Lawrenceburg, IN – Striking workers at Batesville Products Inc. (BPI) won a major victory through a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Region 9 on October 27. Workers at BPI have been on strike since May 11 after a supermajority signed authorization cards with Teamsters Local 135, and BPI management refused to recognize the union. The workers are now on strike alleging unfair labor practices by the company.

The union requested union recognition and then began a strike. After a month on strike, the union filed for an election at BPI through the NLRB election process. The Teamsters union seeks to represent roughly 18 machinists, polishers and shipping clerks at BPI's Lawrenceburg machine shop.

In responding to the filing, BPI management said that around 20 workers from its foundry in Aurora should be added to the vote. Those workers had no part in the union campaign, and adding them would turn the super majority of the workers who built the union into a minority in their own election. The company was unwilling to negotiate a stipulated election agreement without including the foundry workers, which forced an NLRB hearing over the matter on June 22, followed by months of waiting on a decision.

The NLRB regional director's decision dismantled the company's case. The foundry and the machine shop are indeed separate facilities with different supervisors, different jobs, and different working conditions. Casters and tooling technicians, who make up most of the Aurora workers, have no counterpart in Lawrenceburg. The company claimed that workers regularly moved between the two plants, but the decision found little evidence of it, noting the company produced no documentation to back up its witnesses.

The NLRB operates under a “single site presumption” in these types of cases, meaning the employer must show “significant interchange” with the site it intends to add, or else the single site should be awarded a vote without the extra workers included.

The regional director concluded that BPI failed to make its case and directed an election for the bargaining unit the union filed for in the first place.

The company's argument fell apart under scrutiny, yet it still bought BPI more than four months. In that time, the strikers held the line, now nearly six months into their strike, while the company waited for them to break.

In the United States, union elections are overseen by the NLRB, which frequently allows employers to throw up flimsy legal challenges and then takes months to rule on them. Even when workers win, the delay itself has done the boss' work for them and bought them months to bust the union. The BPI strikers refused to let it succeed this time, holding their picket line through tremendous adversity.

BPI management called the Lawrenceburg Police Department in to break the strike. One scab drove his car into a striker crossing the road, though police failed to gather any evidence when a police report was filed. The worker who was hit by the car pressed charges, but they were ultimately dismissed for lack of police cooperation with prosecutors.

When a belligerent anti-union goon showed up to harass strikers and flashed his gun at a strike leader, police declined to charge him. Strikers say that they are aware of ties between police and this individual who made terroristic threats against the picket line.

Lawrenceburg police also threatened strikers with arrest if they used amplified sound in any way. Strikers closely followed the city's noise ordinance for the duration of the labor dispute, which police even acknowledged, making clear that an attempt to shut down their action would be a violation of workers' First Amendment rights.

The NLRB ruling is a major win, but it is not the finish line. The election date and location have not yet been announced. After the vote comes the fight for a first contract that would address the conditions that started this organizing campaign. Those conditions include mandatory 60-hour weeks, low wages, high health insurance costs, and declining benefits.

“Today, we celebrate a massive victory,” said Teamsters Local 135 in a social media statement. “Tomorrow, we keep fighting.” The Teamsters at BPI have already proven they can outlast the company's stalling. As long as they hold the line together, they say they are well prepared to win union recognition when the vote occurs.

#LawrenceburgIN #IN #Labor #Strike #NLRB #Featured

Fight Back! interviewed Michael Humaña, a trade union leader from Chile, on October 14 to learn about the trade union struggle there and in Latin America.

Fight Back!: Which organizations are you a member of?

Michael Humaña: I am the president of the National Union of Education Workers in Chile (SNTE) and organizational secretary of the Continental Federation of Education Workers.

Fight Back!: What took place in Bolivia on October 10 and 11?

Humaña: In the Trópico of Cochabamba, Bolivia, we founded CIMA, la Coordinación Internacionalista de los Movimientos Sociales Antiimperialistas del Abya Yala. It is an organization that looks to be the anti-imperialist wall of the peoples to confront the criminal “Shields of the Americas” of Donald Trump.

With the leadership of President Evo Morales, we hope to be the anti-capitalist, socialist alternative of the peoples who struggle.

Fight Back!: What was your role in the meeting to form CIMA?

Humaña: In this anti-imperialist gathering, I was part of the coordination team.

Fight Back!: What is the significance of the presence and participation of Evo Morales at the gathering?

Humaña: Evo Morales is the leader of the revolutionary left and of the movements of peasants and popular in the south of our America. After the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, Evo Morales transformed into the main anti-imperialist leader of all the continent. The experience of 14 years in the government of Bolivia, the proposal of Living Well and Pluri-Nationality, are examples for peoples of “Indoamérica.”

Fight Back!: Did the gathering result in any agreements, points of unity, or plan for action?

Humaña: The main objective of the encuentro was to advance a programmatic unity, therefore the resolution to found CIMA. There are the fundamentals to create a solid continental organization with real capacity to mobilize a front against U.S. imperialism and Israeli Zionism.

Some of the points of agreement are: Declare October 9 as an International Anti-Imperialist Day to honoro Che Guevara; to advance to building of a Continental Network of Popular Communication; defense of Mother Earth and common goods – this will be a fundamental task to confront predatory extractivism and confront electoral processes to retake local and national governments, but with a program that is socialist, anti-colonial,and anti-imperialist, without trusting the neoliberal politicians.

To demand the freedom of our political prisoners like President Nicolás Maduro, First Lady Cilia Flores of Venezuela, President Pedro Castillo and Victor Polay in Perú, former Assembly Representative Freddy Mamani in Bolivia, and to end the political persecution of social leaders on the continent like our brother Evo Morales Ayma.

Fight Back!: What are the lessons to share with movements in the U.S. that are to be learned from the national mobilizations in Bolivia?

Humaña: We believe in the fundamental task of unity of the social movements of the continent, from Alaska to Patagonia. The social movements in Bolivia give us the lesson that the bravery of the people can take down criminal and tyrannical governments. Unity of the working class, the peasants and students is fundamental to stop the oligarchies in our countries. The anti-imperialist conviction of the people of Bolivia must be an example to all the peoples of the world.

Fight Back!: Can you provide a brief explanation of the situation in Chile?

