In Northwest Indiana, 800 workers were locked out of their jobs at the British Petroleum (BP) refinery on March 19th. They were followed by another 1600 workers locked out by utility company NIPSCO on April 2nd. PLP members were at the picket sharing communist politics and warm food. The bosses want to build fascism and racism to discipline our class to prepare for war, but workers aren't backing down! More to come in the next issue!

The Retired Teachers Chapter (RTC) of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) underwent a dramatic shift last year when the Unity Caucus lost to a slate of retirees who fought to defend our original Medicare coverage rather than accept a “disadvantage plan.”  Unity has dominated the UFT since its founding, so this break was significant — and it opened new political space inside the chapter.

Introducing militant ideas

Our Party club meets collectively and in smaller sub-clubs, and comrades in these groups have been organizing steadily within the RTC to raise the level of struggle and bring communist ideas, as well as sharper, more militant ideas into the chapter. We helped form an anti fascist group within the RTC’s Labor Solidarity Committee, giving us a consistent presence on the executive board and at the monthly meetings, which draw a few hundred in person and close to a thousand on Zoom. Most importantly, we’ve attracted a core of retired teachers who want to confront fascism and imperialism directly. We meet regularly and publish a newsletter that advances both the practical and ideological struggle inside the RTC.

We’ve had the greatest success at the general meetings and through the anti fascist committee. Our resolutions—including one addressing the growing fascist threat in the U.S.—have passed overwhelmingly, often with more than 80 percent support. Yet, as is often the case, the current RTC leadership remains timid. They “understand” the world situation but lack confidence that the membership can grasp the ideas and language needed to explain what so many people already feel. The terms that have sparked the most “controversy” are fascism and imperialism.

Liberal union bosses try quelling antifascist language 

Our committee collectively drafted a resolution opposing the imperialist war in Iran. When our members and allies presented it to the executive board, it was rejected because it used the word imperialism. The board substituted a watered down version, but even so, the RTC is now officially on record opposing the war—and that resolution also passed with well over 80 percent support.

Our newsletter has been especially well received. Each issue features a conversation between two retired teachers debating the political questions of the moment. This month’s discussion focused on why terms like imperialism and fascism are essential for understanding world events, not rhetorical flourishes to be avoided.

Our work in the RTC produces small but meaningful gains. Two members of our anti fascist committee helped distribute the newsletter to everyone entering the meeting hall. We’ve also circulated CHALLENGE to much of our growing base. Many RTC members marched in  the No Kings rally, and were joined by PL’ers  there with a banner calling for resistance to rising fascism and to the imperialist war in Iran. Step by step, through patience and consistent struggle, we are making progress.

The Party still has a long road ahead before we have the forces necessary to mount a communist revolution. But right now, we can have a real impact on both the practical and ideological struggle by bringing communist ideas to the working class. Once grasped, these ideas become a powerful force for change and ultimately communist revolution.

Baltimore, MD, March 28—There was an early spring chill in the air as the crowd filled War Memorial Plaza in front of Baltimore City Hall. The red communist flag of Progressive Labor Party (PLP) waved among the tide of patriotic and anti-Trump posters, as well as Palestinian flags. As international communists, we make no mistake in  flying only the red flag, the only one that represents all workers of the world.

We positioned ourselves on the right side of the main stage. Armed with a stack of communist flyers and CHALLENGE newspapers, we mingled among the crowd. Our chants of “Communist flyer, communist flyer!” resonated with those in front of the stage.

No kings and no bosses

The No Kings rallies are largely organized by the Indivisible Project, a non-profit organization sponsored by several foundations and capitalists, including the Open Society Foundation, Sandler Foundation, and Reid Hoffman, the CEO of LinkedIn. These “progressive” organizations are now deceiving their liberal base by promoting workers’ rights, equity, and justice, while in 2024—under Genocide Joe’s administration—they were timidly silent during the height of the genocide in Gaza. Local, state and federal politicians who acted as puppeteers for these non-profits occupied the stage. Their job is to entertain and contain their liberal base to garner enough votes and win in upcoming elections, which only maintains the same rotten capitalist system. In contrast, PLP fights to destroy capitalism and the dictatorship of the capitalist class. We organize workers, soldiers, and youth into a revolutionary movement for communism.

