has slowed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I asked myself, what can I do now to better myself so I can be more effective for the day to day struggles towards a communist world.
It seemed like the best thing I can do is focus on my quality of work and not so much of quantity. For instance, build my knowledge on basic vocabulary and what things mean, such as, the difference between a Communist world and Capitalist world that we live in today. Other words would include: Fascism, Socialism, Imperialism, Nationalism, just to name a few. There is a lot of information on the internet. It can be a bit intimidating for me at times, but it is a start. It really helped so I can make more sense of it when I participated in an ICWP virtual meeting.
Nurturing the Growth of the Party
“I’m first generation. I was born here in L.A. My family migrated from Mexico in the early 1970s. My parents came from two different small towns in Mexico and met here in Los Angeles. My dad is from a poor family and my mother from a family of ranchers. The rancher influence from my mother’s side has always played a big role in my life. I soon realized that my struggles and my family’s upbringing on a ranch are similar. Our work is like growing a plant that will eventually give us food. But the thing is, I soon found out I am not a good rancher.
“To be able to produce a healthy plant, I need experience and knowledge about how to cultivate. The right ratio of nutrients, water, and sun needed to grow this plant. If it goes unattended, the plant can no longer be of use. But if attended properly it can produce an abundance of food. With that comparison, our collectives are our plants. Our collective efforts, fundamental knowledge platform and genuine acts of compassion toward one another are the nutrients for the growth of the ICWP towards a communist world.”
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