a brief new history, Part II: independent labor unionism and the threat of a Southern general strike

AS part of the structural decisions made in '07 to allow full freedom of association - steadfastly opposed by the 'harder' Leninists in the party, labor has been allowed to freely organize. Two labor federations comprise 97% of the unionized workforce:

Industrial Fellowship of Socialist Workers - 9,987,406 members Nov '09

Agricultural Workers and Parcelers for RESPECT - 1,186,404 members Oct '09 (estimated)

Store owners and operators, and others who are 'self-employed', with authority from the State, generally do not participate in a labor federation. Just 7,000 of the 300,000 members of the military are unionized, all belonging to the IFSW, with the rest participating in unofficial 'military councils' that meet with and discuss issues of concern with their officers of authority.

The IFSW is the official, state-sponsored federation of workers. Of its nearly ten million members, 9.1 million live in the North, and 7.7 million live in greater USSL City. The federation has thrice-annual conventions, and workers vote directly for leadership and policy planks without interference from the State. The State recognizes the IFSW as the labor extension of the CPUSSL, and directly subsidizes it, but does not set union policy; likewise, the IFSW has only limited direct influence over State policy. The IFSW elects one of the nine members of the Board of Governors, with the other eight members not democratically elected.

The AWPR is an exclusively Southern, non-State labor union that was established in November 2007 and has grown steadily since, comprised mainly of Southern agricultural workers on State-owned and operated factory farms. It has become a political movement, taking advantage of widespread Southern discontent with the Communist government.

The AWPR is a democratic union, with 231 local chapters that vary from six to 60,000 members. Members vote directly to elect local leadership, which in turn meet regularly in NSSR City to decide policy and strategy. No official national leadership exists, but Ronn Joplyn has been recognized as the de facto head of the federation since 2008, and it the representation of Local 231, the unit representing the workers of Plant Pavillion, the largest farm-factory in the South, located six miles North of the Mieske Province.

Joplyn's prominence has consistently risen, and he is seen as the face of the growing Southern resistance movement. The party's platform decries the 'exploitation' of the Southern land and workers by the Communist 'military dictatorship'. It calls for 'removal of the 180,000 military personnel stationed in the civilian Southern lands' and, failing that, 'Southern self-determination independent of the Capitol'.

With the Southern standard of living consistently falling, calls for action have been increasing in volume. Support for an AWPR general strike is estimated to be between 72 and 76% by opinion polling. Leadership of the federation has yet to endorse or officially discuss such an action, but reports suggest calls for a general strike will be the centerpiece of the scheduled April 4th meeting of AWPR local leaders in NSSR City.

Workers assigned to 'full employment' - i.e., 7 hours/day Monday-Thursday, or 5 hours/day Monday-Friday in a state owned and operated factory are granted a 'full ration', which comprises 3000 calories/day of food for the worker, guaranteed housing, social services (health care, dentistry, access to libraries and education), and between $600-$1100/month of discretionary income, varying based on occupation and locale. All children are guaranteed housing, food, education, and social services until age 17 or through completion of education.

If AWPR workers were to go on strike they would lose housing rights within a month, lose food rations, and all social services. Union strategy must account for this, so the AWPR has been vigorously attempting to organize hospitals and trade ports located on the Western Coast, in the port cities of Rutlydge and Lyndon Sanby.

The leadership of the CPUSSL is well aware of the implications of a general strike and is engaged in strategic struggle with the AWPR over the ports and hospitals, attempting to organize. Last month Daniel Netanyahu announced a $2.4 billion per year 'stipend' for members of the IFSW, for the encouragement of 'union action and activity'. The stipend comes with no rules or regulations, however, and essentially is an addition to the discretionary income of IFSW members, which was already an average of $287 higher than AWPR members and $164 higher than nonunion workers. The aim of the initiative likely is to incentivize membership in the IFSW, and, concurrently, loyalty to the State and the Communist Party.

The battle for control of the South is in force. If the AWPR cannot gain control of enough of the ports, medical centers, and farm-factories, it is unlikely a general strike would survive as striking workers would have no source of food, medical care, nor other essentials and services.

a brief new history, Part I

(pre-war map, from 2003.)

