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Vol. 82/No. 12 March 26, 2018
Workers donate ‘blood money’ bribes to build SWP
“I am sending $780 of ‘blood money’ to the Socialist Workers Party
from a retroactive pay raise we got under the recently signed new rail
contract at Norfolk Southern,” Linda Armstrong wrote March 2. Bosses use
bonuses and other payouts like Armstrong got as bribes — or “blood
money,” as she says.
SWP members and others turn this money over to the party to help build
the working-class movement. They also discuss with co-workers how the
employers seek to weaken the workers and their unions. And they ask
workers to join with them in giving such bonuses to the SWP.
“The lure of the back pay was one of the main things that was supposed
to win over workers to vote for the contract,” Armstrong said. “The
union officials needed something like this to get votes, because there
was no real fight organized to push back the cuts that the bosses demanded.
“Many here voted against the contract. The cost of health care rose
significantly for many, and most workers think the raise wasn’t enough,”
Armstrong said. “In general, people are sick of being treated like dirt;
of bosses blaming us for the deteriorating job conditions and increasing
safety hazards; and of how we are spoken to on a daily basis.”
If your boss gives you some blood money and you want to use it to
advance the fight for “dignity and safer conditions” of the working
class, Armstrong said, give it to the party. Contact the SWP branch
nearest you, listed on page 8.
— TERRY EVANS
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