[PEN-L:1953] France and Caterpillar

[Terrence Mc Donough <TERRENCE.MCDONOUGH@xxxxxx>]

While I'm not in general in exact sympathy with Bill's views on
France, his latest posting and Doug's earlier request concerning the
Caterpillar strike reminds me of an incident before I left the
states.  I haven't heard any direct news about Caterpillar here, but
I think it was in the context of the Caterpillar strike that I heard
the company had set up a hotline to recruit strikebreakers.  I was
going to call it to help jam the line when I heard this was not
necessary.  It was already jammed by unemployed people calling from
all over the country!  1st obs: talk about your reserve army effect.
2nd obs: I was at first very disappointed at this lack of display of
solidarity by the unemployed, but then it occurred to me, how much
real solidarity with the unemployed had the UAW displayed?  The
policy of maintaining labor unions without a labor movement had
definitely come home to roost.

Terry McDonough