NATIONWIDE STRIKE

[Snoutport]

Does Wisconsin strike alone? I'm Union in Oregon and I would protest for a day.

[villager]

1. Not to be snarky, but seriously: Then what about the second day?

If we agree to keep lining their pockets, they'll always win.

[Pharaoh]

2. Because it will snowball n/t

[villager]

9. Hopefully. But how, if it's just a single day? These actions need to be actually disruptive

and not merely "making a statement."

The ruling elites need to be hit financially -- the only language they respect, or understand.

[readmoreoften]

11. +1

[coti]

37. In theory, even just one day across the nation- a thorough, well "attended" strike- would

make one helluva statement. That would mess things up very bad.

However, you would want it to last longer than that, too.

[Brickbat]

3. Exactly. It does no good if it's scheduled, announced, and prepared for.

[Imajika]

4. That is just not going to happen...

..in large enough numbers to matter.

The fight/strike needs to be begin in Wisconsin, and if it catches fire then it might escalate and spread - but it has to start in Wisconsin.

[JuniperLea]

7. You think not?

I believe we've hit critical mass on this and many other lines of BS.

[Imajika]

12. No, not yet...

The protests in Wisconsin have energized the unions, Democrats and the left in general. I can even feel it in Virginia which is a right to work state. I was at the local pharmacy and saw a big UNION sticker on the front of the counter. It had never, ever been there before.

The protests have spread, but they started in Wisconsin. While people are protesting elsewhere, a part of those protests are that folks are rallying around the actions of the people in Wisconsin. A general strike will need to follow the same course. If it works and makes big news in Wisconsin, it just might spread. You know how the American people are, for the most part they don't do general strikes or civil disobedience these days - not without some hugely emotional cause to rally around anyway.

Do it in Wisconsin, and it just might spread. I can see people in Ohio for example following Wisconsin's lead.

[JuniperLea]

17. I'm afraid it we don't do it now, the GOTP will be empowered...

And it will be too late down the road.

We need to take a clue from the French...

[Imajika]

20. The French strikes failed...

"We need to take a clue from the French..."

The most recent massive French strikes against raising the retirement age failed.

It may have felt good, but it didn't work.

Whatever we do needs to be measurable successful. These sorts of actions can't be repeated regularly. Go all in and lose and the dogs will be loosed on us beyond what can even be imagined.

Honestly, I just don't think calling for a nationwide strike will meet with any noticeable success at the moment. However, if it is done on a local and state level in Wisconsin first, the energy just might go viral and spread. Part of what gives a movement its spark is allowing the people to kind of figure it out for themselves. Top down movement organization is often not the best way to go - at least if history is any judge.

[JuniperLea]

23. I'm talking shutting things down, not the most recent strike...

It's already getting play on national TV in mainstream news.

[Snoutport]

33. I think they will have to...

nothing but a shut down is going to rattle the republicans. they know they are done if they break from the party.

[readmoreoften]

15. If key unions wildcat strike, there will be a general strike.

If truckers, public transportation, and teachers strike at once, it will become a general strike. No public childcare for kids, no products and gas being shipped, no public transportation for the lowest strata of the working class, which means the cleaning and janitorial staff doesn't get to work, which means buildings are messy and gross and no one wants to go to work, etc.

[Imajika]

21. Yes, IF they do this...

I am not arguing that a general strike wouldn't be effective, I am focusing on how it should start. Not enough people nationwide understand that they are invested in what happens in Wisconsin. They support the protesters, and these protests have spread to some degree. If they strike in Wisconsin, people may begin to follow their lead. This, in my opinion, has to be like a spreading brushfire - not a top down effort.

In my opinion the comprehensive attack on labor demands a serious response, but trying to organize a nationwide general strike at this moment will fail. The idea needs to grow in one specific place so people can see it, support it and begin to emulate it.

[Snoutport]

59. it just has to happen...

and they can only strik until he signs it so it might be very fast

[GreenStormCloud]

45. Local truckers might strike but the Over-The-Road guys won't.

There are no unionized long-haul companies.

[adigal]

50. The dockworkers are union, and if they strike, the

country will feel it.

[Snoutport]

58. has anyone heard anything

when the mayor is talking wildcat strikes...seems like it just might happen!

[handmade34]

5. March 30th

traditional day of strike

[Hannah Bell]

6. labor actions

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x584114

[socialist_n_TN]

8. What I truly expect is a regional strike........

to start, say WI, MI, OH and maybe IN. with some one day "sympathy" actions all across the country. After that, all bets are off. It could spread or it could fizzle. But I actually thought that the demonstrations in WI would fizzle and they didn't. We are entering uncharted waters. He there be dragons.

Everyone just remember, a general strike is MEANT to cripple commerce. Even if you WANT to go into work you can't because the busses and trains aren't running. The streets are barricaded with trucks, tractors (?), so car traffic is tied up. You can go so far as to occupy plants, stores and other large businesses to keep out shoppers and workers. PREPARE TO BE ARRESTED!

[Snoutport]

10. what do we have to lose? my district is about to be cut 25% by the legislature

25% this year and 50% by the year after. I'm an ESD and we service either special ed kids, the hospital and jail classrooms and we supply the school nurses and speech and autism and behavior specialists. 50% of the special ed teachers at my ESD will be gone in two years. What do I have to lose? I'm the 4th most recent hire and even though I was a finalist for teacher of the year last year, my ass is probably gone in the first 25% cut.

Why shouldn't I strike to stop this attack against unions and education? I'll be unemployed soon enough.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Unfortunately, I agree with you..........

I'm currently unemployed myself, so a "strike" is not worth much from me. But I AM being involved and I don't mind getting arrested.

