James Neff, which has notes and an extensive bibliography, lacking in Zeller's book.)
In 1978, Zeller was employed as an assistant to Presser, with the approval of
Frank Fitzsimmons, the union's president.
Later, Presser told Zeller that "Fitzsimmons received a kickback on nearly every freight contract he negotiated. There wasn't anything
Fitzsimmons did on any contract where he didn't get money... Fitz would stash the cash away beneath a loose floorboard, under a rug in his home, or in the lining of an old raincoat he had hanging in his closet." In 1981, Fitzsimmons died and was succeeded by Roy
Williams. whose "election came "politburo style' by unanimous vote of the general executive board, after a 20-minute meeting in Las Vegas. In 1983, Williams resigned following his jury conviction for conspiring to bribe a Senator. "The union picked up the entire cost of his defense. As a result, in salary, expenses, and benefits as general president in 1982, Williams received $813,247." Later, he turned government informer, gaining his release from prison.
On April 21, 1983, Presser was unanimously chosen by the general executive board to replace Williams, overcoming some initial opposition. "Don't worry," Presser told Zeller, "I'm locked in through the boys in the East." Zeller adds, "The boys' were the Mafia." Vice President Jesse Carr totaled his spoils: "I got another plane, two new offices, a new secretary, the Western Conference of Teamsters, and more money. That's not bad for one vote."
Presser did all right, too: "His combined salary for all his union posts immediately jumped to $548,000." Zeller testifies that "the drawers of Jackie's bedroom bureau were stuffed with money received as kickbacks from various union contracts. Whenever a Teamster watch, cufflink, flashlight, bookmark, or whatever was purchased, Jackie got a cut. And Presser believed that most of the general executive board were 32 International Viewpoint #292 book notes doing the same." Jackie Presser's climb to the union's top began in 1966, when his father, Bill Presser, set up a new Teamsters local union in Cleveland and put his son in charge. The father was convicted in 1971 of embezzling union funds and extortion.
Nevertheless, the elder Presser stayed on in the union and later simultaneously held seven posts, including trustee of the multi- billion dollar Central States Pension Fund and Teamsters vice president, for a combined salary of $145,541. Jackie Presser eventually replaced his father on the pension fund, and in 19/6, he and other trustees were sued by the Labor Department because of "$120 million in illegal loans made to Las Vegas casinos and organized crime figures." In
1980, President-elect Ronald Reagan
"named Presser a senior advisor for labor and economic affairs on his transition team."
The Presser regime ended with his death from cancer in July 1988. His wife of less than three years receives $7,500 a month from the Teamsters pension fund. At the time of his death, Presser was awaiting trial in a $3 million suit. The Cleveland rank and filers who brought the suit claimed that Presser and another officer had defrauded the local union by hiring "ghost employees.
This was done even though in August 1985 "the FBI revealed that it had authorized
Presser to make payments to the ghost employees on the union payroll." Presser was also a FBI snitch and "a major one at that. On a regular basis Jackie was passing information to assigned agents in the Bureau, detailing who among the Mafia and his fellow Teamsters was connected, disclosing information on friends and foes alike."
Zeller admits he shared in the good things of life enjoyed by the Teamsters upper crust: "an expense account, credit cards, and my own Teamstermobile'(a new Lincoln Town Car)." Zeller also participated in the officials lies and deceptions. For example, in 1984, Presser ordered Zeller to cook up a phony membership poll that would favor Reagan over Mondale. Four years later, the new president, Billy McCarthy, had Zeller phony up another membership poll, this time with George Bush the "winner" Dukakis the "loser." Perhaps Zeller partly wrote this book to get back into the Teamsters cookie jar. The book contains a fullpage photo portrait of James Hoffa, Jr., the presidential candidate of the old-guard bureaucrats in the recent Teamster elections. And the last chapter, titled "Here's Jimmy Hoffa," reads, in part, like a press release from the Hoffa Jr. camp. Zeller depicts the younger Hoffa "as the white knight who many believed would ride into the 1996 campaign to save a Teamsters Union in
" And Teamster President Ron Carey, writes Zeller before the votes were counted in December, "is fiercely resented by a membership incensed not only by reports of his alleged mob connections but also by his self-aggrandizing dalliance as a real estate tycoon.... " But thanks to the
Teamsters rank and file, Carey has been reelected president, and Hoffa Jr. and Zeller are stuck with their current day jobs. *
Birch Lane Press, Secaucas, N.J., 368 pp., $24.95
From Marx to Gramsci: A Reader in Revolutionary Marxist Politics
Paul Le Blanc, [ed.] reviewed by Joe Auciello
The late Ernest Mandel, one of the
Marxist activists and intellectuals to whom this new anthology is dedicated, once wrote that revolutionaries of our time would have to be "equally adept both on the barricades and in the library." In life, only the rare individual achieves this ideal, a goal more to be strived for than attained. Perhaps a book, rather than a person, can more readily blend the qualities of the political fighter and the university professor. That is what Paul Le
Blanc has accomplished with From Marx to
This anthology, with thoughtful and ample selections from Marx and Engels, Luxemburg, Lenin, Trotsky, and Gramsci, and a comprehensive introduction by Le Blanc, will be equally valuable to the scholar, student, and activist. It is a work ideally suited to the classroom and the class struggle.
