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Shorts

By VVAW

FUTURE VETS MAY LOSE GI BILL: The administration is considering killing the GI Bill for future veterans, according to congressional and administration sources. While it was emphasized that no consideration was being given to cutting benefits for those who have already served in the military, three reasons were cited for ending the GI Bill for the future: 1) Wartime service is no longer involved. 2) The men now entering the service are "volunteers, not draftees." 3) The supposedly "huge" pay increase granted to GIs in recent years. Today service men are allegedly receiving wages "commensurate with civilian scales." Considering who goes into the military today--mostly third-world and poor people who have little other opportunity-this must be viewed as yet another in the government's series of attacks on the American people.

WORKERS FIGHT BACK: As of mid-July there were over 600 labor disputes going on across the country, according to a national news network. This is the largest number of strikes that have ever occurred at one time in the US. With the continuation of Nixon's economic attacks on the working people of the Us, there should be a lot more of this in store for the corporate elite in the coming months.

VVAS/WSO SEIZES VA: Ten members of the NYC VVAW/WSO seized the regional executive offices of the VA on June 28th for over 6 hours. The VVAW/WSO members demanded that the NY regional VA grant benefits to all veterans regardless of their type of discharge and help publicize VVAW/WSO's July 1-4 demo in Washington, DC. Forcing their way into VA regional director Paul Nugent's office, they barricaded the door after he hurriedly vacated the area. A letter found on Nugent's desk from the head of the VA's intelligence and security division described VVAW/WSO's plans for the takeover and said that VA security "assures me security will be 'air tight.' There will be no mob invasion of the New York VA." Currently all ten members have been charged with criminal trespass.

BORDEN'S STRIKE END: After Borden's caved in to major strike demands, Local #487 of the Textile Workers has called off their strike of Borden's Columbus (Ohio) Coated Fabrics plant and a boycott of all Borden's products. The 950 workers of Local # 487 had been on strike since Feb. 9th for demands centered around a cost-of-living pay increase, an improved health-care plan, and stopping plans to move the plant out of the state. The workers of Local #487 felt that growing nationwide support of the strike, especially by various national organizations was a key factor in their victory. They also thanked the many people who took time to write Bordens and voice support of the strike and boycott. Rather than take a loss in profits, Borden gave in to demands they had earlier flatly refused to negotiate.