Strikers Battle Scabs

BRONX, NY, March 11 — A multi-racial and international group of several hundred Stella D’Oro workers and strike supporters chanted “workers united will never be defeated” as plans for more massive and aggressive picketing were carried out today. A loud and determined human blockade met scabs who tried to cross the picket line. Several scabs were stopped. One was turned away before cops arrived to protect the bosses and their scabs.

This was a good day for the Stella D’Oro strikers. Rank-and-file strikers are showing greater leadership. Several workers spoke during a rally ending today’s action. Prior to the strike, they probably never would have imagined that they would ever speak at a street-corner rally. Workers have played a part in the strike-support committee, planning today’s activities and carrying them out. They have gone out to meetings of other labor organizations to build solidarity and support for their strike.

A large proportion of the strikers are lower-paid women and immigrant workers. They are receiving great support from all the strikers, reflecting a fight against anti-immigrant racism and sexism.

Some strikers believe that positive rulings by the labor board around issues of unfair labor practices will be decisive in winning the strike. PL’ers have pointed out that none of the members of the labor board ever worked in a factory. They know that if they rule against the bosses’ interests, they wouldn’t be on the labor board for long! We have pointed out that workers’ power, unity and understanding of how the capitalist system functions is what is truly decisive. One chant that expresses this idea was often heard as we picketed today. “Who has the Power? We have the power. What kind of power? Workers power!”

On the picket line, workers discussed how the Stella strike mirrors what is happening to the workers all over the U.S. and around the world. Their fighting spirit is a beacon to all workers suffering under the oppression of bosses everywhere. PLP urges our friends and members to do what they can to increase strike support. You can arrange for strikers to speak to your union, community or church group. Raise money for the strikers from these organizations. If Stella D’Oro products are being sold at a store in your neighborhood, demand that scabs products not be sold. Picket the stores that continue to sell scab products!

PL’ers are trying to make the Stella-D’Oro strike into a school for communism. That means not only bringing CHALLENGE and our communist ideas to the striking workers but also learning from the strikers on how to have ongoing class struggle.

PL’ers Picket Scab-Made Cookies

BROOKLYN, NY, March 16 — Today a group of PL’ers went to a neighborhood Stop & Shop supermarket that was selling scab-made Stella D’Oro cookies. We marched into the store and began a picket line around the cookie shelves while distributing leaflets and CHALLENGES. Everyone in the store stopped and took notice.

The store manager quickly ran to notify the guard to call the cops and kick us out. We were then ushered out while chanting in front of the supermarket. When the cops showed up we chanted, “The cops, the courts, the Ku Klux Klan, all a part of the bosses’ plan.” Taxi drivers outside the store joined our picket line and chanted with us. As we left we shouted, “We’ll be back!”

This was only the start of more protests at local businesses selling scab cookies around the city. Next time we’ll up the ante in militant actions against scab-made Stella D’Oro cookies.