the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Oct 15, 2012
According to a 2004 Harvard study: “In the early 20th Century ... life expectancy at birth rose from [age] 47 to 63.... Clean water technologies are likely the most important public health intervention of the 20th Century.”
But clean water is precisely what politicians, big banks and consulting firms are ready to destroy. When Detroit’s mayor accepted the recommendation of “consultants” to eliminate 81% of water department workers, in order to hand over the water department to profit-sucking companies, he was jeopardizing not only workers’ jobs, but safe drinking water also.
With the aging, complicated and dangerous equipment in place at water department facilities, it is department workers who have kept drinking water safe so far.
Bringing in companies that don’t understand how to operate this antiquated system means quite simply that the system will not function.
In the words of another water department striker: “We went on strike today because ... we want DWSD under the control of the city. We are fighting for Detroit and all of its people.” They are fighting for the health of four million Michigan residents as well.