Humaña: Today in Chile, there is the return of Pinochetism to the government; the criminal military dictatorship returns to push reforms and deepen neoliberalism. Sadly, the previous governments of progressive neoliberalism and social democrats governed with the laws and constitution of the dictatorship. They have allowed education, healthcare and pensions to be run like a business and we have lost many social rights. So now, the far right comes to deepen the neoliberal agenda further. The popular movement and trade union movement are weakened and only the students maintain the call to rebel and engage in struggle against neoliberalism.

But, from the teachers and other popular forces, we continue giving battle to rebuild the Chilean popular movement behind a program and project with a socialist perspective and popular power.

#International #Chile #Labor #SNTE #CIMA

New York, NY – On October 21, the Alliance of Substitutes and Paraprofessionals (ASAP) held a Substitute Teacher Townhall, where over 25 substitutes and others within the United Federation of Teachers gathered on Zoom. The town hall heard from substitutes and former subs in the NYC Department of Education on what issues they have faced in their workplaces that could be turned into a campaign by ASAP.

ASAP is a group of militant substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and teachers in the UFT who are developing campaigns around the most underserved and underpaid groups within the NYC Department of Education.

Subs on the call discussed long-term substitute assignments, withholding pay, lack of clarity on the job, as well as low compensation.

One sub teacher on the call said, “I have a lot of concerns come up when I go in to cover a teacher’s parental leave. The job is usually just short of the 30-day mark to make it a [long-term] status, so I don’t get paid the same. There are a lot of grey areas when I get called in for long-term assignments. The schools should be upfront and declare them right away.”

Another sub teacher said, “Sometimes the school I work at a lot will call me right before the school day, and because I want to help I will. But then I go look at my check and I see a certain percentage taken out. Your pay gets docked if you go in past 8:00, but they’re the ones that asked me to come in. I’m doing them a favor, and it’s the same percentage taken out for the entire day even if you’re there a few minutes after 8:00!”

The ASAP organizers will be taking back what was learned from the Sub Town Hall and building a campaign.

Joe Diodato from ASAP stated, “Coming away from the call, one common thread was that subs are tired of being exploited, especially as it relates to long-term jobs. We're going to plan out a campaign that is grounded in what we heard tonight, bring more and more subs into the fold, and make sure that the city knows we're going to fight for long-term sub rights and everything else that we can.”

#NewYorkNY #NY #Labor #UFT #Teachers #ASAP

St. Paul, MN – Hundreds gathered at the Saint Paul Public Schools District Administration Building on Tuesday, October 21 to protest proposed mid-year budget cuts. The cuts would hit English Language Learner students and their families the hardest and would mean over a dozen English Language (EL) teachers across the district would have their positions terminated.

The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) called to rally immediately before the school board meeting where voting was to take place on the proposed cuts. SPFE requested community members to stay for the meeting and make their voices heard in the public comment section.

Community member and immigrant Belquis Rivera reminded the crowd of the importance of EL teachers during ICE’s Operation Metro Surge, “I am a working mother. And in this past year, there has been much adversity to immigrants in this country. The teachers that are being cut made it possible for us to live last year, for immigrant families to live last year. And while there is so much racism in this country, we escaped countries that were dangerous, where there was real risk. And this teacher put herself at risk to make sure that my family had what they needed to live.”

“I grew up in a small village in Somalia, and came here to Saint Paul as a refugee. I went to public school in Saint Paul,” said union-endorsed Saint Paul School Board candidate Omar Syed to thunderous applause. “The language I speak today, these are the educators who taught me! SPPS is already losing immigrant families to charter schools. Cutting educators who help their children succeed risks pushing even more families out of the Saint Paul Public Schools.”

Monica Byron, elementary teacher and president of Education Minnesota, condemned the mid-year firing of teachers. “What is happening right now in St. Paul is not normal. Laying off educators, after the year has already started, isn’t just highly unusual. It's unprecedented.”

Byron continued: “Our educators have welcomed students into their classrooms. They’ve built relationships. They've created safe, welcoming, learning environments. And now, just weeks into the school year, they're being told their jobs could disappear. Shame. That is not how we support our educators. And it's certainly not how we support our students. Our students deserve better.”

The rally moved into the school board meeting, where coordinated chanting forced the board to allow a hugely extended public comment section that lasted around five hours. The board moved unanimously to postpone the vote until the week of October 26 so that more engagement and other options can be explored.

Follow SPFE for action items and rally times to continue this fight.

#StPaulMN #MN #Labor #Teachers #SPFE #JobCuts

¡Lucha y Resiste! entrevistó a Michael Humaña, un sindicalista Chileno y un internacionalista, el 14 de octubre para aprender sobre de la lucha de su sindicato y en América Latina

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cuáles son las organizaciones de que estas un dirigente?

Michael Humaña: Soy Presidente del Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores de la Educación – SNTE Chile y Secretario de Organización de la Central Continental de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores de la Educación.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Que acaba de pasar en Bolivia esta fin de seman en pasado?

Michael Humaña: En el Trópico de Cochabamba, Bolivia, fundamos CIMA, la Coordinación Internacionalista de los Movimientos Sociales Antiimperialistas del Abya Yala. Organización que busca ser la Muralla Antiimperialista de los Pueblos para enfrentar al criminal “escudo de las americas” de Donald Trump.

Con el liderazgo del Presidente Evo Morales, esperamos ser la Alternativo Socialista y Anticapitalista de los Pueblos que Luchan.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cuál era tu posición en el encuentro?

Michael Humaña: En este encuentro Antiimperialista me corresponde ser parte del Equipo de Coordinación

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Que significa la presencia y la participación de Evo Morales en el encuentro?

Michael Humaña: Evo Morales es el Líder de la Izquierda Revolucionaria y de los Movimientos Campesinos y Populares del Sur de Nuestra América. Luego del secuestro del Presidente Nicolas Maduro de Venezuela, Evo Morales se transforma en el principal líder de los antiimperialistas de todo el Continente. La experiencia de los 14 años de gobierno en Bolivia, la propuesta del Vivir Bien y la Plurinacionalidad, son ejemplos para todos los pueblos de Indoamérica.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Finalizaron acuerdos como puntos de unidad o un plan de acción? 

Michael Humaña: El principal objetivo del Encuentro era avanzar en la unidad programática, por tanto, los resolutivos de la Fundación de CIMA son fundamentales para crear una organización Continental sólida y con capacidad real de movilización para hacer frente al Imperialismo estadounidense y al sionismo israelí.