IN 2009 the population of USSL Island was estimated to be 30,706,404. 12,304,375 live South of the traditional North/South border; 18,402,029 live to the North. 8,452,607 live in USSL City proper; depending on the definition, between 10.8 - 11.1 million live in the greater USSL City area and 13.4 - 13.6 million live in the USSL City media market.

The revolutions of 1975 and 1977 resulted in a liberal, constitutional democracy that would endure until 2005, when war broke out between loyalist, nationalist, and Marxist-Leninist paramilitary groups. The war would last until February 2007, when nationalist and loyalist groups dissipated and the Marxist-Leninist paramilitary organization, led by Daniel Netanyahu and strongly supported by the Flat Grounds, took power. Netanyahu and his organization, then-called the People's Liberation Front, were able to establish a strong base of power in the dense urban area of USSL City, and used the eastern military base to serve as a resource center for military government of the South, which was always less receptive to the PLF and was a nationalist power base before the movement had to fold.

Once Netanyahu and the PLF gained power, they established a one-party state and formed the Communist Party of USSL Island, but opted to preserve freedom of press and of assembly. However, all major media is state-owned and operated and the internet serves as the lone outlet for independent news.

In March of 2007 Netanyahu ordered the heavy militarization of Mieske Province, located Southernmost on the mainland. The area is rich with agriculture and natural resources, such as silver and diamond. The area also is a well-documented center of drug growth, manufacture, and trade. It has been estimated that between $600 million [all figures USD] and $1.4 billion of drugs are exported from the area monthly, with the main exports being cocaine, heroin, and to a lesser extent, marijuana.

With the militarization of the area came increased drug production. As part of the Initial Decrees of February 2007, Netanyahu announced the legalization of all formerly controlled substances. The only authorized retailer of the 188 regulated substances is the State, which owns and operates 89 drug outlets throughout the Island. The State makes an estimated 400-600% profit on drug sales.

It has been heavily speculated, and some argue proven, that the directive to militarize the Mieske Province came from the Flat Grounds, and that much of the drug profits have been funneled into the Flat Grounds coffers. Because of this the Marxist government has been dubbed a narco-state.

Since the Communist considation of power in 2007, the wealth disparity between North and South, already large, has continued to grow. The South has remained heavily militarized since 2007, and entry to the North from the South has been heavily restricted if not outright prohibited. While the State has announced and broken ground on impressive infrastructure projects in the North, including a system of 33 universities (two of which will open in 2010) and a $9 billion high-speed rail system, the South has been granted no such investment, and the economy has imploded. Estimates of Northern economic growth since Feb 07 are between 18.2 and 20.6%; the median standard of living has grown 25 - 28%; and unemployment is below 2%. The Southern economy has been destroyed, declining between 17 and 30%, with the median standard of living down approximately 25%.

Seacooks, 44-7

The NY Seacooks have defeated the Independence Walkers, 44-7, to win their first championship since moving back to Long Island in 1998.

415pm summary

FLAT GROUNDS - Elijah Banker is headed to his first ESFL Championship Game.

The 29-year-old, pending free agent quarterback shrugged off his Super Saturday hex in leading the Independence Walkers (13-9) to their first championship game since reforming in 2007. Banker threw for five scores, two to all-star H-back D'Ronald McCovey, and did not turn the ball over as Independence stampeded the once-vaunted Long Island Amazin' (14-8) defense.

Long Island scored on their second play from scrimmage, as Curt Anes (22/39, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) found veteran WR Louis Johnson on a go route to put the Amazin' up a TD. The lead would hold until 1:38 before halftime, as Banker rolled out and threw the first of two scores to McCovey on a play action, third-and-goal strike that would set the tone for the second half.

The Independence offense went on a run starting midway through the third quarter, scoring touchdowns on five of six possessions, aided by two Anes turnovers in Long Island territory. Banker completed 14 of 16 passes during the stretch and threw scores to McCovey, WR LeRon Brackett, rookie WR Dan Henning, and HB DeAngelo Morris.