While the Big Fascists, under their Democrat label, were speaking nationalist unity, we fired back with our literature.

From our flyer:

“There are no kings or queens in the U.S., but the U.S. Government certainly likes monarchies. Republicans and Democrats alike are feeding propaganda, telling us to support lesser-evil politicians, while actually making bloody deals with deadly monarchs around the world.”

We all took turns passing out the newspaper. Our newest comrade had a valuable time sharing our communist line. We sold 100 copies of CHALLENGE, spread 300 flyers, received donations, and had productive conversations with other protesters. We talked with the workers who wanted to know more about PLP and communism, collecting contacts from those who were especially interested.

Despite the Democrats’ parade of national unity, Progressive Labor Party spoke to the true unity of international worker solidarity. We fight to smash the bosses, racism, sexism, and fascism through collective struggle among the working class. Our ultimate goal for a safe and egalitarian world is only possible under a communist society. Fight for communism! Join PLP!

College Park, MD, March 21—As part of celebrating International Working Women’s Day, members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) hosted a dinner and trivia night. Two comrades worked alongside a close friend to the Party in creating 26 questions, ranging from historic strikes and women-led struggles to attacks on workers that spurred collective action and fightback. Around 35 people attended, and 25 formed teams for the trivia game. 

One comrade introduced the event as a working-class celebration of women’s important contribution to the various fights against capitalism and for liberation from its oppressive institutions. Even the name of the holiday represents our understanding that honoring anti-sexist struggles and victories is based on class distinctions. Capitalist history muddies revolutionary events, groups, and figures, and picks a select few women “role models” who don’t threaten the ruling class’s power. Feminism especially concedes to the notion that patriarchy or male-centered systems of oppression are responsible for women’s mistreatment, and that giving women rights traditionally reserved for men will eradicate the wrongs of society. PLP understands that capitalism relies on sexism, alongside racism, to deny women and queer workers many of the few crumbs that keep us won to its illusions. Another passed law does not guarantee the safety of any worker.

Sexism harms all workers

Another comrade read a speech that highlighted how sexism harms workers for the benefit of capitalists. From their speech: “The exploitation of domestic labor, the attacks on reproductive rights, and unequal pay for equal work are all necessary to sustain [capitalism].” They continued that feminism is not the answer to sexism because it does not push for a multi-gendered working-class movement to end capitalism. Workers’ liberation must be won by force, with a mass communist revolution organized by workers worldwide!

The game created a lively atmosphere that challenged team members to use their previous knowledge or context for the various topics. With each question, participants cheered at their correct choices or playfully groaned about incorrect ones. The three presenters encouraged discussion, which allowed everyone to give and learn more context. In creating the questions, we were careful to show an expansive and internationalist depiction of working women’s struggles and achievements. Our movement for full working-class fightback is impossible without learning from the lessons of workers everywhere.

Attendees stayed long after the game finished to share reflections and to socialize. Base members from areas that usually wouldn’t meet mingled and connected on the Party’s areas of work and analysis, including a comrade’s recent talk on the implications of inter-imperialist rivalry through the U.S.’s war with Iran.

The Party’s younger leadership in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) boldly represented our organization’s commitment to putting youth at the forefront of working-class thought and collective action. Our two lead comrades and base members frequently met and planned the event’s presentation, the Party table of literature and merchandise, and the game itself. As we build for another fiery May Day and summer of fightback, we use these events to celebrate our creativity, history, and multi-gendered proof that workers are the answer to ending the sexist system of capitalism.