Algunos de los puntos de acuerdos son: Declarar el 9 de Octubre como Día Internacional Antiimperialista en homenaje al Che Guevara. Avanzar en la construcción de una Red Continental de Comunicación Popular. La defensa de la Madre Tierra y los bienes comunes, será una tarea fundamental para enfrentar el extractivismo depredador y enfrentar procesos electorales para recuperar los gobiernos locales y nacionales, pero con un programa Socialista, Anticolonialista y Antiimperialista, sin confiar en los progresismos neoliberales.

Exigir la Libertad de nuestros presos políticos como el Presidente Nicolas Maduro, la Diputada Cilia Flores de Venezuela, el Presidente Pedro Castillo y Victor Polay de Perú, el ex Diputado Freddy Mamani de Bolivia y el fin a la persecución política de líderes sociales del continente como el hermano Evo Morales Ayma.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cuales son lecciones a compartir con los movimientos en los EEUU que aprendieron desde las movilizaciones nacionales en Bolivia? 

Michael Humaña: Hoy creemos que es una tarea fundamental la unidad de todos los Movimientos Sociales del Continente, desde Alaska hasta la Patagonia. Los movimientos Sociales de Bolivia nos dan la lección que con valentía el pueblo puede derrocar a los gobiernos tiranos y criminales. Que la unidad de la clase obrera, los campesinos y los estudiantes es fundamental para frenar a las oligarquías nacionales. La convicción antiimperialista del pueblo de Bolivia debe ser ejemplo para todos los pueblos del mundo.

¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Como puede explicar la situación en Chile ahora?

Michael Humaña: Hoy en Chile ha vuelto a gobernar el Pinochetismo, los criminales de la dictadura militar vuelven al gobierno para impulsar reformas de profundización neoliberal. Lamentablemente los gobiernos del progresismo neoliberal y la socialdemocracia, gobernaron Chile con las leyes y la constitución de la Dictadura, permitieron que la educación, la salud y las pensiones fueran un negocio y se perdieran como derechos sociales. Por tanto hoy, la ultraderecha solo viene a profundizar más de 30 años de neoliberalismo con gobiernos civiles. El movimiento popular y sindical está muy debilitado y solo los estudiantes mantienen viva la llama de la rebeldía y la lucha antineoliberal.

Pero desde el magisterio y otras fuerzas populares seguimos dando batalla para reconstruir el movimiento popular chileno tras un programa y proyecto con perspectiva socialista y de poder popular.

#International #Chile #Bolivia #CIMA #Labor #EvoMorales #MichaelHumana

Chicago, IL – In the early hours of Monday morning, October 19, Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600 (CCCTU) announced a tentative agreement on a contract for staff and faculty at City Colleges of Chicago, after months of bargaining. After negotiations finally concluded around 4 a.m., CCCTU President Tony Johnston declared, “I am proud of our negotiating teams, of our members who were prepared to strike, and of this contract.”

Workers were scheduled to go on strike starting Monday, and it was this threat that made the administration stop dragging out negotiations. CCCTU leadership will now bring the proposal to their membership to vote to ratify, and then it will have to be approved by the City Colleges Board of Trustees. The union has kept a strike on the table through the whole bargaining process, and they aren’t backing down from that until the contract is ratified.

Rank-and-file CCCTU member Chanel Crittenden said that City Colleges administration started the bargaining process from an insincere position. City Colleges’ negotiation team included corporate-backed union-busting lawyers and offered a miniscule annual wage increase that fell well below inflation. Crittenden highlighted the hostile attitude of the administration, saying, “CCCTU dominated the last contract negotiations, and it seemed like City Colleges of Chicago wanted to revoke some of those wins.”

CCCTU, on the other hand, was looking out for its members and students in their newest contract. The union demanded a dignified wage increase that would actually keep up with inflation. They also called for more oversight on the use of AI in the classroom. Crittenden explained that employees at the City Colleges saw that administration was making moves to replace the highly personal language skills of bilingual workers with deeply flawed AI translation programs.

The union also fought to reduce the financial burden for their overwhelmingly working-class and low-income Black and brown students. The agreement included a task force to explore making introductory developmental courses free for the majority Black and brown and working-class student body. CCCTU argued that their students shouldn’t have to use up their hard-earned financial aid before they can even start taking courses in their degree program.

CCCTU boldly threatened to strike from the very start of negotiations to show the administration they were serious about meeting the needs of their members and students. Members voted 91% in favor of authorizing a strike in September, and Crittenden stated, “leading up to the strike vote, members were setting up information tables on campus and holding practice pickets.”

Solidarity was the name of the game in the last few weeks of the bargaining process.

Crittenden stated, “I was feeling energized while preparing for the strike. It's been a roller coaster; it's been a lot of energy but also anxiety. You want to make sure you can be there for your family, your friends, and your community. I was really grateful to everybody who showed up and showed a strong sense of solidarity.”

#ChicagoIL #IL #Labor #ChicagoCityColleges #CCCTU

Michigan City, IN – Table games dealers and dual rate table games dealers at Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa voted to join Teamsters Local 135 in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election held October 16 and 17. The final tally was 30 votes for the union and 18 against. Two challenged ballots were not enough to affect the outcome.

This marks the second time this year that Blue Chip workers have voted to become Teamsters. In late July, the casino's slot attendants and dual rate slot attendants won their own NLRB election by a landslide of 18 to 2, despite a union-busting campaign by management. They began bargaining for a first contract with Blue Chip in late summer, and the dealers now plan to join them at the table. Once they win a contract, Blue Chip will be the first Boyd Gaming property in the country with a Teamsters contract.

The dealers organized for many of the same reasons as the slot attendants. Their issues include wages, health insurance, paid time off, management harassment and racial discrimination.

“Every worker deserves a voice, respect, and the power to make their workplace better,” said Dustin Roach, president of Teamsters Local 135, after the election. “These workers stood together and demanded exactly that. We're proud to welcome them into Local 135, and we're ready to fight alongside them for the contract they deserve.”

Boyd Gaming goes all-in on union-busting, loses again

After its blowout loss in the slot attendants' election, Boyd Gaming came at the table games workers even harder. Management ran one-on-one meetings, small group meetings, and seemingly mandatory captive audience meetings. It also blanketed common areas in the back-of-house with anti-union propaganda posters.

