This weekend, the Minneapolis AFL-CIO endorsed a measure calling for a general strike in response to ICE’s continued operations and raids in Minneapolis on Friday, January 23.
The endorsement comes as Trump announced that the National Guard could deploy to the Twin Cities to quell protests. Trump has since alerted 1,500 soldiers of the 11th Airborne Division and advised them that they may deploy to Minnesota.
Minneapolis has quickly become the fiercest battleground for activists fighting ICE after an ICE agent murdered Ashley Good Renee, a legal observer monitoring ICE.
Now, a general strike endorsed by the Minneapolis AFL-CIO could intensify the fight and inspire unions in other cities to go on strike against ICE's continued operations. Already, several other regional labor federations have endorsed the strike, and other unions nationwide could be further inspired to take action.
“The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO along with regional bodies throughout the state, including the Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation, the West Area Labor Council, the North East Area Labor Council and the East Central Labor Council, have joined in solidarity to endorse a powerful unified statewide action on January 23: Day of Truth and Freedom,” said the unions in a statement. “The Minnesota labor movement is united against the violent ICE occupation of our beloved cities that has directly impacted union members, our workplaces and our families.”
Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, said that the strike is necessary to get business leaders to break their silence about immigration.
“Parents are being forced to stay home, students held out of school, fearing for their lives, all while the employer class remains silent, “ said Gabiou. “Our labor federations are encouraging everyone to participate on January 23rd. It’s time for every single Minnesotan who loves this state and the notion of truth and freedom to raise their voices and deepen their solidarity for our neighbors and coworkers living under this federal occupation.”
Already the strike action has begun to spread to some other cities around the United States with solidarity actions being planned in dozens of cities.
On Tuesday at 8 PM, Payday will have a special subscribers Q & A with CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson, who will discuss how they hope the strike movement spreads. Email me at me...@paydayreport.com if you would like to attend.
Mike Elk
Mike Elk is an Emmy-nominated labor reporter. He founded Payday Report using his NLRB settlement from being illegally fired in the union drive at Politico in 2015. Email him at me...@paydayreport.com
