MetaFilter posts tagged with protest and strike

May Day in Chicago: then and now

Westringia F. — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:58:43 -0800

As Chicago prepares to join other cities in marking May Day with a march and a general strike, it is interesting to think about these actions in the context of May Day's Chicago origins and Chicago's role in labor history. Early-May strikes and rallies have a significant place in Chicago labor history, starting with a crippling week-long strike on May 2, 1867 to enforce Illinois' new eight-hour day law. Unfortunately, the strike was unsuccessful, and when it collapsed, Illinois' 8-hour law fell with it. However, it sparked a series of actions in support of the Eight-hour Movement, which finally came to national fruition with the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 as part of the New Deal. On May 1, 1887, Chicago workers again struck to demand an 8-hour day. The action grew over the days that followed until a rally on May 4 in Haymarket Square turned tragically violent when someone hurled a bomb and a fire-fight erupted. Eleven died; many more were injured. Unable to find the bomber, the prosecution accused eight anarchists who were then convicted based solely on their writings and without any evidence connecting them to the bomb. The falsely-accused were pardoned in 1893 by Governor Altgeld... but only after four were hanged and a fifth committed suicide. Labor organizations commemorated Haymarket and the struggle for the eight-hour day on May 1, and celebrations of May Day as a worker's holiday spread worldwide. The idea of a general strike -- one that is not tied to any union in particular -- has other significant historical ties to Chicago. In 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was founded in Chicago as "One Big Union" that sought to unite workers across different occupations. The concept of the general strike can be traced back to a pamphlet by Stephen Naft that was published that year in Chicago, along with a 1933 pamphlet by IWW activist Ralph Chapin. The general strike was promoted by the Wobblies as "not only the hope of Labor [but] the hope of the human race," and similar general strike tactics have been employed by activists worldwide. While IWW membership has dwindled dramatically since the Red Scare, the IWW remains active and has an ongoing presence in Chicago. Interestingly, while the Chicago Spring flier mentions the parade and a large number of union locals as parade endorsers, it doesn't actually mention the "general strike". This may be due to many of the endorsing union locals having no-strike clauses in their contracts that prohibit them from officially participating in work-stoppages while their contract is active. By prohibiting sympathy strikes, no-strike clauses hamper the ability of unions to act in solidarity with one another; some versions even go so far as to require union leaders to publicly discourage their members from participating on their own. As a result, widespread participation in a general strike by union members who have no-strike clauses would be a wild-cat action -- one that occurs without the support of their union's organizing structure. Since wildcat strikes are not a protected form of labor action under the National Labor Relations Act, they are a risky and significant action. Wildcat strikes (which were illegal prior to the NLRA as well) also have a significant place in Chicago labor history, most notably with the Pullman Strike that took place in on May 11, 1894, when nearly 4000 Pullman workers walked out -- without the authorization of their union -- in protest of wage cuts and cost increases in the company-owned town. (Ralph Chapin, the author of the 1933 IWW General Strike pamphlet linked above, cites his witnessing the Pullman Strike at the age of 7 as one of his influences.) Led by Eugene V. Debs, the Pullman strike and boycott spread nationwide, and in early July President Cleveland brought in the US Marshals and Army troops to break the strike. The strike-breaking succeeded -- despite popular support for the strikers -- due in part to lack of cohesive union leadership (including the AFL's refusal to support the strike) and to racial tensions that undermined labor solidarity. On the heels of the violent clashes between the troops and the railroad workers, President Cleveland made a symbolic gesture by declaring Labor Day a US federal holiday as the first Monday in September (leaving May 1 to be officially marked in the US as Loyalty Day). Although the Supreme Court would later validate Cleveland's actions in In Re Debs, the brutal strike-breaking cost Cleveland his bid for reelection when Governor Altgeld (who was also responsible for pardoning the falsely-accused Haymarket anarchists) used his influence as leader of the Illinois delegation to the Democratic Party Convention to block Cleveland's nomination. Today's planned protests continue this fight for economic justice, and will take place -- particularly here in Chicago -- amidst this rich history. Happy May Day!

Red Square

Stagger Lee — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:17:58 -0800

In March, 2012, students in Montreal, Canada took to the streets to protest the Quebec Liberal government's intention to raise tuition by 75% over five years. The red square, a symbol of the last student strike, quickly became the symbol of this one as well. "MONTREAL: 18th April, 2012. Despite the ultimatum detailed by minister Beauchamp this morning, the Coalition large de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (CLASSE) maintained its position on recent events. “Two weeks ago, following the bolstering of student loans, Mrs. Beauchamp ordered the student movement to hold a new vote on the strike. Today, she is asking student spokespersons to stake their position within 24 hours, while we have been on strike for nine weeks, and without consulting the tens of thousands of striking students”, declared Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson for CLASSE." Confrontations on Quebec streets have grown increasingly violent since the beginning of the strike, and the streets are still full of marching students. Meanwhile, some have begun to frame the student strike as part of a larger cultural movement; a movement against the corporate agenda in universities, public sector cuts, and a neo-liberal agenda in Canadian government. In the twelfth week of protest, students continue to reject government settlements, and some think that it's only a matter of time before the government capitulates, while others claim the movement lacks support. The issue is not without controversy, and some fellow students have voiced their own frustrations with the movement.

