Page ACCION Panama, R, April, 1948 ACCION Published once a month by UPW CIO LOCAL 713 Publicity Committee.
Wilfred Wason Chairman Representatives Peter Forbes Balboa LeRoy Inniss Cristobal Christopher Harewood Red Tank Thomas Paraiso Morrison Gamboa Veedel Anthony Gatun Audley Webster DISRUPTERO. Teachers LOCAL 713 STOOL PIGEON NEWS PAPERS OFFICE SEEKER LIMINATION AGES Lown STOOGES MOVING HE Dº We have come a long way since 1903. It can even be said that we have come a long way since 1946. Lookers on after hearing this statement may ask this question: Why and how have you come a long way? We can answer this by simply saying: Through the (REDS! COMMUNIST course of civilization. But does that tely the question? Of course not. The true answer to that is more complex and only by careful and detailed explanations can we successfully answer it. Let us then state our answer in cold facts so that the outsider may understand very clearly.
Back in 1903 the first set of contract workers were brought to the Isthmus of Panama to work on the Isthmian Canal Commismissions Project that is on the building of the present Panama Canal, one of the seven wonders of the world. These men were brought here packed together on shipboard like cattle and dumped into the malaria and yellow fever infested swamps and jungle.
They were paid but a small pittance per month, and were crammed in camps fit for pigs. Later when many married, they found one and two room apartments in some dilapidated house with no running water, electricity, or sanitary fixtures.
Life for them was a twenty four hour battle, a battle against heat, rain mosquitoes and a cursing, kicking white boss. After long hours on the job the fight continued against cheap and poorly cooked foods, dysentery, malaria, yellow fever, and all the misery that poverty can bring. This sort of life kept up with apparently no change until 1914 when colored townsites were finally constructed ENEMIES EVERYWHERE by the Canal Government, which contributed to better sanitary conditions.
The completion of the Canal in 1914 found large portions of these NOW WE ARE FIRST MONTH laborers broken men broken in body and spirit. The Canal authoABOUT FACE!
rities then commenced a survey of the colored employees and re(Continued from Page 1)
patriated most of these disabled employees to their native homes NOW WE AREN liams; Paraiso Martinez, with hardly any compensation for their broken bodies and shatA. Johnson, and Maynard; Red The following statement by tered nerves. In spite of all these tribulations these laborers continued to work and suffer with the hope that one day the Canal Tank Yard and Alexis. George Westerman in his column Government would have compassion on them and elevate their In a prepared statement sub There were many other stewards The Passing Review appeared meager standard of living. This hope which kindled the fire of mitted to the Local 713 Executive with excellent records but there in the Panama Tribune on Febloyalty and good service for more than 15 years with the Board and then released to the is not space to give recognition ruary 22, 1948. Now in the face of the Red was finally blown away by the winds of false promises and Glass press, Nathan Reid, former edit to all of them.
Castles of the of In 1919 the of Highwaymen organ: that the United Public Workers the stewards and officials that United States and the Governor of Accion said: The charges President Ampudia reminded hysteria that is sweeping the ized the anxious, destitute workers, who willingly and quickly paid their dues believing that here at last was their salvation, their libe of America is a Communist Con February was only the first trolled organization ration from the clutches of the heartless employers. Soon they were that were month of the drive, There is movements of the incubus of to be disillusioned. After a few months 80, 000. 00 was collected and once spoken as a whisper, are still March and April, he stated, communistic influences, or prethese of representatives sent the colored workers on strike now being shouted from and calmly caught the first boat back to the States, unmolested housetops. We know that there these months equally successful. in workers in all government the and we must strive to make vent further infiltration, of communism among unsuspecting unby the Federal Government, with 80, 000. 00 bulging from their is a spirit abroad in the land topockets.
day which whispers Communist Let us all make sure. he agencies, the silver employees on or Communistic every time a stated, that our victory dance the Canal Zone find themselves terial nor moral. Some workers resumed their positions and life force makes itself felt.
