Category Archives: Issues & Struggles

Hundreds of Thousands Vote Against Gaza War in Democratic Primaries: A First Step Toward Breaking with Pro-War, Capitalist Parties?

by Jacob BielskiSpringfield, MA In protest of the Biden Administration’s support for the Israeli state’s invasion, bombardment, and starvation of Gaza, 101,067 voters cast “uncommitted” ballots in the Michigan Democratic Primary on February 27th.  The campaign sparked a grassroots movement on Super Tuesday when 16 states and the US territory of American Samoa held theirContinue reading “Hundreds of Thousands Vote Against Gaza War in Democratic Primaries: A First Step Toward Breaking with Pro-War, Capitalist Parties?”

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024: Solidarity with Gaza and all victims of war!  

The potential power of working-class women in the US is huge. In the last 10 years we have seen mass demonstrations against Donald Trump, in defense of women’s and abortion rights, and opposing violence against women. Working-class women are playing major roles in recent strikes and unionization battles in the education, healthcare, service, entertainment, andContinue reading “INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024: Solidarity with Gaza and all victims of war!  “

 2024 Elections: Any Way Out of Two Evils?

by Peggy WangMassachusetts Teachers Association (personal capacity)Boston, MA American workers face a rotten “choice” this November in the presidential elections. The majority of voters don’t want either a Trump or Biden presidency. Biden, Trump, and their corporate parties don’t represent a real choice for working-class people.  Biden faithfully supports imperialist policies like sending billions ofContinue reading ” 2024 Elections: Any Way Out of Two Evils?”

Nebraskan Independent’s Senate Race Shows Working Class Politics Can Win

by Allison ABoston MA Independent challenger Dan Osborn leads by 2 points in the 2024 US Senate election in Nebraska against two-term Republican incumbent Deb Fischer. Osborn has been working in a Kellogg’s factory in Omaha for 20 years. He is currently the president of Local 50G of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and GrainContinue reading “Nebraskan Independent’s Senate Race Shows Working Class Politics Can Win”

Unionizing Portland, Maine’s Coffee By Design

An interview with Lauren G., a barista at Coffee by Design.by ISG Maine Branch What sparked interest in unionizing?  We were facing a huge amount of turnover and understaffing. Some resulted from poor planning because a good chunk of employees were leaving to go to college, and, at the same time, long-time workers decided theyContinue reading “Unionizing Portland, Maine’s Coffee By Design”

A BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT?

by Jeff BoothBoston, MAAFSCME Local 3650 (personal capacity) Four high-profile, important union struggles ended recently. Wages, benefits, and working conditions were improved for hundreds of thousands of workers from the contract campaign at UPS, the UAW strike against all the “Big 3” auto companies, the largest healthcare workers strike in US history led by SEIU-UHWContinue reading “A BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT?”

UAW Workers’ Strike Wins a Stronger Deal—Missed Opportunity for More

“Though the final contracts are significant improvements compared to past concessionary contracts, there are still important unresolved demands and issues. Wage increases aren’t enough to make up for pay losses due to inflation and give-backs during the Great Recession. Pensions, retiree healthcare, and other benefits and protections are not restored for all workers. All EV production jobs still don’t automatically fall under the national agreements. And the contracts accept the closure of many facilities and subsequent job losses. The UAW could have fought for more, especially considering only a third of their Big 3 members were called out on strike. General support for unions is the strongest it’s been in 60 years, and there was overwhelming public support (by a 4-1 margin) for the strike.”

UAW Workers Can Win More!

Picket line at the Stellantis Mopar site in Mansfield, MA where 46 UAW members were on strike for 6 weeks in September and October. The site is at risk of closure, with the company planning to consolidate it with a facility in Fishkill, NY, where workers would be offered positions or have to forfeit theirContinue reading “UAW Workers Can Win More!”

Vote for Publicly-Owned Energy in Maine! 

by Maine Branch, Independent Socialist Group On November 7th, Maine voters will be asked, “Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?” The Independent Socialist Group supports the Pine Tree Power ballot question, and calls forContinue reading “Vote for Publicly-Owned Energy in Maine! “