Thousands of workers all over the US are walking out to show their support for the Strike For Black Lives. Read more about the background here.
From the Washington Post:
Tens of thousands of workers nationwide have or are planning to walk off the job Monday in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, hoping to draw closer scrutiny to the income inequality and systemic racism that organizers say have become more entrenched during the pandemic.
The “Strike for Black Lives,” as leaders have dubbed the campaign in more than two dozen cities, includes workers from a broad range of industries. Service Employees International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, American Federation of Teachers and members of dozens of other labor and political groups plan to take part.
Participants are pushing for “an unequivocal declaration that Black Lives Matter” from business and political leaders; action from government officials to “reimagine our economy and democracy” with civil rights in mind; businesses to “dismantle racism, white supremacy, and economic exploitation”; and access to union organizing, according to a list of demands posted on the strike’s website…
…In New York, Antoine Andrews, a UPS driver in Long Island City and member of the Teamsters Local 804, helped lead more than 100 employees in a demonstration in front of their workplace early Monday morning. Andrews and co-workers did not strike, but wanted to express solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and send a message to their employer to take issues of inequality seriously. more
In Durham North Carolina:
From the Florida Poor People’s Campaign:
“One of the things we have to understand about a capitalistic system that began with slavery, is what the ultimate goal always is, and that’s to get wages as close to zero as possible, because the nation’s wealth was built on paying nothing.” @RevDrBarber
Across the country, essential workers are on strike for Black lives
Racial injustice and Covid-19 have collided for many essential workers. Today they’re on strike.
Fast food workers like Edie will be joined by an enormous swath of the workforce: other low-wage workers like airport employees, ride-hail drivers, nursing home caregivers, and domestic workers alongside middle-class teachers and nurses and even high-paid Google engineers. Those who can’t strike the whole day will walk off the job for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a white police officer kept his knee on Black Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s neck before he died.
It’s a massive action that will bring together major unions as well as grassroots organizers. The Service Employees International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and American Federation of Teachers will join forces with the Fight for 15, United Farm Workers, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Social justice organizations, such as the Movement for Black Lives, Poor People’s Campaign, and youth climate organizers will also participate. It represents a unique partnership: Labor unions don’t always act in concert, let alone partner with grassroots and social justice groups. more
Detroit: “[Corporations] talk about Black Lives Matter but they’re not standing with us. They’re not on the frontlines with us.”
