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UAW preparing the US for a general strike in 2028
(www.404media.co)
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this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2023
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... is this satire? Why the fuck would you give four years of warning for managers to document "a slow accumulation of poor performance" and other bullshit to shit can pro-union employees. A large strike takes coordination, but four years is ridiculous.
4 years seems reasonable to me. It takes most organizations six months to do literally anything outside the status quo. A general strike is an attempt to organize a coalition of federations of organizations.
This is the reality of striking. The threat and build up to the strike are just as important as the actual strike, because it's about more than just not going to work; it involves complex and wide-ranging logistical question, from how to support the strikers (otherwise corps can just wait you out) to how to decide on a single list of demands.
The very real threats you describe are what make outspoken union advocates awesome and brave people that we should all look up to, and it's why we all have a responsibility to express solidarity and never cross a picket line. Together we bargain; alone we beg!
The reasoning you described can be summed up very simply: UAW doesn't want to strike, they want changes. And they hope the threat alone is enough to get them.
Even better, if others join in, gives time to save money and get resources lined up for supporters.
Nah I think it's a good move. Gives unions time to decide on demands and get big enough to really scare those in power.
I know you seemed to have gotten the gist for why it's been announced so far out, but there's some other things at play here.
I am not brash enough to assert any prediction, but such an event as you describe would be momentus, of coordinating protection and distribution on so massive a scale, completely alternative to the systems of the establishment. A successful demonstration of such kind would be transformative in our culture, producing an unprecedented expansion of collectively perceived horizons of possibility for the future.
Absolutely! A strike that large could result in a syndicalist revolution. Laying the groundwork to support that many people in a socialist framework would be an incredible feat, comparable to the Paris commune within that historical context
Solidarity and action requires communication. There's NO way to coordinate that type of collective action and keep it secret.
Much better to say it loud and often to build support.
Do you know how long union agreements usually last? 3-5 years.
Yeah, they are just letting the companies know that they will be ready for the next round and that they aren't going to accept less than their value like they were in past negotiations.
That makes a lot more sense. Thanks!
Read the article. The UAW has just signed a ~5 year contract, expiring in 2028. He's calling for other unions, between now and then, to align their contract expirations with the UAW's. This is not something that's possible to do in a short period of time, because it relies upon various other union contracts ending, and realistically by the time we get to 2026/2027 no union is going to sign a sub-2 year contract.
It's kind of dumb, I kind of think they're doing it for PR, but it also is a reasonable strategy.
I imagine part of it is to try and take the time to gather as much support as possible, likely to include re-educating ground level bootlicker employees who hate unions and their own self interests.
They need a big war chest otherwise, how can they afford the Jimmy Hoffa lifestyle?
Permanent concrete nap? I think that lifestyle is within your grasp right now.
That’s what happens to perfectly above board not at all mob affiliated union leaders