LABOR BATTLES TODAY AND LESSONS FROM THE 1990s

For decades union membership has been on the decline as have living standards for working people as corporations have demanded concessions from the unions. Now, politicians are using the excuse of the recession and “budget crises” to attack public sector workers and impose austerity measures. But while the politicians and bosses are bent on busting the unions, workers are resisting. The occupation of Wisconsin’s state capitol against Walker’s anti-union legislation showed the world that workers are willing to fight back. Now 45,000 workers of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America are on strike against Verizon on the East Coast. Verizon’s net profits last year were $6 billion, yet the company is demanding concessions from its workers in order to weaken the union and reap more profits. How can labor win against these attacks? What can we learn from the labor wars of the 1990’s? Join the International Socialist Organization for a discussion on lessons from the past and strategies for today.

Presented by the International Socialist Organization
NorCalSocialism.Org

Speakers:

Dan Lane – Participated in the labor battles of the Decatur Illinois “War Zone” in the 1990’s as a locked out worker of A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co.

Steve Early – was an organizer for the Communications Workers of America for 27 years, and is a member of the editorial advisory committees of Labor Notes, New Labor Forum and Working USA, and author of the book The Civil Wars in US Labor.