Anes was knocked out of the game midway through the fourth on a blindside hit by pass rush specialist Corey Wilk, who registered 11.5 sacks and 18 hurries during the regular season. He was replaced by backup Kelly Condon, who had little success on two desperate Long Island drives before the clock struck zero.

linescore: 830pm

(7) NY Seacooks - 10 / 0 / 14 / 11 = 35

(1) Buffalo - 7 / 10 / 3 / 6 = 26

linescore: 415pm

(5) Independence - 3 / 10 / 14 / 21 = 48

(4) Long Island - 7 / 0 / 7 / 7 = 21

update from the floor

- Smithtown-Shark-Seacook stadium audit was placed on back burner... composite more interested in ensuring football is played in 2010..

- CBA negotiations have yet to begin, 45 minutes past schedule, and may not get off the ground until 3am EST.. owners are still wrapped up in derivative negotiations, attempting to set up an elaborate sharing program before Rasbey can take the floor vs. the Union..

- not only does Rasbey have to push a salary cap & trade system into the CBA that will be accepted by the Union, he has to acquire the support of ten/twelve owners... sources from Barnett camp suggest Rasbey has LONG way to go before calming objections from Long Island Amazin', New York Sharks, New York Seacooks, and possibly Boston Conquistadors & Chicago Madmen ownership. big market organizations may reject any CBA that implements a hard cap..

- Union has been VERY tight about strategy in the face of owner mutiny and disarray. if Union steadfastly opposes any salary cap system from get-go then Rasbey placed between rock and hard place

- consensus is that Rasbey had no idea what he was stepping into. Barnett quoted, "(Rasbey) had no conception of the magnitude of responsibility he sought to inherit."

- many insiders fear dwindling to zero possibility of reaching CBA before the end of the week.

BREAKING: bombshell

Independence negotiators opened debate at 1130 by introducing a measure to 'audit' the Shark-Seacook-Smithtown stadium deal for potential antitrust violation. direct Rasbey offensive on Barnett, nothing short of an all-out declaration of war.

"the mood here... is like the Kremlin right before the Czar abdicates, like the storming of the bastille. there's a sense that we're watching a century-long tide turn"

beat from the floor

deposed Barnett is not hiding in his upstairs Flat Grounds office, but instead is in discussions with the new Rasbey regime over how to avoid a complete meltdown at the CBA table and permeating labor strife that could overshadow Saturday's games...

Rasbey has a mandate to pursue a salary cap & trade program at the table tonight, and it is clear that he will, but the specifics are still a mystery. as a starting point, here were the twelve team payrolls in 2009:

1. New York Sharks - $167.4M

2. New York Seacooks - $153.7M

3. Long Island Amazin' - $107.9M

4. Independence Walkers - $71.0M

5. Buffalo Bulls - $65.3M

6. Boston Conquistadors - $59.3M

7. North Bay Polar Bears - $57.6M

8. Chicago Madmen - $51.3M

9. Detroit Gamblers - $43.7M

10. Ithaca Champions - $25.4M

11. Philadelphia Geysers - $22.4M

12. Florida Panthers - $18.7M

for a grand total of $843.7M paid out in player salaries in 2009... [relevant to this discussion, watchdog organizations estimate between $2.3 and $2.6 billion of football-related revenues in 2009, down from $2.8B in 2008, when players were paid a total of $786.3M.]

the USSL has always been notorious for uneven salary distribution, and various collective investment, gain- and cost-sharing plans have made the problem less drastic, but it remains clear as day when seeking to implement a salary cap program...

Barnett & Rasbey are discussing a multi-tiered proposal that could get off the ground as soon as ownership negotiators officially convene at 1130pm...

-a snowballing luxury tax aimed at reigning in the outlier moneyed LI organization salaries without the potential albatross of an effective immediate hard cap. the tax would be placed in a Collective Program Account that would help lower-revenue organizations pay for the increase in player minimum salaries

-implementation of a salary cap & trade program in the middle of the decade, possibly as late as 2016 or 2017

details remain iffy on what will be a detail-oriented procedure.

from the floor

I've spoken to a few people, and it's becoming clear what has happened here...

..we'll never know the truthful numbers, but it is likely that Michael Barnett shelled out several hundred million dollars worth of credit capital at these meetings in '08 and '09 to fight off postseason reform, any sort of salary structure regulation, and through his mass of concentrated capital he was able to evade popular opinion; and that's excluding the sweetheart Smithtown lend-lease stadium deal for the Seacooks...

