Joe Burns, “Reviving the Strike: How Working People Can Regain Power and Transform America,” Ig Publishing (May 31, 2011), 224 pp.Mainstream union officials in what remains the world’s richest country believe the strike is a quaint relic of bygone times, ineffective and even dangerous today. This reinforces their attempts to forge “partnership” with the employers.Some … Continue reading A fresh look at a basic tactic of the labor movement
Tag: strike
Public Workers Under Attack
This article is based on a presentation by the author to a recent Socialist Action forum in Philadelphia. Marty Goodman is a transit worker in New York City, and a longtime activist in Transport Workers Union Local 100. On May 26 a Wisconsin judge voided the infamous legislation that would have radically restricted union bargaining … Continue reading Public Workers Under Attack
Chicago teachers union votes to oppose anti-labor law
CHICAGO—The executive board of the Chicago Teachers Union voted on May 2 to oppose a union-busting law passed by the Illinois Statehouse and Senate that would effectively eliminate seniority, make it close to impossible for Chicago teachers to strike, and limit collective bargaining rights.The vote of the executive board, later passed by the union’s house … Continue reading Chicago teachers union votes to oppose anti-labor law
Red Cross workers strike
PHILADELPHIA—On May 24, workers at Red Cross blood donation centers here and across the river in southern New Jersey went on strike. They are striking over their health care as well as unsafe conditions, both for the workers and for the blood they collect. The Health Professional and Allied Employees Local 5103 strike is the … Continue reading Red Cross workers strike
Illinois teachers-union leaders bow before the Democrats
by David BerntCHICAGO—State houses and governors throughout the U.S. have put forth bills aimed at cutting education, firing teachers, and curtailing their union rights. A similar bill pending before the Illinois Senate would virtually end teachers’ seniority for job security, severely limit their ability to strike, and allow school boards to unilaterally impose working conditions.But while … Continue reading Illinois teachers-union leaders bow before the Democrats
Massive Wisconsin labor uprising fights all-out assault on unions
by Carl SackMADISON, Wis.—Tens of thousands of workers, students, and their allies from around Wisconsin and beyond have been protesting in Capitol Square every day since Sunday, Feb. 20 to save their benefits and collective bargaining rights.Schools have closed due to teacher absences and student walkouts, firefighters and prison guards have taken off work despite … Continue reading Massive Wisconsin labor uprising fights all-out assault on unions
How socialists fought government repression in 1940s
by Jim GrilliIn light of the FBI’s recent attack on the civil liberties of antiwar activists in the Midwest, it would be useful to look back to a moment in history in which state-sponsored oppression served as a tool for silencing dissent.During the 1930s and ’40s, working people in the United States made tremendous gains … Continue reading How socialists fought government repression in 1940s
General Strike in Greece
by Vangelis Itesis On Dec. 15, electronic media throughout the globe focused once more on the Greek crisis. The big news this time less involved rising bond spreads or other financial ratings than active human beings collectively fighting for a better life, for a life no longer subjugated to profits for a few. TV newscasters … Continue reading General Strike in Greece
Reformer Sandy Pope to oppose Hoffa for Teamster president
by David Bernt Veteran Teamster reform activist Sandy Pope has announced her candidacy for the union presidency in next year’s election. Pope will face off against 12-year incumbent Jimmy Hoffa Jr. and a slate headed by Fred Gegare, a current vice president who was elected on the Hoffa slate in 2006. A former freight driver, … Continue reading Reformer Sandy Pope to oppose Hoffa for Teamster president
Labor’s fight against war, racism and unemployment
By ANDREW POLLACK With the economic crisis worsening, how can labor fight back? There are some small but significant examples of struggles waged recently, or coming soon, that hold out hope for the kind of wider fightback needed in such a crisis. * An opposition slate in the Chicago Teachers Union turned out the old … Continue reading Labor’s fight against war, racism and unemployment
Farrell Dobbs: His Work in the 1934 Mpls Truckers Strike
The Final Stand
Pattern Bargaining in Reverse: UAW Pushes for More Concessions at Delphi
