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A wave of labour organizing is sweeping America. Will Democratic leadership catch on? A wave of labour organizing is sweeping America. Will Democratic leadership catch on?
(about 11 hours later)
Workers are fed up. From teachers and hotel workers to nurses and auto workers, about three dozen labor strikes since 2018 have made the nation’s headlines. Over the weekend, a youth-led climate strike spanned the globe and a walkout of General Motors workers entered its second week. For the past several weeks, thousands of medical practitioners at Kaiser Permanente have been preparing for a national strike against the health care company in October. Workers are fed up. From teachers and hotel workers to nurses and auto workers, about three dozen labor strikes since 2018 have made the nation’s headlines. Over the weekend, a youth-led climate strike spanned the globe and a walkout of General Motors workers entered its second week. For the past several weeks, thousands of medical practitioners at Kaiser Permanente have been preparing for a national strike against the healthcare company in October.
This groundswell of labor activism has intersected with a number of progressive issues debated among Democratic party presidential candidates, including the urgency of climate change, exploitation of undocumented immigrants, Medicare for All, and concentrated wealth amassed by corporate profiteers, often at the expense of everyday workers.This groundswell of labor activism has intersected with a number of progressive issues debated among Democratic party presidential candidates, including the urgency of climate change, exploitation of undocumented immigrants, Medicare for All, and concentrated wealth amassed by corporate profiteers, often at the expense of everyday workers.
The signs indicate American workers are moving left. The question is: Will the national Democratic party leadership move with them? The signs indicate American workers are moving left. The question is: will the national Democratic party leadership move with them?
Frequently, strikes and other forms of labor organizing transcend the specific demands of a company’s employees – they raise questions about corporate malfeasance more broadly and make workers more attuned to the systems that enable inequality. The Fight for $15 campaign, for instance, started in 2012 with New York City fast food workers demanding $15 an hour and union rights. The campaign now fights for “underpaid workers everywhere”, according to the group’s website, and has spread to over 300 cities on six continents. Frequently, strikes and other forms of labor organizing transcend the specific demands of a company’s employees – they raise questions about corporate malfeasance more broadly and make workers more attuned to the systems that enable inequality. The Fight for $15 campaign, for instance, started in 2012 with New York City fast-food workers demanding $15 an hour and union rights. The campaign now fights for “underpaid workers everywhere”, according to the group’s website, and has spread to more than 300 cities on six continents.
Likewise, Amazon workers formed Amazon Employees for Climate Justice and nearly 2,000 participated in the recent climate strike to protest the company’s role in climate change. Workers in its Whole Foods division have pushed back against the company’s contract with Palantir, a big data company that has helped Ice raid workplaces for undocumented immigrants. Likewise, Amazon workers formed Amazon Employees for Climate Justice and nearly 2,000 participated in the recent climate strike to protest against the company’s role in climate change. Workers in its Whole Foods division have pushed back against the company’s contract with Palantir, a big data company that has helped Ice raid workplaces for undocumented immigrants.
Instead of championing this progressive wave, House leaders, Democratic leaders seem to be taking steps to undermine itInstead of championing this progressive wave, House leaders, Democratic leaders seem to be taking steps to undermine it
On Wednesday, in Detroit, Senator Bernie Sanders joined United Auto Workers members participating in the General Motors strike and addressed corporate greed beyond GM executives. Peppering his remarks were supportive shouts and applause from the audience when he mentioned justice, inadequate healthcare, the practice of corporate offshoring, and the fatigue of Americans around the country who work multiple jobs. Strikers joined him in shouting “enough is enough”. On Wednesday, in Detroit, Senator Bernie Sanders joined United Auto Workers members participating in the General Motors strike and addressed corporate greed beyond GM executives. Peppering his remarks were supportive shouts and applause from the audience when he mentioned justice, inadequate healthcare, the practice of corporate offshoring and the fatigue of Americans around the country who work multiple jobs. Strikers joined him in shouting “enough is enough”.
