**Date:** 1967-04-25
**Source:** THE WORKER
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THE MAY DAY slogans of ending the war and draft, independence for Puerto Rico and equality for black Americans are bringing youth into participation and planning for the celebration.
A spokesman for the 21st May Day Planning committee announced that Jose Stevens, co-chairman of the New York area Du Bois Clubs, will be a speaker. Dr. Elden Anderson, Harlem Communist leader has been designated rally chairman by the committee.
Jackson, in describing the forthcoming event, said “The Jet Set Band is going to entertain. They are great. The band has been playing for young people and is quite popular.”
Speakers for the event will include Mrs. Grace Mora Newman, sister of Dennis Mora, now in prison as one of the “Fort Hood Three” for refusing to fight in Vietnam; Juan Mari Bras, secretary-general of the Puerto Rican Movimiento Pro Independencia, Chris Kearns of the Catholic Worker, Herbert Aptheker, noted historian, and Esther Carroll, trade unionist.
Barbara Dane, folk singer, will also be a featured entertainer.
The May Day celebration will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1, at Union Square.
THE BIGGEST STRIKE in the 32-year history of the United Rubber Workers idled 340,000 workers who walked out with the expiration of their contracts. Peter Bommarito, president of the 159,000-member union, said prior to the strike that the rubber workers needed more money now “because the cost of living has increased so much in the last year.”
Bommarito cited the fact that productivity has increased and the profits of the tire corporations have skyrocketed. The companies affected are Firestone Tire and Rubber, B. F. Goodrich and United States Rubber Co.
Negotiations with Goodrich were continuing past the deadline on a day-to-day basis but were reported to be shaky. The union and the General Tire and Rubber Company, the rubber’s largest tire producer, began talks last week on a contract that expires May 17.
The strike, whose major issues are a substantial wage boost and increased unemployment benefits, was expected to be rough. The rubber companies have stocked their warehouses with a three-month supply of tires, and union sources have revealed that the companies entered into a financial assistance agreement to aid struck companies in meeting fixed costs.
The strike closed down the three companies’ 39 plants in Ohio and 15 other states. The union has 75,000 employees displaced by the Big 5.