Wilmington Democratic Socialists of America condemns, in the strongest terms, HR 10186, the so-called “Mace Bill,” designed specifically to discriminate against transgender employees of the federal government by restricting bathroom access. WDSA recognizes that this bill is part of a larger trend aimed at breeding hatred against a marginalized group, targeting democratic Congresswoman Sarah McBride, and further dividing the American working class. Some assume the tide of anti-trans sentiment in this country is propelled by personal bigotry. This ignores the backdrop of this prejudiced trend, rising in response to growing class consciousness. As displeasure with American corporatism grows, ideologues who fear class war force culture war issues into the mainstream. HR 10186 stands as a prime example. It attempts to make Americans concerned with their neighbor’s genitals despite the deeply weird connotations. Representative Nancy Mace appears more interested in using slurs against protestors than substantive policy. She seems eager to stir up divisions rather than address the genuine concerns of the working class. Unfortunately, such bizarre bills will become more common and serious as time passes, requiring a unified response. We call on all North Carolina representatives to speak out forcefully against this bill. North Carolina once answered the call to strike down the largely reviled “bathroom bill,” and can do so again. The Democratic Socialists of America stands with our trans community, and we urge all to speak out and do the same. However, it is unlikely that words alone can reverse these attempts to use transgender people as a distraction from the failings of American capitalism.

Anti-transgender bigotry will not be defeated by Republican fearmongering or Democratic class-blind liberalism but by grassroots working-class parties such as the Democratic Socialists of America. We call on all progressive people to join in building this party and forming a more committed front against bigotry and for working-class interests.

A scab is traditionally a union member who crosses the picket line to return to work, while others remain on strike.

The post What is a scab? appeared first on EWOC.

Written by Matt P, Video and Photos by Margot P

‘Twas the strike before Christmas when all through the land,
Starbucks Workers United had made their demands,
Over pay, understaffing, respect and their rights,
Greedy bosses should regret they e’er picked this fight.

For months we had been hearing chatter from our comrades with Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) about their growing momentum. Each week brought more unionized stores, organizing goals surpassed and replaced with more ambitious ones. From the first stores they successfully organized in Buffalo only a few years ago, they have now exceeded 500. It feels as though a tide had turned, a dam had been broken.

Those of us who have worked in retail coffee and know how difficult it can be to organize in this space recognize how historic this feat has been. If you ask Starbucks workers about it, though, some would tell you it is not as hard as it seems. As one SBWU member Caitlin put it: “The idea of unionizing feels really frightening, it feels like a really big word, a really loaded word. […] But it doesn’t mean that much to unionize. If you are complaining with your coworkers about how much you hate your job, you’re like 60 or 70 percent of the way to having a union. So just go the extra mile. You are so close, you’ve gotten through most of the bad parts.” Decades of conditioning by the bosses to fear the boogeyman – the scary U-word – began to crumble as workers realized their experiences with poverty wages, understaffing, and workplace harassment were far too common to be merely personal problems. Get enough workers together regularly sharing their stories and grievances, and a union is almost certain to follow.

At the same time as Starbucks locations were being unionized left and right, there were contract negotiations taking place even though SBWU could not speak about it publicly. Despite the limited information, it was clear that Starbucks management was in a very different fight this time around. Bargaining, like any battle, depends critically on one’s perceived strength as much as actual, and it certainly appeared SBWU was lacking in neither.

The rank-and-file’s demands varied by store location, but there were some common refrains. Given Seattle’s high minimum wage, pay has been less of a concern here compared to other cities where wages are still far behind the cost of living, but the company’s offer on annual raises was nothing short of insulting. Conversely, Starbucks workers in very conservative parts of the country might rank employment protections and healthcare benefits as their top concern, especially for trans employees. Still other stores have demanded improved health and safety in lieu of the COVID-19 endemic.

Nonetheless, SBWU has been fighting to ensure every worker and workplace is heard at the bargaining table. As Caitlin put it: “Trans healthcare benefits are not something we are going to be fighting for so much for ourselves [here in Washington State] but for our siblings in those [conservative] areas […] We have a pretty wide range of things people are prioritizing for themselves and their states, but one of the most beautiful things about bargaining is that we are really good at balancing those priorities and finding the balance that’s going to benefit the most people while leaving no one behind.” It may sound like a broken record, but the old labor adage “an injury to one is an injury to all” still resonates in 2024 as it did in 1924.

Then came the news last week. Starbucks Workers United members had overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike. Despite this clear mandate given by the rank-and-file to their bargaining team and the credible threat it now posed – i.e., industrial action – Starbucks management refused to budge. And so the evening of December 19, it was made official: Starbucks workers would be going on strike over the holiday weekend in several cities including right here in the company’s hometown of Seattle. Years of educating, agitating, and organizing workers would now give way to mobilizing members to the pickets.

