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
Jan 1, 2024
Here are some strikes that are currently going on in the U.S. These strikes may remain isolated and separated today. But others could join them. New strikes arise almost every week.
On December 22, 500 grocery workers in five stores in central Minnesota went on strike over staffing issues, low pay, and refusal to bargain. UFCW Local 663 picketed Super One Foods and Cub Foods in Pequot Lakes, Baxter, Crosby, and Brainerd.
Among the strikers are long-term workers. One with 39 years seniority was interviewed: "It’s a shame to put this much time and effort into a company and not be appreciated." The company has used surveillance and intimidation and rejected workers’ requests to continue bargaining on a new contract.
The union spirit is demonstrated by the mother of one worker. The worker is too sick to picket, so his mother came to take his place on line and let him talk to his fellow strikers by video!
Strikers called this limited 4-day strike at Christmas as a “last resort” to try to get the company off of Square One. A senior worker said, "This is for the next generation. Everyone deserves a good job for their life."
Prime Healthcare company owns 44 hospitals in 14 states. Two hundred nurses at two hospitals in Philadelphia suburbs, and 1800 nurses and techs at four California hospitals, called a five-day strike against Prime through Christmas Day, trying to get a livable contract. Nurses say they are far understaffed, and no new nurses will take a job under these conditions. "We are exhausted, overwhelmed, and struggling."
Strikers point out that they work for a health care company but can’t get their own health care! "There’s been plenty of nurses that have been denied certain forms of care, being told where they have to go see this doctor or that doctor," one said. "Myself, I just recently had a baby. During my pregnancy, it was a battle to get certain care."
The new contract offer on pay is also intolerable. "We were heroes a couple years ago and now there’s this 1% increase or 2% increase — that’s just not appropriate for what we do, and everybody out here feels the same way for sure."