Management also tried a sympathy play. The general manager made an emotional appeal to the dealers, saying he took their organizing personally and begging them to give management another chance. This is a common union-busting tactic meant to make workers feel bad for demanding a decent contract for their labor.

The company also tried to scare workers with misinformation about union dues, strikes, and the supposed riskiness of the collective bargaining process. The dues scare was especially dishonest. In the Teamsters, workers do not pay any dues until they have voted by majority to ratify a first contract.

To run the campaign, Blue Chip brought in outside anti-union consultants. Filings with the U.S. Department of Labor name Rampart Labor Solutions, CRS Labor Relations Solutions, and RoadWarrior Productions. RoadWarrior, run by Florida consultant Russ Brown, is one of the most active union-busting firms in the country. Amazon has paid RoadWarrior $3800 a day per consultant to fight organizing drives from North Carolina to Nevada. Worker advocacy group LaborLab found that RoadWarrior held back federally required disclosures of its pay at one Amazon warehouse until after the election. The firm has also been linked to the right-wing Heritage Foundation.

All of that money couldn't beat the dealers and dual rates' organizing committee. The committee members met with coworkers regularly to keep them updated and to answer questions. Every time the consultants spread a lie, the committee was there with the truth.

With two Teamster units now at Blue Chip, workers across the casino floor are building strength together. The slot attendants are already at the table, and the dealers will soon elect their own bargaining committee and begin drafting contract proposals.

Their message to Boyd Gaming is clear: Blue Chip workers have made their choice twice, and it's time for the company to respect it and bargain a fair contract.

#MichiganCityIN #IN #Labor #BlueChipCasino #Teamsters

Tacoma, WA – On Wednesday, October 14, around 40 people gathered outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in support of immigrants in detention. Community members rallied for Kuya Desmon, whose final hearing was scheduled for later in the day. “Kuya” is a title of affectionate esteem used in the Philippines. Members of SEIU 6 also came out strong in support of two janitors who were detained on October 3.

“Immigrants rights are workers rights,” said Ceci Hooks, executive board member and security officer of SEIU 6. “When immigrants, workers and janitors and security officers and airport workers are under attack, we all suffer.”

The crowd chanted “Free them all!” and “You are not alone!” while banging on drums in between speeches.

Hooks continued, “The labor movement can hold ICE accountable for the abuse, violation of civil rights, physical violence inflicted on our communities across the country, violation of our due processes, and inhumane conditions they have created at these concentration camps.”

The first speaker of the event was Reverend Alex Booker of Queen Anne Baptist Church, who closed his speech with a prayer before the crowd began chanting again.

“I'm out here to stand in solidarity with those who are facing horrible immigration terror from the Trump administration,” said Christian Tuller, member of SEIU 775.

The recent apprehensions by ICE are part of a reported push from the White House for ICE to arrest at least 2000 people per day. This quota has resulted in an increase of detentions occurring at the NWDC since the summer of 2026.

One of the speakers at the event was Liliana Chumpitasi, a union member of SEIU. Chumpitasi delivered her speech in Spanish, with an interpreter there to translate to English.

“These workers are immigrants who have come to contribute to this country and deserve the same opportunities as everyone else,” said Chumpitasi. “This is affecting the country’s working class, and when these injustices occur, it’s definitely not just the union that needs to step up—everyone needs to show solidarity with them and work to shut down this detention center.”

Voices continued to ring through the streets as attendees chanted, “The people united will never be defeated!” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” The attendees heard more speeches from groups such as Capybara Collectiva and Tanggol Migrante Movement, who uplifted the stories of Kuya Desmon and Kuya Nestor, who were both kidnapped by ICE in June.

“We're not scared. We're out here fighting and we're going to keep fighting,” said Ari Peel, member of Teamsters 174. “Many of these people who are detained are in unions, and if not in unions, they are almost all workers. This is absolutely a labor fight. We should all show out in solidarity, because our fights are so much stronger when we're together.

“The labor movement has a decisive role in this fight. We need to work together with all the people who are oppressed in this country in order to kind of get what we deserve,” said Tuller.

As the rally wound down, many stayed and waited to hear the results of Desmon’s final hearing. Chants continued, and despite the grim setting, spirits were high. The solidarity between various unions and community activists was strong.

When asked about the future of the movement and Trump’s reign of immigration terror, Naj Ali of SEIU 6 said: “Every kingdom will fall. And every evil will see justice. Whatever corruption and oppression there's been, there will be a day where every soul will come forth and be served what they served to the earth.”

“There are so many people who are starting to understand why they suffer, and are no longer willing to accept it,” said Tuller. “The people are ready.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Philippines #SEIU #Labor

Porto, Portugal – On Saturday, October 17, the rage of the people in the streets of Spain and France over the deteriorating quality of life for working-class and young people fully arrived in Portugal. Unions led massive marches around the country, and encampments led by young people demanding affordable housing were reestablished in Porto, after government repression earlier in the week. The protests spread to the capital of Lisbon and other cities.

Since October 10, young people in Porto, inspired by the hundreds of thousands of people in the streets of neighboring Spain have tried to maintain an encampment demanding an end to skyrocketing housing costs while wages stay flat. But the police responded to the protesters with brutality, injuring 37 people and callously dismissing them and their demands in a way that shook the conscience of the country.

In that context, Portugal’s largest and most militant union federation, the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), led huge marches in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra on Saturday, October 17. The marches brought thousands of working-class people into the streets in a similar trajectory as the young people who have been pressing the demand for affordable housing.

The CGTP put forward concrete demands that could address the deep capitalist crises that working people face in all aspects of life in Portugal – like a 15% increase of the minimum wage, increases in pensions and social security, strengthening the national health system (SNS), and increasing funding to education.

Portugal’s conservative government has been systematically chopping away at working people’s quality of life, defunding public systems then privatizing them for the profit of the rich and multinational corporations. They’ve allowed private equity firms and short-term rentals like AirBnB to gobble up real estate, driving housing prices through the roof, while passing a new law that weakens renters’ protections and makes evictions easier.

After the CGTP marches filled the streets on Saturday, thousands of people gathered that evening in assemblies and decided to reestablish a tent encampment in Porto’s Praça Dom João I and to establish a new encampment in Praça do Rossio in Portugal’s capitol, Lisbon.

