Detroit IWW General Membership Branch

06/15/2024

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This month, we celebrate the disabled LGBTQ+ icons who shape the past, present and future of LGBTQ+ advocacy.

55 years ago, disabled Black transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson made history for her part in the Stonewall uprising, which kickstarted the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the U.S. Johnson lived with both physical and psychiatric disabilities. Together with fellow trans activist Sylvia Rivera, she co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), one of the first trans organizations in New York. STAR focused its advocacy efforts on disabled trans people, and led efforts calling for an end to non-consensual psychiatric incarcerations and conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people.

In 2019, New York City announced that Marsha P. Johnson, along with Rivera, would be the subject of a monument commissioned by the Public Arts Campaign “She Built NYC.” The monument will be the first in NYC to honor transgender women. In 2020, New York State named a waterfront park in Brooklyn for Johnson.

06/15/2024

Bread and Roses (2000) is based on the Justice for Janitors campaign; such a good movie.

On this day, 15 June 1990, the Battle of Century City took place, as police in Los Angeles attacked striking janitors and their supporters during a peaceful Service Employees International Union demonstration.
Janitors in the Century City office complex, most of whom were employed by cleaning contractor ISS, had gone out on strike on May 29 demanding improvements to pay and conditions. On the June 15 protest, LAPD officers brutally attacked the workers and their supporters, leaving several people seriously injured, including one pregnant woman who miscarried as a result.
Rather than deter the workers, the violence caused mass outrage. And ISS subsequently agreed to recognise the workers' union, provide for family health coverage and pay a living wage. The event also began to be commemorated with the creation of an annual June 15 Justice for Janitors Day.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8695/battle-of-century-city
If you value our work, please consider supporting us on patreon: https://patreon.com/workingclasshistory

02/07/2024

BRUSSELS, BE—Defending worker-led, democratic, and militant unionism in Belgium is certainly no easy task in a labor union landscape dominated by two bureaucratic behemoths, the socialist FGTB and …

09/12/2023

Support striking nurses in Rochester! OPEIU Local 40 is striking for four days at Ascension Providence (Crittenton, for locals), 7 AM to 7 PM Monday-Thursday.

We must treat our healthcare workers better, and supporting this strike is a way to make that happen.

06/23/2023

From Starbucks Workers United:
“Starbucks can not continue to tokenize q***r workers while violating our right to organize. It can not continue to use us as branding material while threatening our healthcare.“

Check out the strike map!

*** Strike Map Note ***Blue pins represent all union stores nationwide.Green pins represent stores on strike today. We will be updating the map every morning to announce the stores on strike for that particular day! As of June 23rd, 2023, Starbucks workers across the country are participating in Str...

06/20/2023

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

As of this afternoon, the Members of Heat and Frost Insulators Local #25, have ratified our new contract.

This was an amazing battle and everyone had a part to play, in the fight. It will never be easy, anything worth having, never is.

We cannot thank everyone enough for all of the support and sacrifices throughout the entire process.

TOGETHER, WE PREVAILED!!!

06/06/2023

The members of Heat and Frost Insulators Local # 25 are on strike against the Master Insulators Association of South East Michigan. They are fighting for safety, pension, healthcare and fair wages. If you would like any further information, please contact their Union Office: 248-352-1850

A FW stopped at the picket location on Hilton rd between 8 and 9 mile, and asked how we could support, they want everyone to get the word out!

12/11/2022

Railroad Unions call for Support of Rail Worker
Tuesday 12/13.

Gather 9 a.m. local time between Washington and S. Center Street in 200 block of 5th Avenue in downtown Royal Oak, MI, for have briefing and to distribute signs. Rally will commence at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.
At 5th Avenue between Washington and S. Center St. near the Canadian National rail line.

Contact: SMART-TD Michigan SLD Donald Roach ([email protected]) or Nick Greficz ([email protected])

12/06/2022

Railroad unions talking about seeking solutions "outside the two party system" and "taking (railroads) into public ownership" is exactly the energy we need.