Despite this growing progressive fervor, the Democrats’ congressional leadership – including Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer – have focused almost entirely on targeting Donald Trump, reaching a zenith with Pelosi’s announcement to launch an impeachment inquiry into his interactions with Ukraine. Outside of this singular focus, where is the Democrats’ vision? What policies are they advocating to show that they, too, stand with the thousands of workers enduring economic stagnation and a weakened social safety net as corporate profits soar?Despite this growing progressive fervor, the Democrats’ congressional leadership – including Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer – have focused almost entirely on targeting Donald Trump, reaching a zenith with Pelosi’s announcement to launch an impeachment inquiry into his interactions with Ukraine. Outside of this singular focus, where is the Democrats’ vision? What policies are they advocating to show that they, too, stand with the thousands of workers enduring economic stagnation and a weakened social safety net as corporate profits soar?
Unfortunately, instead of championing this progressive wave, House leaders, Democratic leaders seem to be taking steps to undermine it. In September, the Los Angeles Times reported that political consultants were warned that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee would boycott their services if they worked with progressive senatorial candidates in Colorado and Maine.Unfortunately, instead of championing this progressive wave, House leaders, Democratic leaders seem to be taking steps to undermine it. In September, the Los Angeles Times reported that political consultants were warned that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee would boycott their services if they worked with progressive senatorial candidates in Colorado and Maine.
The likely justification Democratic leaders will fall back on is that they are catering to the center to win competitive swing districts and thus the Senate. But instead of “Blue No Matter Who”, the approach seems to be more like “Blue, But Not You”. And there is no evidence that it’s a winning a strategy. In a May New York Times interview, Pelosi pressed Democrats to “own the center left, own the mainstream”, and have been backing moderate Senate candidates over progressives, including the pro-fracking John Hickenlooper. In last year’s midterms, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reportedly sent internal memos telling candidates not to fight for gun reform or Medicare for All.The likely justification Democratic leaders will fall back on is that they are catering to the center to win competitive swing districts and thus the Senate. But instead of “Blue No Matter Who”, the approach seems to be more like “Blue, But Not You”. And there is no evidence that it’s a winning a strategy. In a May New York Times interview, Pelosi pressed Democrats to “own the center left, own the mainstream”, and have been backing moderate Senate candidates over progressives, including the pro-fracking John Hickenlooper. In last year’s midterms, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reportedly sent internal memos telling candidates not to fight for gun reform or Medicare for All.
If electability is the concern, why waffle on policies most Americans agree with? The steady support for Bernie Sanders and increasing support for Elizabeth Warren have cut into Joe Biden’s lead in some polls, while the centrist candidates the DSCC is championing have done little to prove that they can actually win.If electability is the concern, why waffle on policies most Americans agree with? The steady support for Bernie Sanders and increasing support for Elizabeth Warren have cut into Joe Biden’s lead in some polls, while the centrist candidates the DSCC is championing have done little to prove that they can actually win.
The 2016 election should have been a sign that there was a growing disconnect between the priorities of the political establishment and the American public. Impeachment proceedings may provide temporary cover, but they do not replace sustainable, visionary leadership. For that, we may have to rely on those emboldened workers who continue to shout across America that “enough is enough”.The 2016 election should have been a sign that there was a growing disconnect between the priorities of the political establishment and the American public. Impeachment proceedings may provide temporary cover, but they do not replace sustainable, visionary leadership. For that, we may have to rely on those emboldened workers who continue to shout across America that “enough is enough”.
Malaika Jabali is a public policy attorney, writer and activist whose writing has appeared in Essence, Jacobin, the Intercept, Glamour and elsewhereMalaika Jabali is a public policy attorney, writer and activist whose writing has appeared in Essence, Jacobin, the Intercept, Glamour and elsewhere
Malaika Jabali is a public policy attorney, writer and activist whose writing has appeared in Essence, Jacobin, the Intercept, Glamour and elsewhereMalaika Jabali is a public policy attorney, writer and activist whose writing has appeared in Essence, Jacobin, the Intercept, Glamour and elsewhere
US politicsUS politics
OpinionOpinion
US unionsUS unions
DemocratsDemocrats
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