The strike, as can be imagined brought no gains, neither ma new and potent personality or to be given at the end of the or called upon to make a bold, yet went back to normal. Then came the birth of the Panama Canal ganizing drive in honor of the painful decision. It is broadly West Indian Silver Employees Association in 1920. This organizawinning chapter will be some suggested to them that they dis We should demand, in defertion, with all its limitations fought for the improvement of the ence to our peculiar situation, thing of which we will all be associate themselves from the laboring class. It was responsible for many gains, and at least it that only individuals who are truly proud.
leadership of UPWA.
gave the est Indian workers shoulder to lean on. However free from the Communist taint Compare this with the statethis was not the solution to the laborer problems.
be sent down here to help us, and Reclassification ment made by Westerman to In struggle after struggle the living and working conditions begin to look ahead to the day New York papers in June of 1947 on the Canal Zone remained the same until during World War II, when circumstances may compel (Continued from Page refer The Nation. June 23, when the Government introduced such improvements as wage us to stand on our own or seek It is evident that the reclas 1947. adjustments, rest leave.
help elsewhere.
sification was not intended to In May, 1946 the Canal Zone Workers Union came on the The charge of communism scene. This union was welcomed by all with open arms and its ment in the last issue of ACCION: offset the rise in the cost of liv CIO in the Canal Zone is the maCompare this with Reid state take care of a wage increase to hurled against Local 713, UPWcrowning achievement was the signing of a CIO Charter, in June Local 713, UPW CIO, for whom ing on the Canal Zone. This pro chinery of the reactionary forces the same year.
to crush a liberal force.
The advent of Local 7173, United Public Workers of America, we proudly speak, having no blem requires the immediate atideological CIO has been the historical turning point of the laboring class of racketeers either tention of the authorities and There is nothing which indithe worker on the Canal Zone. It has been their mightiest step for among its leadership or within should be and can be resolved by and if this ward. Never before has the common worker been able to defend its rank and file and daring even the granting of an across the cates communism, charge is permitted to grow it himself without fear of losing his job, never before was his cause the celebrated Mr. Thomas to board raise for all workers, will mean the end of a free enplaced before the Congress of the never before was his re read communism into its equit The Union has received com terprise system. Improved workpresentative able to bargain. with the authorities of the Canal able kan delesitin atien demands, plaints from many individuals ing conditions, better living faciZone. The gains of the union are piling up. It ha sbeen suc frankly welcomes him.
and groups of employees who feel lities advanced educational cessful in the establishment of a grievance procedure, improved If the Honorable Gentlemen that they have not been proper opportunties and greater future rest leave, approximately 3, 500, 000. 00 salary increases, and many is here to really indulge in his ly classified. We want to assure security form the basis of deother gains. These gains are not all which will be won by Local favorite pastime (hunting Rus these and others that all these mands being made by the Pan713. This is only the beginning, but can this union continue to fight sian bears) his disappointment complaints will be given full conon ama Canal silver employees and succeed without the concerted backing of the working class will be keen. The genuine specie sideration and properly processed through their affiliation with the No! Local 713 needs a 100 support, only with this can this union is unknown in these parts.
to determine whether there were CIO.
triumph.
any errors on the part of the We have not forgotten our past, a past filled with suffering, What happened during the authorities. The Union is awaitWhy all the twisting and turndiscrimination and oppression. It is because of this we do not want past month to change your mind, ing the job descriptions now in ing Mr. Westerman?
to go back to the Construction Days, its because of this Local Mr. Reid?
preparation at Balboa Heights in 713 was organized, it because of this that all the Red Baiting order to systematically deteragainst our union falls off like water on a duck back.
mine any such errors.
EVERY DELEGATE We cannot, we must not allow anyone to destroy our union. It AID IN FULL!
is our last and only instrument by which we are to rise out of this IS EXPECTED sea of Jim Crowism. In the not too distant future, the laboring class Organize your TO DO HIS DUTY on the Canal Zone will lift its head high in the knowledge that it is free and equal.
Neighbor BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL ERNESTO CASTILLERO