The FRSO and class-struggle labor unionism

Grand Rapids, MI – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization is hosting another online meeting for the growing numbers of members on Thursday, February 17 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. We will use Zoom to welcome our new members who joined since the last meeting on capitalism destroying the environment.

_A statement by Palestine Solidarity Committee of Grand Rapids, MI _

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Palestine Solidarity of Grand Rapids, MI.

Grand Rapids, MI – The Bicentennial Congress of the Peoples of the World begins on June 21 in Caracas, Venezuela. To prepare for the Bicentennial Congress a series of Zoom meetings began in February 2021, with hundreds of people from more than 80 countries of the world participating in solidarity each month.

Grand Rapids, MI – 60 people rallied in solidarity for a Free Palestine in Grand Rapids on June 13. On the sidewalk at Veterans Memorial Park, dozens waved Palestinian flags and held signs demanding, “Free Palestine.” Young Palestinian Americans led chants, “Viva! Viva! Palestina!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” The crowd then moved nearby to the Union soldier statue for several speeches imploring people to organize and fight back.

Grand Rapids, MI – 200 protesters, primarily Palestinians and Arab Americans, took to the streets of Grand Rapids, May 22, in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance movement and demanding an end to U.S. support for the state of Israel. This is the second “Free Palestine” protest organized by local activists.

Grand Rapids, MI – 60 protesters gathered for a “Free Palestine, Stop U.S. Aid to Israel” protest in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 15, as the world observed Nakba Day amid continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

Grand Rapids, MI – West Michigan labor unions joined by community and social justice groups celebrated International Workers Day on May 1 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI – Over 300 people rallied to denounce the racist and woman-hating murders in Georgia of six Asian American women and two other men. Speakers and organizations representing people of Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese and Pacific Islander descendent spoke at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids on March 20.

Grand Rapids, MI – Since January, delegate elections have been taking place at UPS as part of the Teamsters union international election cycle. This convention and election cycle are critical because Teamsters members who work at UPS are fired up after the imposition of the previous contract. UPS Teamsters had voted to reject the contract, but were overridden by Teamsters leadership under Hoffa, who used a little-known antiquated rule to override the will of the members.

Grand Rapids, MI – Over 100 protesters rallied for a “Breonna Taylor: Say Her Name Louder” march on Saturday, March 13. The one-mile march in downtown Grand Rapids commemorated one year since Louisville, Kentucky police murdered Breonna Taylor in her own home.

Grand Rapids, MI – 100 people joined the Justice for George Floyd rally on March 8 at Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids, the largest turnout since winter began.

Grand Rapids, MI – Outside the stagehands union IATSE Local 26 headquarters in Grand Rapids, union members and youth activists attached big signs to their cars saying “Amazon needs a union!” and “Solidarity with Amazon!” They gathered in the freezing cold on February 19 for a press conference and car caravan to three Amazon centers, including a giant new one promising to employ 1000 workers.

Grand Rapids, MI – Joining other unions across the United States on Labor Day, IATSE union stagehands are holding a “Push for $600” on Monday, September 7, 11 a.m. near the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Currently there are 29 million workers receiving some form of unemployment across the U.S.

Grand Rapids, MI – Fifty union stagehands chanted, “$600 now!” while pushing music road cases thru downtown Grand Rapids. They began their push at the U.S. Federal Building to demand Senator Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans pass the $600 workers need.

Grand Rapids, MI – Fifty local people gathered for an emotional vigil to remember Vanessa Guillen, the U.S. Army soldier murdered and disappeared by another soldier at Fort Hood, Texas. The U.S. armed forces are rife with sexual harassment and rape, both on and off military bases. The unrelenting response of Guillen’s family, demanding answers, has top military leaders on the defensive, scrambling.

Grand Rapids, MI – Fifty local people gathered for an emotional vigil to remember Vanessa Guillen, the U.S. Army soldier murdered and disappeared by another soldier at Fort Hood, Texas. The U.S. armed forces are rife with sexual harassment and rape, both on and off military bases. The unrelenting response of Guillen’s family, demanding answers, has top military leaders on the defensive, scrambling.

Grand Rapids, MI – Fifty local people gathered for an emotional vigil to remember Vanessa Guillen, the U.S. Army soldier murdered and disappeared by another soldier at Fort Hood, Texas. The U.S. armed forces are rife with sexual harassment and rape, both on and off military bases. The unrelenting response of Guillen’s family, demanding answers, has top military leaders on the defensive, scrambling.

Grand Rapids, MI – After a lively rally on June 24 with nearly 100 workers, the stagehands union IATSE is calling a new rally on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol for July 15. The stagehands and other gig workers are demanding the passage of the HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act by the U.S. Senate. July 25 is looming as the $600 per week unemployment boost that keeps people paying their bills is set to run out. Tensions are rising not just in Michigan, but also for stagehands from New York City to Hollywood, across the whole country.

Grand Rapids, MI – Union stagehands and gig workers are rallying to extend unemployment at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on June 24 at 10 a.m.

Grand Rapids, MI – Protesters gathered in several major Michigan cities last weekend, including Grand Rapids and Lansing, demanding justice for the Minneapolis Police Department’s killing of George Floyd and for all victims of police brutality.