After having said earlier in the week that he would draw a hard line and absolutely refuse to allow a tent encampment in Porto, and then sending in the police to injure protesters in their tents in middle of the night, Porto’s municipal leader Pedro Duarte was forced to backtrack and allow the encampment to be reestablished on Saturday night in the face of huge public sympathy for the protesters and widespread repudiation of his harsh treatment of peaceful protesters. Lisbon’s officials were also powerless to stop the establishment of a huge new encampment in the center of the city.

At the union march in Lisbon on Saturday, CGTP Secretary General Tiago Oliveira said, “Today, it is quite evident that we live in a state of permanent class conflict – a conflict that is intensifying and becoming increasingly clear to each and every one of us. Let us be aware of one thing: when we have a government that does not view the world through the eyes of those who work—those who live by their own labor, the youth, and the majority of the people—it is highly unlikely that we will see policies that address the interests of workers, retirees, young people, or that same majority. These are distinct and opposing interests—class interests—and big capital will never look toward the working population with the aim of improving their living conditions. Instead, it will always pursue policies that serve its own interests and the accumulation of wealth through exploitation.”

Oliveira then called on people “to make this coming November a month of action and struggle – and, among other initiatives, to commit here and now that on November 24, the day the final vote on the national budget is scheduled to take place, we will be there, out in the streets near the Assembly of the Republic, for yet another major day of struggle!”

#International #Portugal #Labor #CGTP

Minneapolis, MN – Students, families and educators of Minneapolis Public Schools have been busy over the past month organizing the community to reject the Minneapolis Public School (MPS) district’s “Transformation Plan.”

The district’s plan, announced on September 15, would close around 15 of the district’s best schools starting in the 2027-2028 school year. In response, the educators represented by Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59 (MFE 59) have been holding rallies and feedback sessions, and using every public forum they can, to raise their concerns with the plan and educate the community around the impacts the plan would have.

School workers like Dino Schipper state, “Each and every one of these schools are a unique community full of people who love them. I just started working at FAIR High School for the Arts, and already I’ve come to love the community there. It’s so special that we have an arts high school in Minneapolis, and shutting it down would be a huge loss. It serves as a safe haven for queer and neurodivergent students, and any students that have a hard time fitting in and feeling safe anywhere else.”

MFE 59 has been leading the fightback against these closures, with a presence at all five of the district’s feedback sessions and a large rally in the rain, September 15, outside of the Davis Center, where MPS is headquartered. MFE 59 member organizers handed out hundreds of “No school closures!” buttons to community members on their way to give negative feedback on the plan to the district. Rallies have also been held by Minneapolis Families for Public Schools, featuring speakers like school board candidates Shannon Gibney and Christin Crabtree and MFE 59 Teacher Chapter First Vice President Natasha Dockter.

News that Minneapolis school board directors Greta Callahan and Sharon El-Amin introduced a resolution to pause the closures made the crowd hopeful at the Roosevelt High School rally. The resolution goes further to call on the superintendent to perform a “comprehensive alternative plan to increase enrollment, strengthen academic and programmatic offerings, improve district stability, and identify options for the sustainable use of district facilities,” including pre-kindergarten and bilingual programs.

The resolution also calls for the district to refocus on enrollment and expansion instead of divestment, echoing the vision long held by MFE 59. Only 53% of Minneapolis kids are enrolled in Minneapolis Public Schools, and the proposed closures would continue the trend of decreased enrollment in the district, driving families out of MPS. The resolution will be voted on Tuesday, October 13, and Director Callahan has indicated optimism that she has the votes to pass it.

Pickets at sites targeted for closure are still planned in the upcoming weeks, as well as continued email pressure and actions at school sites by MFE members.

In a statement, Minnesota Workers United voiced support for the educators: “MWU sees this as another step towards the defunding of every public service working families rely on. It’s an attack on the people of Minneapolis and an attack on the future of high-quality public education in Minneapolis, fitting right in with the current billionaire agenda to attack Minneapolis and public schools.”

Follow MFE 59 and Minneapolis Families for Public Schools for action items and rally times.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #Labor #Teachers #PublicSchools #MFE59

Minneapolis, MN – On the afternoon of Saturday, October 3, hundreds of community members rallied in downtown Minneapolis to demand justice for all victims of ICE violence and to drop the charges against anti-ICE protesters.

This action was endorsed by labor unions such as the MN AFL-CIO, SEIU local 26, MFE local 59, SPFE local 28, MNA, and MAPE, among others. This outpouring of support from the labor movement is of the spirit of class struggle in the Twin Cities, and that most of the Minnesota 15 are union members.

The Minnesota 15 are anti-ICE protesters who were arrested and had their homes raided in June of 2026. The federal indictment alleges that the 15 were involved in “conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer,” and other bogus charges. Despite public outrage in response to the repression of activists, the MN 15 and many others in the state are still facing charges related to community rapid response and constitutional observation practices they undertook during Operation Metro Surge.

There have not been major developments in the case of the MN 15 since their indictment. The indictees have all been limited in communicating with one another, making it difficult to use collective defense strategies often used by groups of people facing political repression at once.

As the rally prepared to march down the Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Federation of Educators President Marcia Howard pointed out that the MN 15 are far from the only people who stood against ICE during Operation Metro Surge. Howard stated, “They could have got me. Did I stand up for my constitutional rights? Did I observe? Did I stand up for my neighbors? Yes I did and I would do it again.”

Other union and community leaders echoed the importance of solidarity between all people’s movements in the face of repression. Attendees of the protest expressed their intent to continue taking the streets to demand justice for all victims of ICE terror and political repression.

Updates about the case and actions in support of the Minnesota 15 can be found on Instagram @minnesota.15.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #MN15 #Labor #ImmigrantRights #AFLCIO #SEIU #MFE

Baltimore, MD – Licensed deck officers at Alaska Tanker Company (ATC) and Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) are fighting to turn their overwhelming 2024 union votes into first contracts. The companies, both owned by Saltchuk, have met the workers’ decision to organize with prolonged resistance and delays.

The officers, known as mates, voted to join the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P). They are seeking enforceable protections covering pay, benefits, safety and working conditions. Nearly two years after choosing their union, they are still fighting to get those agreements.

