Click here to download this article as a printable PDF flyer.
Attacks on workers providing vital
public services are everywhere. In California, a bill being
considered right now would reduce teacher pensions by changing
current formulas. Many states have legislation to end or gut the
right to bargain for a contract.
In West Virginia, a bill would make it
a criminal offense to enforce a very typical contract clause
requiring people benefiting from the labor contract to pay dues.
In Wisconsin, the state passed a law
ending bargaining rights and making it illegal for union members to
have dues deducted from their pay checks. That right existed for
decades. While an injunction has temporarily halted the terms of the
new law, the governor has already terminated the contract for 20,000
state employees. Right now, they no longer have any contract rights
and the governor can change terms and conditions at his whim.
These outrageous attacks on basic
rights have led hundreds of thousands of union and non-union members
to protest in Wisconsin and around the country, increasing in
intensity and power. On March 12, the largest demonstration in
Wisconsin history took place in Madison.
In Indiana, there is a bill that would
make it a criminal offense for a retired city or county worker to
suggest that current employees should strike when faced with
intolerable job conditions. The penalty would not only be jail, but
the elimination of the retiree’s pension. On March 10, the largest
demonstration in Indiana history occurred when 25,000 people
protested in the capitol. Demonstrations are occurring everywhere
across the country.
What can be done?
While court actions and recall
strategies in Wisconsin show that struggle is possible in many
arenas, what is needed now more than ever are truly mass actions that
harness all of the people’s energy and anger and focuses it in a
way that can make change.
The question facing everyone is how to
create the environment where those in power are forced to act.
It can be done. It has been done in the
past. In Wisconsin, where the struggle is at the highest stage, a
strike by everyone in the public sector, supported by others could
both reveal the importance of public service, as well as the power of
public workers united. It could be for a day to give confidence to
all that it is possible. It could also be done until the horrible
laws are withdrawn.
In other places, unions and community
groups could increase pressure matching what the right-wing and big
business allies are doing. Hundreds of thousands could be called out
to demonstrate. Tens of thousands could surround and stay in the
legislatures forcing elected officials to act in the interests of
workers.
As governors start signing more and
more reactionary laws, nothing could be more important than taking
the fight to the next level—increasing the pressure that will save
services, jobs and lives.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
