Boston Labor Solidarity Committee

05/08/2024

The following address was delivered by FW Steve Kellerman at the May Day rally on the steps across from the Massachusetts state house.

The following address was delivered by FW Steve Kellerman at the May Day rally on the steps across from the Massachusetts state house. Happy May Day Friends and Fellow Workers! May Day is the inter…

02/01/2024

Join the coalition for May Day 2024!
Gathering May 1, 2024, at 5pm at Liberty Mall, on Boston Common at the steps at Beacon St. and Park St., across the street from the State House.
May Day originated in 1886 as part of the struggle for the 8-hour day. On May 1st of that year, hundreds of thousands of workers across the US went on strike demanding shorter working hours and better working conditions. The strike inspired workers worldwide leading up to the establishment of International Workers Day as a world holiday.
For millions today the 8-hour day is a joke! We demand a shorter workweek with no cut in pay! Although, over the past year unions have fought and made advances, unions still represent only a small percentage of the workforce. We must continue to organize the unorganized. It is high time to Repeal Taft-Hartley! The time has come for public ownership of the railroads under democratic control of railroad workers.
As working people, we face attacks on our unions, xenophobia and racism, an unfolding climate catastrophe, denial of abortion rights, an emerging fascist movement, and the growing prospect of nuclear war. To survive, we need to unite in support of working-class programs coupled with international working-class solidarity.
The World Court has demanded no genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Our rulers in the US have provided munitions for the mass slaughter in Gaza and are threatening a regional war. Solidarity with Palestinians! No war for empire!

09/29/2023

Join us on Sunday, Oct 1st at 1:00pm.
Community Church of Boston
565 Boylston Street (Copley Square), Boston

Boston area premiere- a new documentary film that tells the story of one of the greatest union victories of the 21st century.

"It's Union Time, people!" — the rallying cry of workers at the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. Since its opening in 1993, employees of the plant have endured various abuses such as intimidation tactics, low pay, and dangerous working conditions which resulted in bodily injury and, on one occasion, death. Often treated as expendable, the workers came together and engaged in a 16-year-long struggle for the right to unionize and receive safe, fair working conditions — and won.

Sponsored by the Boston Labor Solidarity Committee

08/20/2022

"Tuesday’s Presidential Emergency Board ruling against railroad workers is a declaration of war against the working class by the Biden administration."

The ruling is an object lesson the class character of the state, the Democratic Party and behind them, the pro-corporate trade unions.

06/11/2022

A just transition to a stable climate can only be built with workers' power.

A joint statement initiated by Earth Strike UK, IWW Environmental Committee and the Pan-Hellenic Energy Federation (PEF). Διαβάστε τη δήλωση στα ελληνικά:

02/22/2022

Lyft is funding a ballot initiative in MA to protect themselves from workers' rights.

The rideshare giant Lyft gave a whopping $14.4 million to a committee supporting the ballot effort, most of which came in a single $13 million donation on Dec. 30, newly released records show.

02/15/2022

"We recognised we had the opportunity to take the positives from our Covid experience and create a new working environment that would make a genuine difference to people's wellbeing."

Bosses and staff say returning to "old ways of working" after Covid "isn't right".

02/12/2022

This is a great interview by Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, of Jeff Kurtz a retired railway employee and veteran union activist about the new attendance policy at BNSF. It's the same issue Railway Workers United (RWU) discussed in their recent webinar.

17,000 union railroad workers at BNSF Railway were set to walk off the job on Feb. 1 over the company’s new “egregious attendance policy,” but a US District Court judge has stepped in to block the strike.

01/11/2022

RWU Resolution on National Rail Strike

Whereas, the major freight rail carriers continue to refuse to bargain in good faith, leaving national negotiations with the unions at a standstill; and

Whereas, these same carriers – represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) - have been making record profits for years, including all through the pandemic; and

Whereas, Precision Scheduled Railroading, firings and furloughs; increased discipline and harassment; massive job cuts, short-staffing, and chronic fatigue; together with unpaid claims and wholesale abrogation of the union contract has left railroad workers frustrated, angry, and ready to fightback; and

Whereas, Countless workers in an array of industries nationwide are fighting back, organizing, striking, and winning; and

Whereas, current conditions appear to be ripe for railroad workers to mount a successful national strike, including but not limited to:
-- A general labor shortage where the rail carriers are unable to recruit and retain employees in
the various crafts, including train and engine service.
-- Supply chains in crisis, as goods in transit are hampered at every turn.
-- Public opinion that has sided with striking workers throughout 2021.
-- The record profits generated by the carriers, together with their alienation of shippers, pas-
sengers and communities, which suggest that railroad strikers would enjoy vast public
support.
-- Rail unions of late that have been largely standing together.
-- The fact that the carriers have attacked ALL rail workers, solidifying workers from all crafts,
unions, and carriers.
-- The existence of a sitting President who claims to be “the most pro-labor President you have
ever had.”

Whereas, such favorable conditions for rail workers outlined above have not existed for decades - if ever - and will not continue indefinitely;

Therefore, Be it Resolved that RWU urges all railroad workers to consider the strike option, and to prepare for such a strike; and

Be it further Resolved that RWU urge the rail unions to educate their respective memberships on: the Railway Labor Act (RLA) under which our actions are governed; the history of rail strikes;
the benefits and risks of taking such action with webinars, printed materials, presentations at local union meetings, and other means of communication; and

Be it further Resolved that RWU urge the rail unions to poll their respective members for a strike vote so as to ascertain the willingness of the respective memberships to take such action; and

Be it Further Resolved that RWU urge the rail unions to undertake informational picketing, “practice” strikes, and other high-profile activities to mobilize the membership, put the carriers on notice that we mean business, to educate the public as to our cause; and mobilize our allies; and

Be it Finally Resolved, that the rail craft unions put aside their petty differences and take this opportunity to consummate a single bargaining coalition of all rail labor in order to achieve the greatest possible solidarity, unity, and power.

Adopted by the RWU Steering Committee 1/5/2022

Information and membership for all railroad labor union members.

01/05/2022

Join us to discuss the General Strike with Jon Be**en on January 9th!

Nine days? A one day general strike alone would be impossible for companies to ignore. Workers have more power than they realize. They just need solidarity.