These mates are responsible for navigating large tanker vessels and handling the cargo, which can include up to 1.3 million barrels of oil on a single ship. They navigate tankers carrying the fuels that supply gas stations, airports and industry, and oversee the hazardous transfers that bring those cargoes ashore. Their labor connects the petroleum supply chain from port to port, and their decisions carry consequences for everyone aboard, as well as the ports and coastal communities along their routes.

In March 2026, the National Labor Relations Board unanimously affirmed the officers’ right to union representation in separate decisions involving ATC and OSG. MM&P renewed its demand to bargain, but the companies are challenging these decisions in federal court, as if the NLRB doesn't matter.

“Our commitment to our members is steadfast, and we will never falter in the battle to defend their rights,” said MM&P International President Captain Don Josberger.

The fight exposes a familiar obstacle facing newly-organized workers such as at Amazon and Starbucks: winning an election does not automatically make an employer negotiate a contract. Delay leaves management under control of working conditions while workers must keep organizing to enforce the decision they already made.

Despite that resistance, the mates have demonstrated that acting together can force the companies to retreat. In September 2025, management moved to downgrade healthcare coverage and increase workers’ premiums and co-pays. Officers challenged the changes directly while MM&P demanded bargaining over the unilateral cuts.

Within two weeks of the union’s demand, ATC and OSG reversed course, maintaining the existing health plans, premiums and copays. A September 19 campaign update from the union credited the reversal to the combined pressure of officers questioning management and the union demanding negotiations.

The healthcare victory protected workers and their families from higher costs. It also showed what collective action could accomplish before the first contract was in place. But the officers’ organizing extends beyond defending a single benefit. They are fighting for agreements that establish lasting protection.

MM&P has called for support from the broader labor movement. They have organized politicians, other unions, community organizations, academics and leaders of faith into a broad coalition. Through the Mates United campaign, officers and supporters are building public pressure on Saltchuk. A public petition demands that the company respect their choice and bargain first contracts. A separate faith solidarity letter invites clergy and lay religious leaders to join that demand.

Supporters can sign and share the public petition. Faith leaders can add their names to the faith solidarity letter. Academics can sign the academic solidarity letter. Everyone can follow the campaign on Facebook and Instagram.

Ultimately, winning first contracts will depend on the mates’ collective action and the power they build aboard the ships. The officers are building organizing committees and bringing more coworkers into the fight, turning their overwhelming union votes into an organization capable of sustaining pressure across both fleets. Support from the broader labor movement strengthens that effort, but its foundation is the workers themselves. Saltchuk owns the tankers; the mates’ labor keeps them moving. By organizing together, they can turn that indispensable role into the leverage needed to win.

#BaltimoreMD #MD #Labor #MM&P #Contract

Anderson, IN – Teamsters at Coca-Cola Consolidated's distribution center in central Indiana have been on an unfair labor practice strike since September 2, and their fight has spread well beyond Madison County.

On September 22, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) announced that the strikers had extended their picket lines to Coke Consolidated facilities across Ohio, where more than 300 Teamsters refused to cross the line. Strikers from Anderson, Indiana have effectively shut off the company's Ohio operations at locations in Akron, Toledo and Twinsburg. A week later, members of Teamsters Local 377 in Youngstown began honoring the picket line as well.

The strikers are drivers and merchandisers for Coca-Cola Consolidated, represented by Teamsters Local 135. This is the first strike at the company's Anderson facility.

“These workers have made it clear that they won’t settle for an agreement that does not respect what they are worth,” said Dustin Roach, president of Local 135, in a press release. “With the support of hundreds of their Teamsters brothers and sisters, our members are prepared to continue their work stoppage until they get a fair deal. Management needs to stop their games and get people back to work.”

The workers' previous four-year contract expired on August 29. Members voted down the company's offers, saying they did too little to bring wages and health benefits up to industry standards. Bargaining for a new agreement collapsed after Coke Consolidated management committed many unfair labor practices, including sending company representatives to the table with no authority to bargain, failing to bargain in good faith, and making unilateral changes.

Teamsters Local 135 says that some workers at Coke Consolidated's Anderson facility earn less than the living wage for Madison County, which MIT's Living Wage Calculator puts at $28 per hour for a household of two working adults and two children. Coca-Cola Consolidated can afford a fair deal. The company is the largest Coke bottler in the United States, reporting $2.05 billion in net sales and $158.8 million in net income for the second quarter of 2026 alone.

Picket line extensions happen when striking workers set up picket lines at other locations of the same employer they are striking. Because the pickets target the struck company itself, they are lawful primary picketing.

The power of the tactic comes from union contracts. Many Teamster agreements contain “Protection of Rights” language that guarantees members the right to refuse to cross a picket line. When Local 135 strikers showed up in Akron, Toledo and Twinsburg, the Teamsters there, working under their own separate contracts, used their legal and contractual right to refuse to cross and stayed off the job.

The result: a strike of 48 workers in one Indiana town became a work stoppage of more than 300 Teamsters across two states.

In an IBT press release, Jeff Padellaro, director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference, said, “As long as management refuses to offer a fair contract, we will remain on the picket line. Teamsters around the country have Local 135’s back, and these extended picket lines prove our solidarity is as strong as ever.”

In Youngstown, Local 377 President Steven Anzevino told WKBN news that his members would stand with Local 135. “It's not our strike,” he said, “but we are honoring their picket line.”

Picket line extensions are not new, and Teamsters have used them for decades. However, since Sean O'Brien's election as Teamsters general president in 2021, the tactic has become a central part of the union's strike strategy. In the past five years, Teamsters have won strikes against US Foods, Breakthru Beverage, DHL, and other companies after making use of the tactic.

#AndersonIN #IN #Labor #Teamsters #Strike #Feature

Gainesville, TX – After a week-long strike, more than 350 workers represented by Teamsters at Safran Seats have won a three-year contract eliminating mandatory overtime. Members ratified the agreement October 1 with 93% voting in favor, according to the union.

Local 767 reports the agreement also restores the 80-hour bank, increases contributions toward 401(k), retirement and company-paid insurance, and provides wage increases that the union describes as historic.

The workers, who manufacture airplane seats for commercial airlines, began their unfair labor practice strike September 24 after rejecting a tentative agreement that retained mandatory overtime provisions. Workers on the picket line identified the provision, which they called “mando,” as a principal reason for voting down the earlier proposal.