The readings are carefully chosen and representative of their authors' notable theories and contributions to Marxism. The sample from Rosa Luxemburg, for instance, highlights her ideas of the mass strike, reform versus revolution, and imperialism. The selections from Lenin show his ideas about the party, nationalism, and the state. All of the selections are preceded by a brief biographical and critical note by Le Blanc which creates a useful context for the readings.
Given the limits of a one-volume anthology, Le Blanc has successfully exercised creative editorial judgement in his selections. The readings blend familiar and obligatory titles like The Communist Manifesto (deleting material that is only of historical interest with lesser-known, shorter works that summarise the essential points of books which are too lengthy for inclusion. Hence, Lenin's classic The State and Revolution will not be found here, but his 1919 speech "The State" is included. Similarly, Trotsky's masterful 1932 speech "In Defence of the Russian Revolution" stands in for his massive History of the Russian Revolution.
These shorter, self-contained pieces convey the essential themes of the longer and
Conference reports
Penny Duggan But I told you Paula was a veggie The five hundred young comrades present showed from the beginning to the end their determination to open this "breach in Fortress Europe." Starting from discussion on the struggle against the Europe of Maastricht, the Schengen accords and other convergence criteria that are being imposed on us they arrived at the end of the week to more strategic questions: why and how to do away with the
They exchanged their experiences of struggle against budget cuts in education, against racism and fascism, for the defence of the environment, in order to arrive at the mutual understanding which is an indispensable basis for common work. After the mobilisation for the counter-summit in Amsterdam in June, they argued, the mobilisation must continue. And the links between the struggles and active forces in the different countries must be strengthened.
A commitment was made to try to build a youth network against neo-liberal Europe using opportunities which exist already, like the call by the youth of Italy's Refounded Communists (Rifondazione) in Italy for a demonstration in Venice on 13th September (p.19) and the planned demonstration at the European summit in Luxembourg in November: (p.21)
The programme of the camp had been decided by the representatives of the youth groups from 15 countries which co-organise the event every year. For some sessions, they called on older comrades. Daniel Bensaid spoke on the relevance of the Russian Revolution, the importance of the life of Che Guevara and our project of a new society. Alain Krivine was also present and explained to comrades, most of whom were not even born at the time, the forms of the deep youth radicalisation of 1968 and how it had contributed to the development of the Fourth International.
The camp was held near Brioude in the French Massif Central. It was in this region that four Trotskyist resistance fighters were massacred by the Stalinist after their escape. This tragic episode was remembered during the camp by a tribute paid to one of the four, Pietro Tresso, founder of Italian Trotskyism, 34 International Viewpoint #292 by Livio Maitan [to be published in a future issue of International Viewpoint]. We also invited Raymond Vacheron, a well-known activist in the region and co-author with Pierre Broué of a recent book on this event. to explain how he had reconstituted the Latin America
Another high point of the week was the meeting on Latin America where Pola Ferrari, a young Uruguayan comrade, one of the central organisers of the camp organised in April 1996 by the Youth Front against Repression which brought together five thousand young activists in the Southern Cone, spoke to us about the situation in Latin American and the struggles of young people, of the landless peasants of Brazil, of the indigenous people in Mexico with the Zapatista Army of National Liberation...
These are only some of the forums, educational meetings, workshops and rallies that formed the political programme of the camp. At the final evaluation meeting all the delegations said that the debates had been wellprepared and were very interesting. This was also shown by the good level of activity in all the "political" activities of the camp (in the strict sense of the term.)
