Labor Organizing in History & Building Blocks for a General Strike

Guest: Fred Glass is a labor Scholar. He’s also the former communications director for the California Federation of Teachers and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).  He is the author of the book From Mission to Microchip: A History of the California Labor Movement. He also the director of the film We Mean to Make Things Over: A History of May Day which is a half-hour documentary video. 

Event

On Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 5-7pm there will be  Art, documentary video, and labor politics featured at a reception at the UC Berkeley Labor Center (2521 Channing Way Berkeley CA).   As labor organizing is on the rise and the Trump administration threatens to dismantle federal oversight of labor rights, this event about the history and current relevance of International Workers’ Day—May Day—is extremely timely.

Film screening

The 30-minute award-winning documentary film “We Mean to Make Things Over” explores how May Day became a workers’ holiday across the world, except in the USA—even though the tragic events inspiring May Day occurred here. Filmmaker Fred Glass will introduce the film.

Art exhibit

Powerful scratchboard drawings depicting struggles for labor and immigrant rights in the late 19th century and today are on display at the Labor Center. Bay Area artist Jos Sances, who produced the illustrations for the documentary, will join us.

Discussion of May 1, 2028, general strike

UAW President Shawn Fain is calling for unions of all industries to line up their contracts for expiration—and a general strike—on May Day 2028. UAW Local 4811 leader Tanzil Chowdhury will lead a post-film discussion of this potentially historic May Day event.

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