One week after walking out, they ratified an agreement removing the requirement.

The ULP strike had started on Thursday, September 24. Just one week later, the company caved and quickly yielded to the demands of the membership.

Mario Hernandez, business agent and bargaining committee member for Safran Teamsters, stated, “We fought the company with everything we had and we came out victorious. That goes to show you that with a little unity anything can happen.”

#GainesvilleTX #TX #Labor #Strike #Teamsters #IBT767

Joliet, IL – Dozens of nurses and their supporters rallied in the pouring rain September 30 to call attention to Prime Healthcare’s closing of the Obstetrics and Special Care Nursery departments at Saint Joseph Hospital in Joliet, Illinois. Prime Healthcare is a nationwide “for-profit” corporation that is known for eliminating services that are not making enough money. These cuts affect working-class poor people the most.

Since acquiring Saint Joseph in March 2025, Prime has closed the inpatient pediatric unit, closed a 30-bed acute care for the elderly unit for a year, closed the post-surgical unit and is seeking to permanently close pediatric inpatient services.

According to 35-year Saint Joseph Hospital Registered Nurse Kim Craig, the matter is made worse, “because as doctors retired, they never replaced them.” Saint Joseph Hospital is licensed to 489 beds, but according to the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) they operate at 195 to 225 beds per day because of Prime Healthcare cuts.

But a core of registered nurses, members of the INA, are not taking it. On Wednesday, September 30, they rallied with community members calling for Prime Healthcare to not leave the 153,000 residents of the fourth-largest city in Illinois without critically needed healthcare.

“This is the last day for our unit to be open, we are officially closed as of tomorrow morning,” said Kim Craig, who works in the Special Care Nursery, “It’s horrible; half of our staff has not been placed. But the biggest part is, what are we going to do with all our moms and babies now? There is nobody in the Joliet area.” Prime Healthcare is making major cuts to the only hospital in Joliet.

Warehouses moved into Joliet, staffed by non-union subcontractors for Walmart, Amazon and other corporate giants. 4000 union employees at U.S. Steel and the 7000 union Caterpillar workers have lost their jobs, as both of those plants closed. Joliet Township Supervisor Cesar Guerrero talked about the union spirit in Joliet which lives on inside this core of INA leaders, who are fighting to preserve decent jobs, but also fighting for access to healthcare for Joliet.

The rally also heard from former INA staffer Michelle Couturier who was involved in organizing the INA strike against Saint Joseph Hospital in the early 1990s. This strike led to INA’s first contract with Saint Joseph Hospital. Couturier talked about the militant tactics and innovative strategies that the mostly women nurses used to win the contract.

The day before the rally, INA showed up at the hospital to bargain the effects of the most recent cuts. Even though Prime is legally required to bargain, they instead called the police on the union. Fortunately, the police that showed up did not make arrests and told Prime to work it out with the union.

“This community and our patients deserve a hospital within Joliet to serve Joliet. The mothers and babies of Joliet deserve to be able to deliver in a place that is safe, close to home and easily accessible,” concluded Christina Vanoskey, a Labor and Delivery Unit registered nurse.

#JolietIL #IL #Labor #INA #Nurses #SaintJosephHospital #Feature

Gainesville, TX – More than 350 workers at Safran Seats began an unfair labor practice strike on September 24, after their rejection of a tentative agreement for a next contract, which contained mandatory overtime provisions. The workers manufacture airplane seats for commercial airlines and are represented by Teamsters Local 767.

On September 18, the union members voted down the proposed tentative agreement. Local 767 bargaining committee members returned to the table, making it clear that an agreement retaining mandatory overtime provisions would be rejected, but Safran refused to offer a revised agreement removing the provision.

According to Local 767, Safran called on Friday, September 25, to arrange a meeting with the bargaining committee that morning. Committee members arrived at the agreed location, but company representatives did not appear. Several hours after the scheduled start, the company called to cancel. The Teamsters then filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board on September 24 alleging surveillance, coercive statements, and bad-faith bargaining by Safran.

Workers on the picket line repeatedly cited mandatory overtime, which they called “mando,” as the principal reason for rejecting the proposed tentative agreement. Many of the members on strike expressed that they were glad to have voted it down, pointing out that there are enough people who volunteer to work overtime so it didn’t need to be in the contract, and that they stand on their feet for ten-hour shifts, which is already hard or impossible for some workers to do. They also pointed out that during the companies 90-day probationary period, workers are not allowed to work overtime, and with this contract language, they too would be required to work overtime despite lack of full training.

The workers’ demand is straightforward: overtime should be voluntary. By rejecting the agreement and taking their fight to the picket line, Safran Teamsters are demanding a say over how much of their lives the company can claim.

#GainsvilleTX #DallasTX #TX #Labor #Strike #UnfairLaborPractice #Teamsters #Teamsters767 #SafranSeats

Los Angeles, CA – On Sunday, September 20, a group of 30 rank-and-file members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) union met at Magic Johnson Park in South LA. The Teamsters work for Republic Services and met to discuss strike preparedness for their upcoming contract expiration.

On September 30, the union contracts of roughly 3000 Teamsters Local 396 sanitation employees across different companies and yards will expire. These Teamsters haul waste across a large geography of cities in LA County, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Over the past year, the workers have participated in organizing boot camps to give people the training to organize and prepare to strike; shop floor Teamster Thursday union huddles to build unity at work; and Sunday morning meetings at the park to prepare for contract negotiations and the possibility of going on strike. At this last Sunday park meeting, the rank and file discussed the importance of remaining united and in solidarity.

Shop steward and negotiation committee member Marcus Ford stated, “I thought the meeting went well and I’m feeling good about where we at. The rank-and-file members are solid and are ready to keep pushing forward and fighting for change!”

Members were angered after finding out the company intentionally allowed two weeks to go by with no negotiation sessions scheduled. Instead, they chose the final few days before the old contract expires, with much of the new contract still not negotiated. Rank-and-file member Sammy Carrera said, “We understand very well that the company is hoping to use this as a tactic and strategy against us. They hope to pressure us into the first offer thrown at us, but they are very mistaken. The members are activated and ready to mobilize. If the company doesn’t pay up, the trash will pile up!”

