The purpose of this presentation is to examine Striketober, the series of strikes that received a great deal of media attention this Fall.
Movements
“Dire crisis of poverty”: NYC taxi drivers launch hunger strike to demand relief from medallion debt
Since 9/11, thousands of taxi drivers have accrued massive debt largely due to the city artificially inflating the cost of taxi medallions, the permits required to drive a taxi.
John Deere: Labor puts its Big Battalions into the field
It is the largest strike in the country since the Chicago Teachers Strike in 2019 and the largest private sector strike since the General Motors walkout in the fall of that year. This means that it’s important to follow this strike carefully.
From chips to cookies to tortillas! Bakery workers struggles continue
Terrible working conditions and speed-ups in that industry have now led to an important workers struggle at the El Milagro tortilla factory in Chicago.
Doctor’s prescription: Less snacks, more strikes!
Today, a strike is taking place at the maker of products that everyone in the country knows. No more Oreos, Ritz Crackers, or Chips Ahoy! Nabisco’s on strike.
Mechanics and teachers are on the streets
The general quiet of the current Chicago labor scene has been broken by two important events: the auto mechanics’ strike and the Naperville teachers’ contract battle.
Did supporting a Democrat help Cook County strikers?
The reality is that this strategy has failed. The person who the union leadership has been endorsing and donating to led the charge against the union.
“Toni, Toni, Toni… Full of Baloney!”
Saturday’s rally highlighted many of the themes of the strike. There were about two hundred, mainly African American, strikers at the rally. There was great pride that not only had Stroger Hospital struck, but workers in all parts of the County system were also out.
How much workers’ resistance is there today?
There are some long hard strikes and lockouts taking place. There are not a lot of them, but they deserve our support and solidarity. They take place in the overall context of a low level of class struggle.
Labor Notes: April month of trouble making (part III)
The bi-annual Labor Notes conferences have become perhaps the most important gathering places for the left in the labor movement. The purpose of this article is to report on these meetings.
Labor Notes: April month of trouble making (part II)
The bi-annual Labor Notes conferences have become perhaps the most important gathering places for the left in the labor movement. The purpose of this article is to report on these meetings.
Labor Notes: April month of trouble making (part I)
The bi-annual Labor Notes conferences have become perhaps the most important gathering places for the left in the labor movement. The purpose of this article is to report on these meetings.
BAmazon: The morning after…
Labor law is not the main factor holding back the labor movement. Our movement is being held back by the lack of victories against the employer in the workplaces.
Red shirts in Bourbonnais
The Bourbonnais Education Association (BEA) went on strike for a week starting on March 4. The purpose of this article is to explain what led to the strike and the main issues involved.
BAmazon: union yes!
The reasons why the workers want a union are not surprising. Covid was obviously a major issue. Lack of proper safety procedures has been a worker concern at Amazon facilities nationally.