We must take the lead in struggling for their day to day interests. In this editorial we explain why the struggle for the immediate demands, the struggle for reforms, is an important task of the proletarian revolution. Reforms are measures to improve the conditions of the masses but without eliminating the source of oppression, the capitalist system. There are economic and political reforms. Although revolutionaries realize reforms' limitations, we fight for them when they serve the interests of the masses and the long-term goal of revolution.
Reforms can improve the masses' living conditions, temporarily and in a small way.
Improved wages and working conditions of the working class has advanced its well-being to some extent. The fight for reforms can also serve the interest of revolution by showing that militant mass struggle can achieve successes. For example, the successful mass movement in San Francisco in 1972 against the false arrest and police beating of newsvendor Harry Wong provided an inspiration to many fighting against the reactionaries, the police and the courts. In addition, after reforms are won, they can be used to educate the masses that no fundamental improvement in their lives is possible within the capitalist framework. For example, working women have fought against oppression by demanding low cost childcare.