The Struggle for Workers' Rights at Socialism 2011
Orlando Sepulveda
Please forward far and wide! July 1-4, Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center Chicago-O'Hare The last six months have seen major developments for the American labor movement. In Washington and many state capitols, Republicans and Democrats have pushed a bipartisan austerity agenda that threatens workers with lay-offs, wage cuts, and devastated public services. All this stands in stark contrast to the billions of dollars made available to the banks who brought on the crisis in the first place. American workers aren't taking these attacks lying down, however. The strikes, demonstrations, and occupations in Wisconsin in February and March involved over a hundred thousand workers, students, and community activists, and showed that the American labor movement is capable of both fighting and winning. How can workers build on the spirit of Wisconsin and keep up the fight against austerity? What can we learn from the American labor movement's militant past? Join us at Socialism 2011 for a number of talks addressing these and other issues, including: * Mass Strikes in U.S. History with Subterranean Fire author and socialistworker.org columnist Sharon Smith * Civil Wars in U.S. Labor with activist, author, and journalist Steve Early * Social Movement Unionism with trade union leaders Ken Riley and Sal Roselli * Wisconsin: The End of the One-Sided Class War with activists and trade unionists from the frontline of the struggle * Wildcat! The 1970 Postal Workers’ Strike with strike veteran Tara Lee
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