...but the time has come, and when people have their ideas suppressed, they become angry - even if they're the ones accepting the money.. Barnett's games at the negotiation table are the league's worst kept secret and now, armed with just two votes at the table with the Sharks having lost on Friday, he is overcome by a rousing tidal wave..

the deal struck on Tuesday to take the postseason out of the Flat Grounds starting in '11 was not a single action by the owners' body. it marked a turning point. some sources think Barnett gave up on the fight, didn't think it worth a protracted fight. but the passage was hailed as a victory for the non-LI owners, long held hostage by the triad's success on the football field and dwarfing quantity of pure, liquid capital.

with that, they ran, and James Rasbey, Jr. vocally seized the opportunity... the resolution expressing 'the sense of the organizations' interest in a system of salary cap & trade' was dismissed by Barnett.. he stated to me that he could not remember the last time a non-binding resolution was negotiated...

of course, the owners realized weeks ago that they couldn't get away with passing such a motion so directly related to player salaries without the consent of the Union, which is what Barnett had said all along, and was the official reason for the Sharks' two negotiatiors' abstentions. but it didn't matter, Barnett recognized it for what it was - an order by the rest of the owners for him to press the Union HARD at the CBA table for a cap & trade program.

but he didn't, and of the seventeen proposals that the Union and the owners have exchanged outside of actual table-in-session, not one by the owners contains any mention of salary cap & trade, or even a luxury tax...

discontent with this fact reached fever pitch as the whole mess of competing interests arose from their collective slumber around noontime... the media core at the Flat Grounds was buzzing with rumors of the Barnett-Harrington negotiatior axis getting pressured or even bumped, and, at 10pm EST, here we are...

there are far more questions than answers now, particularly about the key provisions that Barnett was able to hammer out with the Union at the table, which call for, in review and in summary:

- a large expansion of the Centralized Player Pension Programme, lowering the minimum qualifying service time from 6 years to 2.5 years, increasing average marginal payouts a staggering 31% over the next ten years, and reducing the payout age from 55 or 25 years retired to 50 or 20 years retired. in response to the additional cost of the program, the owners agreed on Monday to a new, steeply progressive Central Revenue Tax, which will raise and centralize an additional estimated USD$67 million starting in 2011

-in accordance with the Union's 4% ownership stake in the ESFL, it will have three voting seats at the January owners' meetings starting in 2011

- a 45% increase in the league minimum salary, currently USD$78000, by 2013, and a 61% increase by 2017, in real terms.

the last tenet is most troubling to smaller market teams, who rely most heavily upon low-salaried role players to keep costs down... for comparison sake, the Ithaca Champions had 42 of 57 players salaried within 133% of the league minimum, that Sharks 12 of 61, and the Amazin' 17 of 59...

no cost-sharing plan was adopted by the owners to account for the increase in minimum salaries that Barnett negotiated into the CBA, and it has led to widespread concern, interest, and anger...

Barnett & Harrington sacked

following a contentious four-hour meeting, Independence Walkers owner James Rasbey, Jr. notified the Players' Union that he would be sitting across them at the CBA negotiation table at the forthcoming 130am meeting.

media relations officials with the New York Sharks confirmed to SKSL that Michael Barnett and Michael Harrington were deposed behind closed doors as several owners expressed discontent with the failure of the moneyed all-Long Island regime to broach the subject of a salary cap & trade program during CBA negotiations with the Players' Union.

Rasbey, Jr., who spent $144 million to purchase the Orlando Furious franchise in 2006, relocated the team to Independence County, Arkansas, and purchased the trademarks and history of the former WSFL's Independence Walkers from the USSL.

notes from 4pm

'(Barnett) is in an impossible position. if he fails to exercise a good-faith effort at the table, owners will void the CBA he negotiates...

he has a point when he says he understands realities that leading populists (Independence) do not. brokering a deal for a salary cap & trade program may be altogether impossible, if the Union's math looks a certain way. or it may bring the structural issues back to the table that Barnett successfully provisioned away via the robust pension plan, bottom-line salary increases, and three union seats at owners' meeting starting next year...

if they do bring Barnett down, and he may be sacked (along with Harrington) before tonight, Rasbey, Jr. and the rest of the niche-town heroes may immediately find themselves in over their heads...'

-from the floor