The decision to take action by striking is no small affair as it is costly and is not without risks. Individual grit and determination are certainly important qualities to have, but above all else a strike requires the trust, confidence, and security only a community can provide, most especially one’s coworkers. As another Starbucks employee Mari explained: “My store has always been a fairly tight knit community, but it’s been a lot better after we unionized. We understand we are here for each other, and so people are much more free with reaching out with needs for support, or if managers are annoying or doing something illegal. There’s a lot of camaraderie and a sense of community.” At a time when many workers increasingly feel alienated and disempowered by their economic insecurity, the surest way to regain our sense of dignity and strength is by leaning on our coworkers and conversely letting them lean on us. The bosses want us divided and demoralized. But the workers united? We will not be defeated.

Once the pickets began, local community members including Seattle DSA sprang to action to lend their support not just in words but in actions. Coming off of months of strike support with the Boeing machinists and Seattle Art Museum’s Visual Service Officers, Seattle DSA’s Labor Working Group was already mobilizing members the night the strike was officially announced. Meanwhile, the People’s Breakfast pivoted to provide warm meals to picketers, building off its years of mutual aid work in the U District. Those of us close to the action have been making regular deliveries of needed materials: from hot coffee and homemade pastries to hand warmers and propane tanks for the space heaters. (Seattle Decembers are not exactly a pleasant time to be holding round-the-clock pickets.) The night owls amongst us have been helping to provide relief for the graveyard picket shifts, often the time of day in which deliveries are made and therefore a great opportunity to persuade delivery drivers to maybe reconsider crossing an active picket line. Let’s just say more than a few voluntarily chose to skip ahead on their early morning route.

At the time this is being written on Christmas Eve, the strike has spread from its original target stores to more than 300 in 45 states across the country. This comes amidst a national series of strikes by Amazon warehouse workers and delivery drivers in addition to years of increasing labor agitation nationally. While the recent elections came as a major blow to many, we must also look to these courageous workers and their spirited campaigning for inspiration and hope. The ruling class will never make concessions voluntarily without workers demonstrating their power including the undertaking of direct action. As picketers chanted recently: “Workers united, give ‘em holy hell! It’s not just our right but our duty to rebel!” The louder this refrain grows, the more workers will be encouraged to take their own initiative, and the more we have cause for hope.

This holiday season, give the gift of solidarity by going to a picket line near you and supporting a strike materially. I promise you it will help to alleviate any hopelessness that ails you.

Charlotte Food Not Bombs (FNB), an organization we have collaborated and share cross membership with, recently released a statement platforming allegations of sexual violence. These allegations regard an individual involved in several activist spaces in our city.

Charlotte Metro DSA stands in solidarity with FNB in their pursuit of restorative justice for the survivor(s) as they come forth. Our organization has zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment and will refuse to work with anyone credibly accused of such—or the organizations which uncritically harbor them. We recommend that everyone check out @clt_food_not_bombs on Instagram for details on the developing situation and how to support the survivor(s).

As a reminder, per DSA's Resolution 33, we have a grievance policy in place to seek justice for survivors and hold perpetrators accountable in our organization. If you would like to file a grievance or learn more about our process, please check out https://charlottedsa.org/grievance-policy.

As socialists, we recognize sexual violence as an outgrowth of patriarchy, itself one of the principal ways our capitalist society divides the working class and furthers our collective exploitation. The fight for socialism is inseparable from the fight for women's liberation. We have to look out for our comrades and allies by fostering welcoming and inclusive organizing spaces. This will require us to seriously reflect on how we can set an example of feminist community and organization as we fight for the overthrow of class society and its systemic perpetration of patriarchy.

In solidarity,

Charlotte Metro DSA Steering Committee

Written by Collin R.

On the 11th of February 2025, the voters of Seattle will decide the fate of Proposition 1A: the people’s plan to dedicate funding to the Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD). Seattle DSA worked in coalition with House Our Neighbors on Initiative 135 to create the Seattle Social Housing Developer and Initiative 137 (I-137) to get Proposition 1A on the ballot, which is it is essential that we as socialists mobilize to ensure the success of this important step towards creating a more equitable city.

Proposition 1A will create a 5% excess payroll compensation tax on businesses paying an employee more than $1 million, which will raise ~$50 million per-year—enough to provide 2000 social housing units to a city over the next 10 years. TLDR: the wealthiest corporations of Seattle will contribute 5 cents of every dollar they pay an employee above $1 million to house thousands of their neighbors.

Politically, it is essential that we nullify the dirty tactics of the corporate backed members of the city council. After delaying the adoption of I-137 to appease their corporate backers to ensure it wouldn’t appear on the high-turnout November ballot, councilmembers Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, Sara Nelson, Joy Hollingsworth, Rob Saka, and Robert Kettle are attempting to hijack the people’s initiative with Proposition 1B: the Chamber of Commerce’s plan to strangle the SSHD in one hand and the city’s JumpStart funding in the other.