Delphi workers are fighting demands for further concessions pushed by the United Auto Workers, which is trying to split apart the master agreement at the company. The International didn’t anticipate rank-and-file anger, which has halted its concessions locomotive.Government-owned GM can’t live without parts supplier Delphi but can’t live with union wages. So the United Auto … Continue reading Pattern Bargaining in Reverse: UAW Pushes for More Concessions at Delphi
France on Strike (1995)
Video of the December 1995 strike in France by Public Workers and Students: http://a.blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?file=http%3A//blip.tv/rss/flash/3145653%3Freferrer%3Dblip.tv%26source%3D1%26use_direct%3D1%26use_documents%3D1&enablejs=true&showplayerpath=http%3A//a.blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf&autostart=true&feedurl=http%3A//laborvideo.blip.tv/rss&playerUrl=http%3A//a.blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf&staggeredLoad=truehttp://blip.tv/file/3126048
Union Busters Close Stella D’Oro Bakery
by Marty GoodmanWhat began in August 2008 as a strike at the Stella D’Oro bakery in the Bronx became an 11-month protracted war and one of the great labor battles in recent New York history. The Stella D’Oro workers became a national symbol of resistance to a heartless economic system.Stella bosses had demanded slashing wages … Continue reading Union Busters Close Stella D’Oro Bakery
Stella D’Oro Workers Face October Shutdown
NEW YORK — After an heroic strike that lasted 11 months, bakery workers at the Stella D’Oro company in the Bronx face imminent plant closure and the loss of 135 jobs. The shut-down has been ordered by the new Stella D’Oro owners, the non-union Lance, Inc. of North Carolina, makers of snack-sized junk food. Lance, … Continue reading Stella D’Oro Workers Face October Shutdown
SK Hand Tool Workers Strike
CHICAGO — As Congress debates health-care reform in Washington, members of Teamsters Local 743 here are taking the fight for health care to the picket line. On Aug. 25, some 75 members walked off the job at SK Hand Tools, which supplies for Sears’ Craftsman brand, in response to the companies’ suspension of health-care coverage … Continue reading SK Hand Tool Workers Strike
The War on Workers at Home & Abroad
UC Students Walk Out!
BERKELEY, Calif. — On Sept. 24, the first day of classes, University of California students and faculty across the state walked out against fee hikes, cutbacks in services and classes, increased class sizes, and faculty and staff layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts.Out of the 10 UC campuses statewide, Berkeley had the largest walkout by far; … Continue reading UC Students Walk Out!
75th Anniversary of the 1934 Minneapolis Teamster Strike
by Bill OnaschLabor’s Turning PointToo often we mark anniversaries of wars, coups, or assassinations–necessary reminders of past set backs and affirmation of continuing the struggle. I was fortunate to be able to attend celebrations in Minneapolis July 25-26 that marked the 75th anniversary of the 1934 Teamsters strikes in that city--events that were full of … Continue reading 75th Anniversary of the 1934 Minneapolis Teamster Strike
Bringing Home the Bacon
Boycott Stella D’oro
[by Marty Goodman]“No contract, no cookies!,” say strikers at the Stella D’oro bakery in the Bronx. This great labor battle has been raging in a working-class neighborhood called Kingsbridge since August. About 135 workers, mostly women immigrants from Latin America and Africa with a mixture of Italians and others, have taken on a union-busting outfit … Continue reading Boycott Stella D’oro
Duluth Central Labor Body Resolution on the RNC 8
Resolution in Support of the RNC 8 and Stating that the Anti-Terrorism Act Should be RepealedWhereas, a free society is one in which people can organize collectively to improve their lives without fear of persecution by their government; andWhereas, the labor movement has historically suffered state intimidation and repression in our efforts to organize working … Continue reading Duluth Central Labor Body Resolution on the RNC 8
Chicago Factory Occupation Leads To Inspiring Victory
[by Andrew Pollack]The stunning victory at the Republic Windows factory shows that even in the midst of an ever-worsening depression, success is possible when workers are willing to do whatever it takes. During their six-day occupation of the plant, sitdowners repeatedly told the media that they were doing it for workers facing the same problems … Continue reading Chicago Factory Occupation Leads To Inspiring Victory
Support UE Occupation Against Republic Windows
Support UE Occupation Against Republic Windows,Bank of America!Picket Bank of America Offices Around the World!Two hundred fifty workers occupied the plant of Republic Windows in Chicago on Friday, December 5th. The mostly Latin@ and African-American workers, members of United Electrical Workers Local 1110, are protesting their layoffs by the company without the 90 day notice … Continue reading Support UE Occupation Against Republic Windows