The camp is also an occasion to try to put into practice, during one week, a certain number of our principles. It is a place where racist, sexist and homophobic words and acts are banned. It is also a space which is self-managed by the young comrades. Even if they call on "adults" for a certain number of political or technical tasks, the leadership of the camp remains in the hands of the daily meeting of the representatives of the different delegations.
Thus young people from Portugal to Poland, from Sweden to Italy, learn to work together despite their cultural differences -whether political, foodwise or simply in
Within the camp the women comrades have a place for themselves, to organise discussion, have parties or simply to be with other women. And at the end of the women's day - a day when the theme of all the discussion is around women's struggles - the disco itself becomes a "women's only" space so that a big party ends this day with an affirmation of the strength and solidarity of the women in the camp.
Another much appreciated party during the week was that organised by the Portuguese comrades in solidarity with the third world, from which Western music was banned in favour of Latin America, African and A lesbian and gay space
The last, and for many the best, party in the camp was that organised by the comrades from the gay and lesbian space. This is also a tradition of the camp. Throughout the camp there is a gay and lesbian space with discussions and exhibitions for all those who want to participate. The party in the disco has another dimension which is also to encourage everybody to think about their sexuality and some of their inhibitions.
In other words, a very successful camp this year, despite a certain drop in participation in relation to previous years.
Unfortunately the camp took place in the same period as two other initiatives attractive to young people interested in solidarity with the third world - the second Conference against neo-liberalism and for humanity, organised this year in the Spanish state, and in particular the World Festival of Youth and Students in Cuba, to which organisations present sent a message of solidarity.
For our Basque comrades there were also the important events which took place in their country in the days just before the camp which made it impossible for them to send even a small delegation.
However, for the first time there was a small Russian delegation which, together with ever-strengthening presence of our Polish comrades, helps us to make a reality of the breach in Fortress Europe
With a big "thank you" to the French comrades for all their hard work, the delegations left, promising to meet again at the fifteenth camp in Denmark in 1998. *
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"Lean and mean" Fourth International youth camp The fourteenth European youth camp in solidarity with the Fourth International was very successtul, despite a drop in participation in relation to previous years.
coming soon
Ernest Mandel Study Centre: Paris symposium on the Russian revolution
Two years ago, having lost our regretted comrade and friend, Ernest Mandel, we pledged to carry on the task of updating Marxism and enriching it which had been one of the main concerns of his life writes Salah Jaber. It is with this duty in mind that the Ernest Mandel Study Centre was launched (see Sept. 1995 issue.) In July 1996 the Centre organised a seminar dedicated to an evaluation and discussion of major aspects of Mandel's contribution to Marxist theory. (see Sept. 1996 issue).
Given the success of this first undertaking, we resolved to organise a yearly event, focusing on one of the key problems of Marxist theory in contemporary world, with a non-exclusive preference for topics to the study of which Ernest
For 1997, the Centre planned to organise a seminar on the balance sheet of the 1917 October revolution, an issue to which Ernest devoted many writings, the latest and most complete being Coup d'état or Social Revolution (IIRE, 1992).
It turned out, however, that a symposium devoted to the same topic was being organised in Paris by Espaces Marx, a pluralistic Marxist research foundation linked to the French Communist Party and co-administered by some of the Parisian fellows of the EMSC like Michael Löwy and Catherine Samary. It was therefore decided to merge the two
The EMSC joins with Espaces Marx, the research centres of Paris VIII and Dijon universities and journals communiste in organising the symposium, to take place at Université Paris Vill on
This event is likely to be one of the major international gatherings of Marxists scholars and thinkers held in recent years. More than forty contributors (from
China, Cuba, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Spain, and the USA) will discuss a varied list of topics related to the study of the October Revolution and its historical legacy. Scheduled participants include Samir Amin, Daniel Bensaid, Robin Blackburn, Samuel Farber, Marc Ferro, Janette Habel, Boris Kagarlitsky, Paul Leblanc, V.P. Volobuyev, and Claudie Weil.
