the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Jun 26, 2023
Here are some strikes that are currently going on in the U.S. These strikes may remain isolated today. But others could join them.
Spirit Aerosystems workers, members of IAM Local 839, went on strike Saturday, June 24. They build 70 percent of the fuselages for the Boeing 737.
Many of the 6000 members gathered in a Wichita arena on June 21 to vote on the company’s contract proposal. Workers made paper airplanes from the proposal and sailed them all around the place. The NO vote was 79 percent. Then 85 percent voted to strike. “It was very loud, my ears were still ringing, they’re ringing today from it. It was just awesome,” said a worker.
Wages and healthcare are the biggest issues. Regarding the company’s health plan, a worker said, “You can put feathers on a dog, but that doesn’t make it a chicken. They can do a lot better.”
Nurses and clinicians of AFT Local 5905 struck three Providence Health locations in Portland, Oregon, starting on June 19. The 1,800 workers demand a livable wage, and most urgently an end to punishing work overloads that create unsafe conditions for patients and caregivers alike. The strike was scheduled to last for 5 days as a trial run, to see if they get Providence’s attention.
The 200 members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 390G went out on strike at International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) in Memphis, Tennessee, June 4.
The workers produce soy protein used by companies such as Nestle, Kellogg, and Abbott, some of the wealthiest food corporations. But the IFF management demands that workers give up overtime pay for certain hours, accept reduced health benefits, and allow the company to reduce healthcare coverage even more at any time during the contract.
On May 2, the 16,000 writers for entertainment shows of networks, streaming services, and movies went on strike for a living wage, and for better compensation when their work is used over and over in re-runs of shows.
Their strike is in its seventh week, against the powerful association of networks and show producers. The strikers’ website including writers’ stories is wgacontract2023.org.