Chipping Away at the Right to Strike

This piece by Veena Dubal for Dissent has been the longest read in this issue for me. So many moments where they've expanded on how, even despite Justice Jackson's work to highlight how striking is necessary for workers in a democratic society, the majority opinion is increasinlgy swaying towards corporate control. They include a quote from Sean O'Brien after the case of Glacier vs Teamsters that "people cannot rely on their governments or their courts to protect them ... We must rely on each other". This, despite being nearly a year old, is a good call to action for those interested or adjacent to organizing to understand that we, in the United States, are fighting a system that is inherently against workers at every turn.

As mentioned, wildcat strikes^[1] are our strongest weapon. They demonstrate a truer form of workplace solidarity that'll be needed regardless of who takes office in January 2025. It's humbling to know that even despite the anti-worker and anti-Black presidental campaign (nee administration) of the 1980s and its push to reduce worker organizing, there's been growth. "According to the Economic Policy Institute, U.S. strike activity increased by nearly 50 percent last year — even as the percentage of workers represented by a union dropped one-third of a percentage point", writes Dubal.

If you're a worker, especially if you're in tech, the best time to get organized was yesterday. The next best is today. If you're able to come to San Francisco in October, there's a conference just for you.