The proceedings will be translated simultaneously into English, French and Russian. The registration fee is quite affordable (FF100 for individuals, FF200 if an institution is paying for you, FF50 for students and unemployed) and so is the cost of accommodation: beds in 2-to-3bed rooms at a nearby hostel for only FF50 ($9) per night
If you want to attend this important event, write to Espaces Marx (64 Bd Blanqui, 75013 Paris, France), attaching a check for the registration fee, plus accommodation if needed (in that case, specify which nights you are booking for). The check will be kept as a deposit and given back to you against payment in French cash on arrival. Meals will be paid on the spot International LaborMedia '97 (Seoul, Korea, 10-12 November 1997)
In spite of a total lack of financial resources and experiences, we, Korean activists are trying to organise a conference on "Labour Movement and Media: Workers, Information Technology and Solidarity" and an international labour video and film festival in Seoul, Korea. The recent South Korean general strike showed not only the energy of the working class who want to fight against the capitalist attack on the global level, but also our ability to use communication media such as the Internet and video for information-sharing and strengthening solidarity on the national and international level, (See http://kpd.sing-kr.org/strike)
The conference will coincide with the annual mass rally organised by the KCTU (Korean confederation of trade unions, which organised the general strike in January). This will be a great opportunity to see and feel the impetus of the struggle of the Korean labour movement. Registration Fee: evening of November 8 - morning of November 13-- Including accommodation for five nights with all meals and participating in Worker's mass rally Private room: 130 $ • Pension: 250 $ (30% discount for Underdeveloped Country, 10% discount for registration before 15 October). Organisers (As of August 22nd): Labour News Production
Task Group for Labour Information(TGLI), Social Information Networking Group (SING), Solidarity for Democracy and Progress (SP), Korea research institute for worker's human rights and justice (KRIWRJ Organising Sponsor (As of August 22nd): Korea Confederation of Trade Unions(KCTU). Contact: Seoul International LaborMedia 97 Committee tel: +82-2-855-1913, fax: +82-2-858-1913, e-mail: labormedia@mail.sing-kr.org To join conference mailing list write to LM@mail.sing-kr.org] Internet: http://kpd.sing-kr.org/labormedia South Asia and the diaspora 50 years after the end of British colonialism School of Oriental and African Studies* Malet St, London. 18-19 Oct. 1997
Organised and co-ordinated by the British-based South Asia Solidarity Group, this unique conference will bring together key academics and activists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Europe and North America. We will discuss the effects of globalisation on South Asia, and the intense organised struggles waged by powerful people's movements: a feature of all countries in the region today.
Speakers and participants will examine the new strategies and theoretical approaches emerging in these movements, conferences * and the identities of class, caste, gender and nationality which these struggles are heightening and reshaping. Many of these speakers are well known activists in South Asia, but speaking for the first time in Britain.
Sessions include: workers struggles in the context of industrial restructuring and structural adjustment • globalisation, the nation state, militarisation and refugees communalism (religious sectarianism) and fascism •gender and identity in S. Asia and the Diaspora • the relationship between people's movements and NGOs • globalisation and South Asian culture and art • the changing nature of racism in the context of the new world order • the lett in South Asia and strategies for the
Speakers include: Uma Chakravarti feminist scholar and civil liberties activist (India) • Hassan Gardezi, editor of "Pakistan: the roots of dictatorship political economy of a praetorian state" • Rustom Bharucha, theatre director and critic, writer on globalisation and culture (India) • Randhir Singh, influential Marxist thinker (India) • Anu Muhammad, writer on alternative strategies for development (Bangladesh) • Dalip Swamy, writer on India's New Economic Policies and civil liberties activist • Dipankar Bhattacharya representative of the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) and trade union organiser • Salma Ali, legal activist with women workers in the Dhaka Free Trade Zone (Bangladesh) • Shahnaz Rouse. writer on women, nationalism and fundamentalism in Pakistan • Nirmala Rajasingham, Sri Lankan Tamil feminist writer and activist • Mrinal Chakma, activist from the Chittagong Hill Tracts * Sponsored by SOAS, De Montfort University and Luton Registration: E3/day for students, low and unwaged, £10/day for waged individuals, and £25/day for institutions Cheques payable to SASG,, c/o Londec, Instrument House, 205-217 Kings Cross Rd, WC1X 9DB. For further details tel./fax +44 171 354 8744 or 713 7907 Raise your banners '97 31 Oct.-2 Nov. 1997, Sheffield, England
Following the enormous success of the '95 festival, plans are under way for a bigger, better, even more exciting celeb-
Invitations have gone out to some of the best known British and international names in political music. An extensive programme of films, drama, performance poetry, workshops, children's events, exhibitions and discussions will complement the more than 20 concerts which are planned for city centre venues, large To receive a programme send a SAE to the Festival Office, RYB, PO Box 44, Sheffield, S4 7RN