Calls to continue and intensify protests heard at People’s World labor town hall

At a People’s World virtual town hall May 8 there were calls for stepping up the current nationwide demonstrations, more union organizing, running workers for political office and even considering a nationwide march on Washington to dramatize the struggles of workers and their allies.

The town hall featured Elise Bryant, president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Keith Richardson, president of the Chicago chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the Chicago local of the American Postal Workers Union, and Hamilton Nolan, labor writer for In These Times. The event was moderated by C.J. Atkins, the managing editor of People’s World.

Titled “Labor’s Fight Back – Where Do We Go From Here?,” it was held one week after International Workers Day, in which more than 250.000 demonstrated across the U.S.

It was held as President Donald Trump is experiencing record-low approval ratings amid several controversies, from the illegal arrest and deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to the firing of federal workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“Regardless of what your politics [are], the fact is that what Donald Trump has done to the labor movement in three months is the worst thing that any president has done to labor probably since World War II,” Nolan said. “This is many, many times worse than what Reagan did with PATCO.” This is not whatever ‘normal’ political times are. We’re not in that. We are in a struggle for the survival of the labor movement as we know it.”

Elise Bryant of CLUW expressed strong support for a variety of actions, including strikes, boycotts, and other events such as unions organizing town hall meetings. She said that building unity is of primary importance and that whenever possible, a variety of groups must join together in support of action by any one of the other groups involved in the struggle. She said it was particularly important for community groups to turn out in support of union strike actions, and she said it was especially important to build unity across racial and ethnic lines.

“Racism in this country,” she said, “has historically been used to divide workers, and we must overcome this.

“We have the power,” Bryant added. “Our power lies in our ability to withhold our labor, and that is the power of stopping them from making money. And anything that we do and that we plan on doing in the future has to interrupt their ability to make money.”

Richardson emphasized the importance of unity among various different unions, especially considering that U.S. Postal workers are prohibited from striking under federal law.

“When the President of the United States is calling on Congress to break us up, we need our fellow organizations and institutions, People’s World, CLUW, we need everyone to come together to hear our plight so that we can remain the number one trusted institution in the world that’s delivering to every address in the country and in many places worldwide,” Richardson said. “So we have to use our collective voices to come together and be that beacon for each of us.”

Richardson said the postal workers are uniquely positioned to build unity. “Everyone in this country,” he said, “receives and sends mail. Everyone needs the mail.”

Tactics were discussed extensively at the town hall. Everyone agreed that the nationwide actions by workers, immigrants, and their allies in the various movements should continue their demonstrations and other actions. They said that, in fact, the actions should be stepped up in the coming period and that people should not wait for the next election.

When People’s World moderator C.J. Atkins mentioned how many unions are looking to synchronize contract expiration dates in the near future so they can engage together in militant action, the panelists agreed it was a good idea.

Nolan said the labor movement should be “thinking in terms of a general strike,” and he said “lawsuits and other measures won’t be enough” for organized labor to hold the line against Trump’s policies.

The importance of electoral action was also underlined. Panelists felt it was necessary for workers themselves to run for office, particularly on the local level. When it comes to the Democratic Party, panelists felt that support for candidates should always be based on their proven records on behalf of worker rights and the extent to which they can be counted on to fight for democracy against those trying to dismantle it.

To watch the full town hall event and hear all of the panelists’ remarks, visit People’s World’s YouTube and Facebook accounts.