Black Workers for Justice

The Big Lies Against Cuba

Opinion and Analysis from Black Left Unity Network Despite President Obama‟s declaration of his administration‟s desire to "seek a new beginning with Cuba", and to "learn from history, not be trapped by it" in April of last year, Cuba has remained under attack by the U.S. In January, new US air security policies included Cuba on a list of countries whose air passengers would get extra security screening as they enter US territory. And Cuba remains on the State Department‟s list of state sponsors of terrorism‟, notwithstanding the lack of any evidence of Cuban involvement in acts of terrorism. Cuba has vigorously protested all of these unconscionable attacks. In fact, Cuba‟s policies of internationalism have arguably been the most politically advanced in the world. From the direct military intervention to help in the defeat of Apartheid in southern Africa in 1988 (Cuito Cuanavale, Angola) to direct medical aide and solidarity with Haiti (before the earthquake).

Black Left Unity Network (BLUN)announces the formation of Cuba Working Group

National: The Black Left Unity Network (BLUN) announces the formation of it’s Cuba Working Group (CWG) today. The CWG is a national network of activists and organ-izers who are concerned about the ongoing attacks against the nation of Cuba despite President Obama’s proclamations of improving relations with the Cuban state in the Spring of 2009. Most CWG members have traveled to Cuba and/or have been active in Cuban Solidarity work for many years and are familiar with the difficult challenges faced by the island over the last 50 years. One of the latest attacks against Cuba was generated in the Black community late last year when a prominent group of African Americans signed on to a declaration originated by anti-Cuban activists in Latin America who accused the Cuban state of racism.

A Review, Capitalism: A Love Story

Early in October when the debates over healthcare reform were at a fever pitch, a very important movie hit the theatres. Michael Moore’s latest critique of the excesses of US society is perhaps the most comprehensive look at how we are exploited as workers and how the system can make life miserable for the people in so many ways. This salvo, joins the ranks of his efforts over the last two decades to expose the tremendous problems created by the profit system: “Roger and Me”-auto industry; “Columbine”-violence engendered by society; “Fahrenheit 9/11”-imperialist war; and “Sicko”-criminal health care system in the U.S.

A Fight for Jobs is Part of the Road to an Economic Recovery for the Working Class!

The policies, programs and priorities of the US government in dealing with the economy have always favored the rich over the needs of the masses of working class and poor people. Corporate deregulation, free trade agreements, anti-labor, anti-immigrant and racist, sexist and homophobic laws, along with massive spending on unjust wars, have helped to bring about the current crisis in the US and global economy. The massive unemployment is a major aspect of the crisis facing the US working class. Some estimate the real unemployment at 25 million and growing. Youth unemployment, especially among African Americans is over 40 percent.

President Obama, We Are Very Disappointed in You!

President Obama continues the failed policies of the Bush and Clinton administrations. Money to bail out the rich corporations and for unending wars, at the expense of the working class, who face massive unemployment, housing foreclosures, cuts in social programs, millions without healthcare, and attacks on democratic and human rights.

Healthcare Should Be A Human Right For ALL People!

The US national debate around healthcare reform is really a debate about human rights and whether the US government will place human rights for ALL over private profits.

Charleston Santiation Workers continue fight for union recognition

Janie Campbell is Acting President of the Charleston Saniitation Workers Union, Local 1199B, Charleston, South Carolina. City workers there have been waging a 6-year battle to win collective bargaining in order to improve pay and working condtions, especially health and safety, for the 120 sanitation, street, sidewalk and stormwater workers in the the city of Charleston, South Carolina

Eastern North Carolina Workers Organize Campaign for Recall Rights

Workers in North Carolina have been hit hard by the US eco-nomic crisis. More than 41,000 workers across the state lost their jobs in March, driving unemployment to 10.8 percent. North Carolina’s jobless rate is among the country’s most severe, surpassed only by Michigan, which is at 12.6 percent. Harry Davis, Appalachian State University banking professor and chief economist for the North Carolina Bankers Associa-tion, said he expects North Carolina’s unemployment to rise to 12 percent by summer and for layoffs to continue until this time next year.

Statement of support with the social movements of Honduras in response to the Military Coup

On June 28, 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was forced from his home and exiled at gunpoint by forces from within the Honduran military. Opposition leader Roberto Micheletti was then illegally installed as President. Manuel Zelaya is the democratically elected President by the people of Honduras. The military's justification for kidnapping and exiling the President was his call for a referendum on Constitutional reforms that would allow the President to seek re-election beyond a single four-year term.

Demand the Release of Cynthia McKinney

The Israeli government has seized a ship carrying material aid to Palestinians in the Gaza. The passengers on this humanitarian aid vessel were kidnapped and placed in an Israeli jail. Several have been released but U.S. African American activist, former Congressperson Cynthia McKinney remains a detainee. This is a letter of appeal she sent to the interational community.

The Representation We Need

A vacancy in the North Carolina House of Representatives became vacant due to the death of one legislator and his seat being filled by another. The BWFJ participated in a community forum that heard from candidates one of which will ultimately be selected by the Democratic Party leadership of the County. The letter expresses the criteria and expectations the organization it has for elected officials.

BWFJ Editorial Environmental Racism Plagues Black Communities

In North Carolina, there are 10 million hogs held in these confined animal feeding operations known as CAFOS that are concentrated in Black Communities in the eastern part of the state. There are hundreds of open lagoons located next to these feeding operations to receive the millions of tons of hog waste yearly that is sprayed over fields and communities when the lagoons begin to overflow.

Swine Flu outbreak raises wider questions

Deaths here and in Mexico add to mounting worries about swine flu virus. The outbreak also raises many questions about the sustainability of food production on the corporate model. The new virus strain carries genetic elements from human, swine and avian flu varieties and was first reported in a resident of a village, La Gloria, in Veracruz, Mexico.

Don't Balance City of Durham Budget on Backs of Workers

As the banks and big corporations receive trillions in bailout money, governments are balancing budgets on workers' backs. Public workers are under attack!

State of Emergency Campaign, The Blunt Truth About Furloughs

Cutting pay does not cut into the problems of the economic crisis. The budgets should not, and cannot, be balanced on the backs of workers.