[Snoutport]

24. LOL...then you'll be a hero!

I can strike but I'd like to keep my job til the cuts start next year! How about I make signs and you get arrested? I promise to visit you in jail and i'll send baked goods...if they allow that.

[bindelh]

34. Get out on the Freeway during the AM rush hour

Stop your car and get out and hold up a Solidarity sign. Get a couple others to do the same in other lanes. i.e Shut it Down !!!

Almost every one on the Freeway is going to work. They will be non participating participants at least until the State Troopers come and hall you away... :)

[MrMickeysMom]

13. Help us Anonymous .....

You're our only hope.

[proud patriot]

19. +1

[Citizen Worker]

16. Strike! Until this anti-Union legislation is repealed in its entirety.

[joshcryer]

18. Wildcat strikes are illegal, and it's doubtful national unions will call for a strike.

[Brickbat]

22. National leaders have already met and discussed their options, including industry actions.

Sounds good to me.

[Snoutport]

25. we could look in the paper for a funeral to attend

and take the day off for a funeral. it might make the family feel really good when 16,000 people show up for their grandma's funeral. (i'm kidding....just in case some faux news person is trolling for ammunition to use against us liberals)

[backscatter712]

29. Cough-cough - I feel Blue Flu coming on... n/t

[Snoutport]

30. hands backscatter712 a tissue

sorry you are ill. I'm just sad because my good friend...um....shuffle shuffle "mildred henderson" has a funeral tomorrow.

[Critters2]

49. Mildred died?! Holy crap! Looks like I've got a funeral to go to! :) nt

[adigal]

53. I knew Mildred too,

and I am so saddened, I need to take the day to grieve.

You guys are hilarious!!!

[Critters2]

55. Mildred was much-loved. It promises to be a huge funeral. nt

[coti]

41. lol clever nt

[readmoreoften]

26. Why, if collective bargaining is going to be illegal in the North there isn't much choice.

Between civil disobedience and destruction its surprising how many choose civil disobedience.

[backscatter712]

28. Fuck illegal. If we refuse to strike because of some Republican law designed to kneecap unions,

we're gonna lose and become the third-world banana republic the GOP and their owners want.

Sometime, we're gonna have to say fuck the anti-wildcat laws, SHUT THE COUNTRY DOWN!!!

[coti]

40. Exactly. ILLEGAL? That's it? Are you fucking kidding me? nt

[Ikonoklast]

32. Sick-outs and 'Blue Flu' aren't however.

If government workers decide to sloooooow things down, things will slooooooe down.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NashVegas]

44. When Wall Street Bankers Start Going To Jail, That Might Mean Something

[backscatter712]

27. It'll take more than a day. You're gonna have to choose between your job and your economic freedom.

If you choose to keep your job, accept that you will be a wage slave for the rest of your life, including retirement, for increasingly shittier wages, for no benefits, until you're no longer able to work and are thrown out into the gutter.

That's what they want. And the fact is they'll smirk and stonewall through a one-day "strike".

Until America decides they want to go all in and fight with everything they've got, shutting down the entire country for weeks, even months, and force the psychopathic subhuman CEO reptiles to cut a deal to stop the financial bleeding, they're gonna continue to fuck us. And if they think we're serious about fucking with their money, they're gonna send riot cops, Pinkertons, Blackwater/Xe thugs, military to literally shoot at us. If we're too fucking weak to stand up to that, accept being enslaved.

This had better be our Pearl Harbor. We're gonna need to sacrifice. We're all going to need to risk our jobs, risk our houses, our families, our retirements, our lives and our sacred honor in order to fight our enemy who is fucking us up the ass every single day.

If all America's willing to put into this fight is one day off of work, we're gonna lose.

[Snoutport]

31. some people go early, some go late

i can take my lunch at the end of the day and i'm owed 8 hours of off time so i can be out the door and downtown by 2:30.

[coti]

42. You're one of the few that actually recognizes the significance of what happened today. nt

[Snoutport]

43. backscatter? yes, he makes some good points.

they are doing this in kinda blue states! imagine when they have their way there and then start fanning out. one state at a time....

[GreenStormCloud]

46. What are you going to eat while everything is shut down?

Remember that if you shut it down for the CEOs, you shut it down for you too. That means no food, no gas for people to get to work which suts EVERYTHING down, no hospitals, no electricity, no water. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

[adigal]

54. Buy food now...I keep thinking I should stock up anyway

in case we have a repeat of the 2008 financial disaster.

[Snoutport]

60. hoarding food!

it is sad but,really, we should be ready. You never know when there will be a strike, or a natural disaster, or, even worse, a zombie attack.

[deacon]

35. It needs to happen. n/t

[upi402]

36. k/r n/t

[defendandprotect]

38. Americans have to be more united than they are now -- strikes can be limited ...

it's about showing power --

think in terms of two hour strikes --

call them for 11am -- call them for 4pm --

We have to begin to show that we are united -- are we united?

Are all Americans aware and awake yet?

[Snoutport]

47. I feel United!

and I can be downtown by 4!

[adigal]

48. I'm in - we either hang together

or we hang separately.

[lovuian]

51. I'm in Texas I would for two days

even a week

[fittosurvive]

52. Won't work...work hard, raise money and organize voter turnout is the

only legitimate response.

[adigal]

56. Um...Diebold. They have done it before,

and they will do it again.

[fittosurvive]

57. Yeah, and I have seen the claim that Obama was "chosen" by Diebold

put on the table as well. However, elections are so important to both sides that they scrutinize one another to the extreme. In my mind, that makes it nearly impossible for one side to "stack the deck."