Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 10:15:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: andy <snyder-AT-virtu.sar.usf.edu>
Subject: AUT: UPS strike


so i feel a little slow. i'd like to hear responses from people who have
thought more abt what seem to be the two main threats to the "winning" of
the UPS strike.
1.  the Teamsters only have abt $6million in their treasury.  that money
will be more than exhausted after next weeks strike payment of $55 to each
of the 180,000 UPSers on strike.  
	this means the Teamsters must either 
	a. liquidate their $60 million in assets to pay strike payments
	b. get a big loan from the AFL-CIO or some other organization (or
	Bill Gates)
	in order to continue the strike for another 2 weeks
2. the corporate press (speaking here of CNN and NY Times local affiliate)
is treating the issue as theory (full time jobs would be nice) vs
practice (lifesaving medical supplies sitting in warehouses). governors
and the Nat'l Association of Manufacturers are calling for Federal
Intervention.  Clinton could shut down the strike like he did earlier with
the pilot strike, like Reagan did with the airtraffic controllers.  
	in order to prevent this
	a. it seems we need to be able to threaten a general strike, at
	least of the unionized workers.  
	b.  the Teamsters need to be able to resist government orders
	c.  something else

		it seems like if the strike is derailed from the govm't
that some sort of gesture needs to be made, and that a general strike,
even if only for an hour, and even if only in some parts of the country,
and even if weak, needs to be done, in order that the idea of a working
class response to government/corporate collusion be spread and
revitalized.  even a crappy general strike would keep the dream alive, and
could serve as a building base for later.  
 
oder?

andy in FL



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