For more info and background, visit: http://ulanewhaven.blogspot.com/p/wage-theft.html

(Hartford) On April 15th, 2010, about 400 workers at 4 Ct nursing homes began their strike against Spectrum Healthcare for unfair labor practices….1 year later, their struggle continues.

Click here to download the MP3

Photo shows bodies from the fire. Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/familytreemagazine/5553242173/sizes/l/in/photostream/

As impressive as the tens of thousands of Wisconsinites have been in protesting the harsh austerity bill being pushed through by Governor Scott Walker, let’s not overlook the fact that this battle is just getting started.  Any lulls in protest activity are still punctuated by huge protests on the weekends and literal signs for a general strike are appearing and being carried all over town.  Horns are still blasting around the Capitol building at any given hour and vigils are still being maintained.  There is a sense that the unions, and the rest of the populace, are preparing themselves for the next round.  And as hard as it might be to conceive of these huge recent protests as part of a rope-a-dope strategy… it is the general population that has been playing gently with the Governor thus far.  History has shown us that the masses ultimately have the power, if they are willing to use it, and it doesn’t appear that the right-wing has a very thoughtful tactician to guide them through the impending battles.

That said… the protest movement, particularly insomuch as it is being manipulated by mainstream politicians and self-appointed marshals, could falter.  It will be up to individuals, thinking for themselves and communicating their ideas horizontally, to prevent this movement from becoming too watered-down and compromising.  It should not be misunderstood — the power at this point is in the hands of the masses of protesters.  Not to put too much of fine point on it, but it’s somewhat reminiscent of the scene in Fight Club when Tyler Durden reminds the local politician…

“The people you are after are the people you depend on. We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we connect your calls, we drive your ambulances, we guard you while you sleep. Do not fuck with us.“

I’m not suggesting that union members should start fight clubs, and lord knows I wouldn’t want to go fisticuffs with a steelworker, but the point is that no one should allow their power or importance in society to be diminished — especially when considered collectively as part of mutually beneficial organization.  The people hold the real power in this world — as long as they are willing to use it.  They should not be looking to give concessions — they should be looking to take them, all of them.  And when the grassroots “leadership” starts talking about giving concessions… their megaphones should be shoved somewhere the sun doesn’t shine.  The notion of giving concessions at this point is beyond ridiculous — unless you’re willing to take yet another step towards giving everything away.

Continued…

Click here to download the MP3

Poll closes Monday February 28th…check back for results

The most obvious of these are the various Leninist/Trotskyist parties, who are openly vanguardist in theory and practice (derived mostly from the writings of Lenin). Leninist theory states that the working class is by itself unable to achieve the required consciousness to challenge capitalism, and so requires a political party led by professional revolutionaries to lead it – a vanguard party. The concept of leadership is very important. Trotsky himself wrote that “the historical crisis of mankind is reduced to the crisis of the revolutionary leadership” and this perspective continues to inform his contemporary followers.

This means that vanguardist politics of the Leninist/Trotskyist kind aims essentially at securing leadership of various campaigns and organizations.

Read more…

Ever since the Reagan years there has been a rising drum beat against unions in general and teachers in particular. I have spent years coming before the Hartford Board of Education to support comprehensive public education that includes Art, Music, Sports and the total curriculum of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I have watched as successive Superintendants and Boards have ripped the curriculum to shreds and with the assistance of misguided and selfish parent advocates blamed the teachers and school staff for the failures of their children. This poisonous and assaultive atmosphere is like Kryptonite placed as an IED or booby trap for your Superman. I have never been waiting for a superman to save me or my children. I am responsible for their earliest education and they are responsible for learning and behaving in school.

The true indictment of this movie is of the lottery system. Your charter magnet theme based schools are a charade. A Wizard of Oz contraption that is deceptive. You are now busing kids all over the city and the buses are less than half full. Children and parents wait years for a lottery pick. These schools are still public schools paid for by homeowners and taxpayers. Why haven’t you told parents that they can demand attendance for their child in the local district school they live near? Why are you having separate graduations at Hartford Public High School instead of a class graduation? It is because you have laid Kryptonite in ambush. I hope Superman doesn’t come, because you will kill him if he does as you have destroyed and poisoned public education.

Dave Ionno
Parent and proud union member