Marx and, more specifically, Lenin thought communist politicians should do two things (and stressed the necessity of this in party work). Firstly they should use their position in the state to obstruct the bourgeois' war on the international working class. Secondly they should use their platform to agitate the proletariat into action. Regardless of how seemingly infeasible a general strike is, a politician calling for one is actually agitating the proletariat, calling for the proletariat's direct intervention in politics with one of their most potent weapons. Contrast this with any other social-democratic politician who might pay lip service to the labor movement or unions but ultimately desires the proletariat's political activity be constrained to voting while matters are sorted out in the halls of bourgeois power.

[–] batsforpeace@hexbear.net 45 points 4 months ago

ok I pull up

[–] Awoo@hexbear.net 44 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Calling for one is a good step. It's going to get libs talking about it.

Getting it to actually happen is another when you're asking union leaders to go to jail for it. You need radical enough union leaders who are willing to go to jail. Does the US have that yet? I don't think so. It's where the most work needs doing.

If the idea of a general strike can be popularised enough then exposing the union leadership who won't do it would be a good path to getting socialists into leadership.

[–] HamManBad@hexbear.net 29 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Shawn Fain (President of the UAW) has been pushing for every union in the country to try to set their contracts to all expire at the same time in 2028. Calling for a general strike is illegal, but every union striking on their own at the same time isn't. Not like that matters if it becomes a real threat, but it's good to see people in leadership positions organizing for real leverage

[–] GrouchyGrouse@hexbear.net 14 points 4 months ago

With the timeframe they could actually pull it off and all that Airbud “the rules say” stuff that passes liberal sniff tests is actually a brilliant way to plan it openly and with enough years to actually build it and make it happen. I know they’ve been talking about this for a year or two now. We have 26 months still.

[–] NephewAlphaBravo@hexbear.net 37 points 4 months ago

let's go brandon

[–] SevenSkalls@hexbear.net 31 points 4 months ago

Hell ya, this is what we've been talking about.

[–] FlakesBongler@hexbear.net 27 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Is this gonna be a Michael Scott "I declare bankruptcy!" moment?

[–] invalidusernamelol@hexbear.net 20 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If the mayor could somehow force companies to pay employees during the strike under threat of violence, you could do it tomorrow. Will that happen? No. Is this mayor clout chasing for a presidential bid? Yes.

[–] JoeByeThen@hexbear.net 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, totally. But, it's a big dump of fuel on the fire at least. It'd be hilarious if Dems accidentally triangulate themselves into educating the masses of non-electoral options.

[–] invalidusernamelol@hexbear.net 13 points 4 months ago

It seems to be going that way as the party continues to flounder. When they start actually following public sentiment, they'll get revolutionary really fast. The septugenarians in control have gutted the base of the party so much that in some places there's no party discipline anymore.

Not to be entryist, but there is a massive "we don't know what the fuck to do" sentiment in the local parties and all it takes is a couple people with the ability to get the masses mobilized for them to just say "fuck it we'll let you talk". These opportunities will be scuttled as they can capture that sentiment though. Same as always.

[–] robot_dog_with_gun@hexbear.net 24 points 4 months ago (1 children)

is there prep behind that? i know some of the big unions were trying to sync up contract renewals for 2028

[–] ufcwthrowaway@hexbear.net 4 points 4 months ago

He's former CTU (AFT's Chicago local) leadership, so they're almost certainly on board. IME where teachers go, healthcare follows, so I'd expect SEIU or the INU to follow at least. The radical unions follow after that, idt theres a strong ILWU or IUPAT presence in Chicago but I'd expect UE and the IWW to come on board.

The question is if those 5 unions are enough to pull the rest of the Chicago working class into action.

[–] FettermansFinalStroke@hexbear.net 24 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

This is something the PSL is starting to push. There was a webinar yesterday talking about the idea and across the country you saw identical signs and banners reading “Defend Democracy: It’s time for a general strike.”

[–] DogThatWentGorp@hexbear.net 18 points 4 months ago

soypoint-1

[–] AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml 13 points 4 months ago

Just a friendly reminder: Don't sign up at any website that asks for your name or says that you need a "strike card" to join a general strike

[–] 10TH_OF_SEPTEMBER_CALL@hexbear.net 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

https://generalstrikeus.com/

Spread the word

[–] stink@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Still repeating the 3.5% number

[–] 10TH_OF_SEPTEMBER_CALL@hexbear.net 6 points 4 months ago

yeah they set their aim so low.

What about 80%

[–] Ram_The_Manparts@hexbear.net 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This honestly looks like a possible scam

[–] 10TH_OF_SEPTEMBER_CALL@hexbear.net 2 points 4 months ago

it's always possible that its honeypot. Exercise your best judment

[–] CrookedSerpent@hexbear.net 10 points 4 months ago

Very cool!

[–] AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago

Fuck yes! This is what I've been waiting for. To see it from a mayor of a major US city is extremely heartening

[–] ufcwthrowaway@hexbear.net 7 points 4 months ago

Same guy who ordered the Chicago police to arrest and charge ICE officers with false imprisonment and banned them from public property.

His approval rating was tanking after he tried to do a concensus process for the Chicago city budget (can you fucking imagine the Alderman coming to concensus on anything? Lol) and failing to meet his campaign promises on housing.

Trump invading Chicago is basically the biggest gift he could have asked for in terms of staying in power.