This podcast covers the fight by college students against genocide in Palestine, linking it to labor struggles and solidarity. They discuss fascist crackdowns on dissent, union busting at PEN America, and victories at UAW. The hosts also celebrate the new Pharmacy Guild at CVS and share updates on worker empowerment and organized labor movements.
Solidarity is crucial in fighting against oppressive systems and defending rights.
Union busting tactics like slow negotiations hinder workers' rights and progress.
Organizational credibility can be undermined by inaction on critical human rights issues.
Deep dives
Slow bargaining and low wages at Pen America
Pen America workers have been bargaining for over 18 months and have only completed TAs on 6 of 25 proposals. Management's wage floor proposal of $48,500 for workers in NYC is considered insultingly low compared to similar organizations.
Union busting tactics and lack of meetings for bargaining
Pen America hired a union buster and scheduled sporadic bargaining meetings once every few months, often for only an hour. Meetings were also not scheduled during work hours, hindering progress in negotiations.
PR issues due to inaction on Palestine
Pen America has faced criticism for not taking material action on issues in Palestine, despite their focus on free expression and human rights. While making statements critical of violence, they refuse to act on divestment and sanctions, contradicting past actions supporting boycotts of other countries.
Pen America's slow response and failure to act appropriately
Pen America's slow response to bargaining and their low wage proposals, along with their controversial inaction on Palestine issues, have raised concerns about their commitment to workers' rights and human rights principles. Their reluctance to engage in meaningful actions has led to criticism and questions about their credibility.
Criticism of Pen America's Lack of Support for Palestinian Writers
Pen America faced significant criticism and controversy after nine out of ten writers considered for the Jean Stein award withdrew from consideration due to pens inadequate support for Palestinian writers. Numerous other writers also withdrew their nominations, leading to the cancellation of the literary award ceremony. The organization's staff had been urging a change in position on Palestine for months, with demands for immediate action on endorsing a ceasefire, highlighting divisions and ethical concerns within the organization.
UAW Making Strides in Unionization Efforts
The UAW made significant progress in its unionization efforts, marked by a historic victory at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant, becoming the first auto plant unionized in the South in 80 years. Results of the union election victory prompted negotiations for a first contract between UAW and Volkswagen, demonstrating a shift in power dynamics. The landslide victory in Chattanooga sent shockwaves across the South, prompting Mercedes US CEO's resignation ahead of an impending union vote at the Tuscaloosa plant, showcasing a growing momentum in workers' rights advocacy.
We continue our host shuffle this week as Dan is back, but John is away. We do run through a bunch of headlines but our focus this week is on a few stories. The biggest story in the country, the fight by college students against the genocide waged by our government in Palestine, is also a labor story. The attack on these students is an assault on any concept of rights but also on the labor movement, because ultimately solidarity is both our greatest weapon and the ruling class's greatest fear. We discuss the fascist crackdown on dissent across the country and the ways workers are fighting back. Also this week, we discuss a new piece by Alex Press at Jacobin on the union busting at PEN America, where bosses have been slow rolling contract negotiations for over a year and a half. The UAW continues to make huge gains, with nearly 4000 workers at Penn finally winning a grad student union, and another potentially historic vote upcoming next week at Mercedes in Alabama. Finally, we close out celebrating the first win of many by the new Pharmacy Guild at CVS.
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Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee
More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/
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