Reply #103: "Is a general strike illegal? In short, yes"

[bread_and_roses]

Fascinating background/history/how-tos on General Strike here

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/13/955964/-Anti-C...

Included in the background info:

In 1947, the Republican Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act that explicitly defined new "unfair labor practices" applicable only to unions, including jurisdictional strikes, wildcat strikes, solidarity or political strikes, secondary boycotts, secondary and mass picketing. In addition, unions were required to provide 60 days advance notice of strikes and submit to mediation during that period. The power to enjoin strikes was granted to the executive branch of the federal government, and federal courts were given jurisdiction in cases suing for damages against unions that violated no-strike clauses.

Truman vetoed the bill, but both houses over-rode the veto with many Democrats joining Republicans.

Labor's hope that the federal government would serve as a fair referee in labor disputes died with the passage of Taft-Hartley, and the Democratic Party's promise to repeat(*) the Act has never been fulfilled in the 60+ years since passage.

*I think this is a typo for "repeal"
my emphasis added


The article, btw, is not arguing against a General Strike.

The unions supine acceptance of T-H (should've gone on General Strike then) and their continued acceptance of the crumbs sprinkled their way by the Ds has been the death of real power for the working class.

Even now, where are the calls for a shorter work week (at no pay loss) to create more jobs? Where are the calls for universal health care? Where are the calls to "forgive" student debt? For a minimum wage that is actually a living wage? For lowering the age of SS/MA and universal "pension" (SS) that keeps people out of poverty?

All our energy goes into fighting for crumbs.

(Reading what I just wrote ... I have no hope. I see no future.)