Nigerian General Strike

latkes — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:04:06 -0800

Some context for today's general strike, the Occupy Nigeria movement, and growing frustration over government corruption in Nigeria.

Everybody Out!

Jakey — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:25:54 -0800

The UK is experiencing some of its worst disruption to services in decades as more than 2 million public sector workers stage a nationwide strike, closing schools and bringing councils and hospitals to a virtual standstill. More than twenty unions are supporting the Wednesday 30 November protest over cuts to public sector pensions. Department for Education figures suggest more than half (58%) of England's 21,700 state schools are closed, with another 13% partly shut. In Scotland, 30 of the 2,700 council-run schools are believed to be open, says local authority body Cosla, while in Wales 80% of schools are shut. In Northern Ireland, three of the five education library boards have reported that over 50% of 1,200 schools are closed. The government claim that the protest is a "damp squib" and that "those reforms are absolutely essential" and the strikes are "irresponsible, inappropriate and untimely". The right wing commentariat go further, calling the protesters "selfish and weak" and "a symptom of a culture in parts of the educational establishment that is quick to complain and slow to find solutions." On the other side, commenters say that "This government cancelled the tax on bankers’ bonuses. Instead it has brought in a nurses’, teachers’ and lollipop ladies’ tax. This is what the increase in pension contributions – around £1,000 a year for a nurse – really means. It is not paying for pensions but going straight to the Treasury to fill the hole left by the bonus tax." and The 3.2% contributions hike is a tax on a workforce whose living standards have already been heavily squeezed by repeated pay freezes. Pensions aren't a perk, but deferred pay. Protecting pay and conditions is what unions are for. Channel 4 fact Check weighs in on whether the costs of public sector pensions are going up (answer: no) and the claim of Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury,: that the new deal will mean better pensions for many low and middle income earners. (answer: not really)

Port of Oakland "effectively shut down"

clorox — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:13:18 -0800

At least 4,000 are at the gates to the Port of Oakland - San Jose Mercury News. More links inside. Occupy Oakland strike: Who showed up and why - San Francisco Chronicle Occupy Oakland: Thousands of protesters rally at port - Los Angeles Times Occupy Oakland: Hundreds of teachers fail to show up for work - Los Angeles Times Oakland’s Port Shuts Down as Protesters March on Waterfront - New York Times Occupy Oakland general strike – live - Guardian Occupy Oakland Livestream

Venezuelean hunger strike ends

clarknova — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:30:45 -0800

A half-month hunger strike by Venezuelan students has ended. More than 150 students participated in the protests, some sewing their own mouths shut. Among student demands was an end to the practice of using the courts to punish dissidents, freeing of between 20 and 40 political prisoners, and a meeting with OAS Secretary General Jose Insulza. The Chavez administration acceded to the third demand and promised a roundtable review on the treatment of the prisoners.

University of California Budget Walkout

spitefulcrow — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:16:55 -0800

Thousands of students, faculty, and staff have walked out today in protest of the University of California's budget cuts. Today marks the first day of classes for eight of the ten UC campuses, all of which have been hit hard by budget cuts as a result of the statewide budget crisis, which has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of reductions to UC's budget. The cuts are being implemented via pay cuts and forced furloughs for UC faculty and staff, and drastic fee increases have been proposed. UC employees are worried about what is seen as the potential privatization of the nation's largest public university system. Many see the California budget process, hampered by a two-thirds majority requirement and numerous ballot initiatives blocking tax increases, as the source of the problem. Local coverage per campus: Berkeley Los Angeles Davis Santa Barbara Irvine

John Murtari Hunger strike for fathers rights.

IronWolve — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:46:42 -0800

John Murtari hunger strike protest. John Murtari has been on a hunger strike after being jailed without a jury trail. A PHD in aeronautics, Murtari lost his job and took a lower paying job at an ISP. Unable to pay the extremely high child support payment, he asked the courts to re-adjust his payment. The court denied him. The judge offered him probation or 6 months jail time. Murtari chose jail time with protest. Murtari stated Even Terrorists get a trail by jury. He is finally on a feeding tube, forced down his nose, after loosing 28 lbs. Update with protest photos and his comments on the protest.

tamim — Fri, 26 Jan 2001 16:43:01 -0800

Global women are planning a general strike on March 8, 2001, in protest of pay inequity.