Proposition 1B would generate but one fifth of Proposition 1A’s funding and sunset after 5 years, meaning the SSHD will neither be able to provide nearly enough housing to even slightly close the housing deficit nor capitalize on experience with long-term plans. Most insidiously, Proposition 1B robs Peter to pay Paul: it plans to fund the SSHD by taking $10 million from JumpStart funding, an already existing payroll tax which funds private affordable housing, nutrition assistance, grants to small businesses, and support for immigrant families. Apparently, Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, and Robert Kettle think there isn’t a housing crisis, people face no difficulties affording food, small businesses have no financial issues, and immigrants can be ignored.

Ensuring Proposition 1A passes is a critical step forward for the socialist movement in Seattle and the United States. Proposition 1A validates the political labor our comrades have contributed to organizing a robust social housing program in Seattle, and represents a mandate for socialist housing policy over the current ineffective privatized approach. Seattle voters are tired of the tent cities adjacent to neighborhoods lined with walled mansions that materially and symbolically embody capitalist barbarism. Not only us socialists, but all ethically conscious human beings demand the equitable decency that social housing provides. Adequately funding the SSHD is especially critical given the current financial climate, as private affordable housing developers are suffering from a capital crunch due to ballooning costs. A dedicated revenue stream will insulate the provision of affordable housing from market fluctuations, and while 2000 units over the next 10 years is far from enough to alleviate the city’s housing crisis, it’s an essential step in proving that a better world is possible.

Without establishing an independent funding mechanism to provision the Seattle Social Housing Developer, the housing crisis will exacerbate and inequalities will widen. This is exactly why tens of thousands of voters signed I-137: to establish a new and independent funding mechanism for the SSHD. Proposition 1A will fulfill this goal, while Proposition 1B will only further strain the already overburdened funding bottlenecks in affordable housing. As socialists, we must mobilize to ensure our city takes a step on the right side of history.

Join us the morning of January 4th to kick off 2025 talking to voters about raising progressive revenue to fund permanently affordable social housing! Dozens of volunteers all across the city will be knocking doors letting voters know that they have a chance to lead the nation on a proven housing solution. With Proposition 1A, Seattle will take a leap forward towards addressing the housing crisis – but we need your help to make that possible!

Starting Jan. 4th through election day on Feb. 11th we will be knocking thousands of doors turning out our neighbors who support and benefit the most from social housing. Once folks arrive around 10:30am, we will have a short training on door knocking, Proposition 1A, and social housing so you are set up for success at the doors. At around 11:00am we will officially kick off and start hitting the doors!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the field director Ben Ferlo at field@houseourneighbors.org. We hope to see you then – let’s build social housing!

RSVP for the kickoff events happening nearest to you to receive any updates or changes to this event!

Beacon Hill: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747105/

Capitol Hill: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747089/

Columbia City: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747088/

Fremont: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747087/

North U-District: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747093/

Wallingford: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747092/

Thorn West: Issue No. 222

City Politics

• LAist talks with incoming (DSA-LA-endorsed councilmember Ysabel Jurado about her vision for CD 14. Conversely, Streetsblog LA covers the last day of outgoing CD14 councilmember Kevin de León. 

• The office of City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has elected to press charges against several dozen activists who were arrested while blocking traffic on the 110 Freeway, to demand an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

• A report from the CAO updates the city’s worsening budget problem.

Health Care

• The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health launched the Medical Debt Relief Program. The program enables the county to purchase $500 million of qualifying county residents’ medical debt, at a fraction of its cost. The debt is then automatically forgiven.
• Governor Newsom has declared a state of emergency to combat the spread of bird flu, following several confirmed cases across the state.

Labor

• LAUSD school principals have voted to join the Teamsters union. The result of the election is seen as a rebuke of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho who has pushed to cut administrative jobs and increase principal workloads.

Housing Rights

• LA Public Press projects the various ways that an incoming Trump administration could disrupt housing and homelessness policy in Los Angeles.

• The city’s Board of Transportation Commissioners has voted not to transfer a city parking lot in Venice, which is planned for use by a low income housing project. City Council can vote to override the decision. A lawsuit against the city alleges that officials, including City Attorney Feldstein Soto and Councilmember Traci Park, have colluded to sabotage the project.

Transportation

• The incoming Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to the long-planned high speed rail project connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Incarceration

• CalMatters places Proposition 36, which will result in more people being incarcerated in the California prison system, in the context of the state’s obscenely high number of inmate deaths.

• Last week, the LA County Probation Department announced that it will not comply with a state order to close the understaffed and unsafe Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. This week the Board of Supervisors later voted 4–1 to declare a state of emergency in a last-ditch effort to keep the dysfunctional facility open.

Environmental Justice

• The Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to California’s vehicle emission standards – which are more strict than the federal standard – leaving them in place for now.

• Demands to close the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility have thundered since it was the site of the largest methane leak in U.S. history, nine years ago. Despite public outrage, today the California Public Utilities Commission voted to delay the closure indefinitely, until such time as the demand for natural gas has dropped.

The post LA County Pilots Medical Debt Relief Program + New Councilmembers Seated appeared first on The Thorn West.