LOS ANGELES (USA), January 20— “I just want to tell you – although I don’t agree with everything you guys stand for – I really, really appreciate your being out here throughout the years,” said an older Black bus operator at Division 18.
Red Flag readership is growing again at this and other transit divisions after the pandemic temporarily shut down most outside distributions. At Division 18, about 40 workers take around 65 papers (including extras for friends) each issue. That’s about one-third of all those who enter or leave the parking lot during a two-hour period.
At Division 20, about 40% of the 60-70 train operators and mechanics take the paper in a 45-minute period. “You guys have a following here,” commented a security guard. “Some people always take your paper.”
Comrades have distributed Red Flag at Division 3 since 2011 (with a pandemic break). Some regular readers have retired or transferred, but about 40 workers now take some 50 papers. Over the years we have distributed the paper at nine other divisions; some have since closed or downsized.
Conversations with Division 15 Workers
Comrades distributed 84 papers outside Division 15 last week. We spoke with mechanics, drivers, and service attendants: women and men, Black, Latinx, Asian, and white.
“Give me two. One for my co-worker. She really loves it,” said a Black driver.
“Please tell her to get in touch with us,” replied a comrade.
“Yes. I will,” he answered.
An Eastern European worker who hadn’t seen Red Flag before said, “Thanks. I want to read this!”
“Give me one,” said a young Latina driver. “I got one at the other end, but I need one for a co-worker.”
A Latino driver donated $5 while reaching out for his paper.
“Give me four. I want them for my co-workers,” said another driver.
“Yes, I will take one,” said another Latino driver when offered a revolutionary communist newspaper. “And no, I am not new here. Been here eight years. I have seen you guys around.”
“Yes, about 13 years,” a comrade replied. “MTA workers know us more than they know their union president.”
“The union is useless” agreed the driver. “They are raising our dues because they want more money, despite their big salaries and perks. We need a strike, but they won’t organize one. Orange County MTA workers went on strike briefly and won their demands. We are lacking the leadership and the unity.”
“It is good to fight,” said the comrade. “But it is better to fight for the right thing. MTA workers have gone on strike before. They know that they can shut down LA public transportation and cause businesses to lose over $100 million a day. But whatever gains they win are always taken away. Inflation eats up any wage increases.
“Maybe some are seriously considering our position that the only way to make permanent gains is to destroy the wage system with a communist revolution.”
The Struggle Between Capitalist and Communist Ideology
A Latino bus operator at Division 18 took two papers, as he has for several years. Then he said, “People are desensitized. People are very much into themselves and their problems or pursuing their dreams. They don’t care about other people or about what’s happening in the world.
“I have seen you guys come for years,” he continued. “Most people won’t take your newspaper. Some don’t even acknowledge your presence. They don’t speak to you or even look at you.”
“I think there is some truth in what you say,” the comrade replied. “But not everyone is like that. We have some loyal readers like you. We need a lot more.
“The struggle is communist ideology versus capitalist ideology,” he continued. “Collectivism to organize to destroy this inhumane system that desensitizes some workers and wins them to the dog-eat-dog capitalist mentality. It is up to us, including you, to sensitize them again.”
The expression on the driver’s face showed that he was thinking seriously about this as he drove away because cars were lining up behind him.
Fight Cynicism by Building Communist Collectives
Cynicism is an important part of capitalist ideology. We absorb it from music, movies and TV, mass media and social media. The bosses tell us “don’t trust other workers,” especially workers of a different gender, “race” or ethnicity.
ICWP chose to build a concentration in MTA partly due to its diverse work force. Our readers include workers of every description.
Comrades have done this work for years, inside as well as outside the Divisions, and workers are responding. The urgent task now is to consolidate this emerging political base by building and expanding communist collectives.