In July 2025, over 400 Teamsters at Republic Services in Boston were on strike for 82 days. Trash piled up all around Boston for nearly three months until the company finally gave in to the workers’ demands, including a 46% pay increase over the five-year contract. There has been lots of talk about how the company, in the case of a strike, has already begun making preparations for bringing in the Blue Crew. The Blue Crew is a group of Republic Services’ professional scabs who are ready to fly around the country to act as strikebreakers. They are brought in from out of town or sometimes out of state.

The members have been very clear with the company regarding an expired contract; no contract extension will be given, and members will only continue to work beyond the contract expiration date if negotiations continue in good faith. As of now, it is not looking too promising.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Teamsters #Labor #Teamsters396 #RepublicServices #Strike #Feature

Carrollton, TX – Workers at two DHL delivery service providers operating out of the same facility won unanimous union victories. The new union workers joined the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The vote followed a campaign marked by aggressive union busting and retaliation against worker leaders by management.

First, workers at Cartage Services voted unanimously for the union on September 15. One day later, September 16, DrivenForce workers also voted unanimously to join the union. Both contractors operate as third party delivery service providers that DHL subcontracts delivery services to. The victories came after weeks of organizing and a joint march on management on August 25, when workers from both companies demanded union recognition.

Cartage and DrivenForce are separate DHL delivery service providers, but their workers operate out of the same facility and are part of the same broader delivery operation. Rather than allowing the separate contractors to divide them, workers organized around their shared concerns and built support for union recognition at both companies. On August 25, workers from Cartage and DrivenForce marched on management together to make their demand for recognition directly.

After the workers demanded recognition of their union, management quickly responded with an aggressive union-busting campaign. Some worker leaders were fired, while others were placed on probation soon after the march. The workers facing terminations or disciplines were workers who had taken leading roles in the organizing campaign. Despite this, the workers continued organizing, talking with coworkers and preparing for their elections.

On September 15, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held a union election for the Cartage workers. The result was unanimous. Every vote was in favor of union representation. The election win came despite the retaliation workers had faced during the campaign and demonstrated the depth of support and militancy of the organizing drive.

The next day, September 16, DrivenForce workers held their election. They also voted unanimously for the union.

These two DHL delivery service providers are the second and third such companies in the DHL delivery network to vote to join the Teamsters union, demonstrating that DHL and its union-busting program can be beat.

#CarrolltonTX #TX #Labor #DHL #Teamsters #CartageServices #DrivenForce

New York City, NY – The Alliance of Substitutes and Paraprofessionals (ASAP), a new group of militants within the NYC United Federation of Teachers, held a “Para RESPECT Check Town Hall” over Zoom on Wednesday, September 16.

The meeting was held to hear the voices of paras, the most underpaid education workers in the city, on the new “RESPECT Check” legislation which recently became law and which led to a controversial lawsuit against NYC City Council by Mayor Mamdani’s office.

The UFT successfully lobbied city council members for two years to win paras a $10,000 bonus check, which every city council member voted in support of. When the bill reached Mayor Mamdani’s desk, he decided to sue, because he believes it violates state law on collective bargaining. If Mamdani’s lawsuit succeeds, paras will not get the $10,000 check.

According to New York’s “Taylor Law”, all increases in wages for public sector workers must be won through the collective bargaining process, instead of through local politics. However, the UFT says that it wrote the language of the bill to avoid this problem. Meanwhile, paras wait in limbo to see whether or not they will receive the check.

Among rank-and-file organizers within the UFT, there wasn’t an immediate consensus on how to move forward. Some wanted to fight Mamdani’s lawsuit, others wanted to leave it and put more effort into rank and file organizing around a 2027 contract campaign.

The ASAP organizers recognized the heated nature of the moment and called for the town hall to hear the voices of paraprofessionals, those directly affected, on which direction to go next.

Over 50 educators joined the call, the vast majority being paras. Paras shared their thoughts and feelings on the RESPECT Check and other issues. Many voiced militant ideas about fighting for better pay and better working conditions.

Of the 14 different paras who spoke up at the town hall, nine supported the check and wanted to fight to retain it, while two did not. Three thought some other course of action should be taken.

Shamina Popy, one para on the call, said, “For me, the check is about more than just the money. It’s about recognizing the hard work paraprofessionals like me do every day for our students and our schools. We give so much of ourselves to support our students, and we deserve to have that work valued. The town hall was important because it brought us together and reminded us that we have a strong voice when we stand together. I believe we need to keep fighting for the check and continue making our voices heard.”

#NYC #NewYorkCity #TownHall #UnitedFederationofTeachers #Labor

Salt Lake City, UT – On Labor Day, September 7, dozens of community members gathered at the Utah Worker’s Center for a labor organizing and community activism discussion and a film screening. Attendees heard firsthand reports from the frontlines of the people’s movements in Salt Lake City.

Bryn Dayton, a rank-and-file Teamster and UPS worker, recounted difficult working conditions in warehouses amid automation and other challenges, and stressed the need for UPS workers in Utah to join the union and become involved.

Alondra Marquez, a campus worker and secretary of Communication Workers of America Local 7765, advocated getting organized and building the labor movement in Utah.

Local community organizers also invited attendees to get involved. Amber Grace of the Utah Anti-War Committee called out Trump’s war on Iran, pointing out that the aggression had led to heightened gas and grocery prices for working people.

“I think it's important to highlight the ways in which the labor struggle is intrinsically connected to the anti-imperialist struggle against wars which are currently terrorizing working people abroad while simultaneously making everyday needs like gas and groceries unaffordable at home,” said Grace.

Nova Morra of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization stressed the need to connect the many attacks that the American government directs at countries abroad and against its own people, encouraging attendees to get involved in activism.

“Back in 2010, our organization was raided by the FBI for fighting back and standing up to bad government policies and their wars,” said Morra. “Today, I want you to join and continue that same fight with me!”

After the discussion, organizers dimmed the lights for a screening of Salt of The Earth (1954), a film recounting the real-life struggle of Mexican American miners in the 1951 Empire Zinc Company Strike. After a long and difficult strike, the workers prevailed; their consistent resolve and strong unity won a decent contract.

The event was organized by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, CWA-7765, and the Utah Anti-War Committee.

#SaltLakeCityUT #UT #Labor #FRSO #UAWC #CWA