Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Labor

By Jim Byrne

Tucson, AZ – Close to 300 activists took the streets on May 1, International Workers Day, to demand an end to attacks on immigrants and workers. The Tucson May Day Coalition saw participation from immigrant rights groups such as Derechos Humanos and LUPE as well as labor groups such as UFCW, CWA, teachers unions and a host other progressive organizations.

Read more...

By Masao Suzuki

May Day in San José, CA.

San José, CA – On May 1, thousands gathered at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in the heart of the Chicano/Mexicano community in east San José to kick off May Day. They then marched through downtown to the Arena Greens park. The march was many times larger than the year before, and many unions and community groups were represented. In addition to traditional themes of immigrant and workers’ rights, there were many anti-Trump protesters as well.

Read more...

By staff

Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

Minneapolis, MN – About 2000 people marched thought the streets of Minneapolis, May 1, International Workers Day. Organized by the Resist from Day One Coalition, the May Day march and rallies put forward demands for immigrant and workers' rights.

#MinneapolisMN #ImmigrantRights #MayDay #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #Trump #MinneapolisLabor

By staff

President of AFSCME Local 3800 speaking on upcoming May Day march.

Minneapolis, MN – At a press conference, April 28, leaders of the Resist from Day One Coalition, announced plans for May 1 rallies and strikes converging in unified march in Minneapolis on ‘Day without Immigrants’ for immigrant and workers' rights.

Read more...

By staff

Salt Lake City, UT – On May 1, Salt Lake City’s Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) will host a rally for May Day, International Workers’ Day. It will bring together laborers, immigrants, oppressed nationalities and all those in Utah who want to fight back against Trump and the system that allows his hate to flourish. Organizer say “Not one more deportation!” and “End attacks on the working class!”

Read more...

By Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad

Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

En los EE.UU. el primero de mayo es un día de lucha para los inmigrantes y trabajadores. La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad exhorta la importancia de unirse con los miles de millones de personas de todo el mundo que estarán marchando y celebrando el Dia Internacional de los Trabajadores.

Leer más...

By Freedom Road Socialist Organization

LA May Day march.

May Day is a day for immigrant and workers’ struggle. The Freedom Road Socialist Organization thinks it is important to join the tens of millions around the world who rally and march on International Workers Day.

Read more...

By Jessica Schwartz

Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

Tampa, FL – On April 30, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and other organizations will come together to celebrate May Day, or International Workers Day. The protest will be at 2 p.m. in Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa.

Read more...

By Jim Byrne

Tucson, AZ – The Tucson May Day Coalition has been working very hard in the last two months to build for what is expected to be a return to huge May Day rallies from past historic moments.

Read more...

By World Federation of Trade Unions

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement form the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) But, if you think that by hanging us, you can stamp out the labor movement – the movement from which the downtrodden millions, the millions who toil and live in want and misery – the wage slaves – expect salvation – if this is your opinion, then hang us! Here you will tread upon a spark, but there, and there, and behind you and in front of you, and everywhere, flames will blaze up. It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out. August Spies, 31, on August 20, 1886. One of the leaders hanged in Chicago, USA.

Read more...

By staff

#LetSarahTeach say 200 supporters of Sarah Chambers, beloved facing termination.

Chicago, IL – Several hundred people gathered on the lawn of Maria Saucedo Academy today, April 18, in an after-school to rally in support of Sarah Chambers, who has been suspended and faces termination. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s appointed school board is coming after this teacher for her role in the fight to defend the public schools and Special Education. The crowd included students, parents, teachers, Chicago Teachers Union activists, trade unionists from other unions, and groups from the Palestinian and Filipino communities. Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia spoke and demanded that Chambers be returned to her students immediately. Rasmea Odeh, the Palestinian community activist persecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice, also came out to show her solidarity.

#ChicagoIL #WomensMovement #PeoplesStruggles #teachers #ChicagoTeachersUnion #TeachersUnions

By Joe Iosbaker

Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

Chicago, IL – Sarah Chambers is one of the best-known rank-and-file leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). A distinguished, award winning Special Education teacher at Maria Saucedo Academy, her name is a familiar one to politicians, and to the Board of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Photos of her leading protests to defend her students have appeared regularly in the Chicago media, and even in the New York Times.

Read more...

By Fern

Connell Crooms speaks to the crowd

Jacksonville, FL – Over 150 trade unionists and activists rallied March 11 in downtown Jacksonville to defend the working class. Beginning at 2 p.m. in Hemming Park, organizers held a militant event focused on building the struggle against national ‘Right to Work’ legislation proposed last month in Washington.

Read more...

By Cory Oliver

Milwaukee Public Museum worker speaks out against layoffs.

Milwaukee, WI – On March 7, management of the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) announced layoffs an cuts to hours for 14 members of AFSCME Local 526, which is 8% of the workforce. After six months of negotiations and two quick months after contract ratification, these hard-working men and women found out with zero warning that their position at the museum will either be cut or working hours permanently reduced. Those who are facing reduced hours will lose their health benefits and livable wages to support their families.

Read more...

By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions.

Read more...

By Dan Pratt

Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

Nearly five dozen members of UAW Local 291 have gone on strike. The picketing began early Monday morning, Feb. 6, after the conclusion of a workers’ meeting during which the decision was made to take action.

Read more...

By Dave Schneider

On Jan. 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive action withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Negotiated by then-president Barack Obama, the TPP would have standardized trade between the U.S., Japan, Mexico, and nine other countries in the Pacific Rim, lowering tariffs and regulations between countries to favor corporations. The agreement drew heavy criticism from labor unions and environmental groups, who argued the TPP would hurt workers and hamper efforts to address climate change.

Read more...

By Eric Struch

Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

As Chicago Transit Authority president Dorval Carter continues the undeclared war against bus operators, train operators and mechanics that his predecessor Forrest Claypool started, Amalgamated Transit Union Locals 241 and 308 have begun to unite to fight back. According to a statement from the unions, “ATU Locals 241 and 308 represent the vast majority of CTA employees (almost 10,000), working without a contract since December 2015. The CTA refuses to take the vast majority of its workforce seriously. It wants to strip them of their hard-earned benefits and deny them wage increases. The CTA wants to continue with the insults and abuses.”

Read more...

By David Hoskins

The labor movement will face real challenges from the Trump administration.

Washington, D.C. – Labor officials in Washington D.C. are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best as Donald Trump assumes the office of president of the United States after losing the popular vote by 2.9 million votes but winning enough electoral votes from the states to assume the presidency. Trump secured his Electoral College win by squeaking ahead just slightly of corporate Democrat Hillary Clinton in states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Read more...

By staff

500 people marched through the streets of downtown Miami, Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, in opposition to the Trump/Pence agenda. The protest was called for by the Anti-Trump Action Committee and brought together a diverse crowd of labor, immigrant rights, anti-war and Black Lives Matter activists. The groups united around the slogan: “Stop the Trump Agenda.”

Read more...