By Barry Sheppard
An important local development in the current election campaign is the decision by a striking Detroit newspaper worker to run as an independent labour candidate for Michigan State Representative from the 32nd District, north of Detroit.
Douglas Young, 31 years old, has worked as a newspaper mailer since he was 18. He is a member of the mailers' union, Teamsters Local 2040. The Detroit newspaper strike is over a year old, and is the most important labor battle currently is progress in the United States.
Young joined Labor Party Advocates earlier this year and was a delegate to the Founding Convention of the Labor Party in June. His opponents are incumbent Republican David Jaye, Democrat David Kennedy and Libertarian Bob Van Oast. Jaye is one of the most conservative members of the Michigan State House and is often aligned with the incipient fascist pro-militia groups in the district. The Libertarian Party espouses an extreme version of laissez faire free market capitalism and would do away with all social programs won by the working class, Blacks, women and other oppressed people.
Through his campaign, Young hopes to call attention to the newspaper strike, and is trying to convince other active unionists to run for office and promote a forthright, unambiguous pro-labor agenda.
In a letter seeking campaign funds, Young writes: "'We have been on strike since July 13, 1995. On Labor Day weekend, 1995, we showed the labor movement can use its power to stop the production and distribution of scab newspapers. [Labor Day in the United States occurs in early September.] We organized mass picketing at the gates of the scab plant, and stopped almost all vehicles from coming and going for many hours.
"'We did this more than once. Unfortunately, the owners of Gannet and Knight-Ridder were able to get a judge to issue an injunction limiting the number of pickets at the gate to 10. Since then, whenever we have succeeded in organizing any kind of mass labor action that has blocked the production or distribution of the scab paper, we have been set upon by private security guards, laws, and police that have prevented us from doing what needs to be done.
"'There are many different ideas about what labor should do in this situation. One of the things that we need to do is fight to outlaw scabs and repeal all laws that restrict labor's rights, like Taft-Hartley. [Taft-Hartley was passed in 1948, and at the time the labor movement correctly labelled it the "slave labor law".]
"That is why I decided to run for office. I am running for the office of Michigan State Representative from the 32nd District, covering Shelby Township. I don't think that I, by myself, can change the laws. But I think that I could use my position in the Michigan State Legislature to build support for this struggle and other labor struggles. I could speak out for labor in the Michigan State Legislature. The labor movement needs more representatives in public office who are part of the labor movement and loyal to it. It's not possible to rely on the Republicans and Democrats to speak for labor.
"If you support the Detroit newspaper workers' strike, if you are for outlawing scabs and repealing laws that restrict labor's rights, especially Taft-Hartley, I ask you to give generously to help finance my campaign."
A flier put out by Young's campaign committee also calls for a "$10/hour minimum wage and a shorter work week without cutting pay so workers can have more free time and all can work".
Shelby is a small town where many workers including auto workers in the Detroit area live. By choosing a town like Shelby to run, a first-time campaign running up against the two major capitalist parties can more efficiently utilise its resources than in it could in a big city like Detroit.
While Young is a member of the Labor Party, the party is not endorsing him or any other candidates in the current election. This is because at its founding convention the party decided on a two-year moratorium on running candidates while it attempts to build itself into a more substantial force. However, most members of the Detroit area chapter of the Labor Party are supporting Young's campaign as individuals.
As the discussion within the Labor Party continues on this question, Young's campaign is sure to be a part of it.