The Colorado Springs Democratic Socialists of America strongly condemns the brutal attack on the National Garment Workers Federation by capitalist goons as the workers demanded Eid bonuses for workers  producing clothing for international brands. The goons attacked and injured leadership and many women who were out demanding fair compensation for the Eid holiday.

These workers create $30 billion in wealth for the country and yet struggle to live on 417 Taka per day (less than $4 a day, $113 a month). Garment workers protested for months demanding 22,000 Taka ($208) minimum wage, highlighting the wealth they create for the country, and yet the government refused to listen and settled on the lower minimum wage. Each year as workers celebrate the Eid holiday, garments workers rely on Eid bonuses to help with the costs of celebrations. This year as garment workers struggle to survive despite massive profits within the industry, the NGWF marched to demand that workers get their Eid bonuses. While they marched, they were brutally attacked. Despite this they have continued to demand they get their deserved Eid bonus and have marched in condemnation of the attacks. 

We send our support and solidarity and demand that workers get their Eid bonus and that the attackers are held accountable for their actions. We at the Democratic Socialists of America know that only a united global working class can take on the power of the global capitalists and we stand with workers whenever they struggle for higher wages, rights and dignity. 

Solidarity,

Colorado Springs DSA

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If you’re interested in democratizing the economy then you’re going to need to build a social base capable of such a dramatic transformation of our way of life. The only way to shift the balance of power toward the working class is to build the labor movement. Organized labor remains weak in the United States with about 10 percent of all workers organized into unions. This number has dropped nearly 25 percent since the peak of the AFL-CIO during the 1950s following the incredible surge in organization in the mass production industries during the New Deal and World War II. What is to be done to demonstrate our strength in organized numbers? Today we continue our series with labor organizers here in New York City fighting to build unions in the service sector. We’ve already spoken with workers at Starbucks, Trader Joes, Barboncino’s, and Nitehawk. Now we’re joined by organizers from Partners Coffee Union who are attempting to form a collective organization that can improve their material interests.

All decisions to rent or purchase office space or other real estate must be approved by the General Membership of the chapter. A temporary Building Subcommittee may be formed to research and present office space and other real estate options to the membership for a vote, dissolving after the chapter concludes its search. Any member of the chapter in good standing may participate in the activities of the Building Subcommittee. The Treasurer, Office Manager, and Executive Committee will be responsible for overseeing fundraising activities related to Milwaukee DSA’s office space and any other properties it rents or purchases.

Milwaukee DSA may raise money specifically for any real estate commitments. The funds available to pay for real estate commitments are made up of any money raised for this purpose, as well as any funds that were raised without a specific campaign, working group, committee, subcommittee, project, or event as the intended recipient. These are referred to as “unrestricted funds,” and the income to these funds as “unrestricted income.” Unrestricted funds and income include, but are not limited to, dues, general donations to the chapter, donations for maintaining an office or other piece of real estate, merchandise sales, and interest accrued on bank accounts.

Prior to the signing of any lease, unrestricted funds and/or funding commitments must be secured that are sufficient to cover one month’s rent for the space in question, as well as a security deposit if the terms of the lease require it.  If the aforementioned requirements are not met, no lease can be signed. If the space selected by the chapter’s General Membership is no longer available by the time these requirements have been met, another space may be selected by a subsequent vote of the General Membership.

If at any point the chapter’s monthly unrestricted income falls below 150% of the monthly cost of the chapter’s real estate commitments, the chapter’s General Membership must be informed at or before the next General Meeting. At the next General Meeting, there must be a discussion and a vote made by the General Membership on how to proceed. 

Towards a Socialist Opposition in Florida

We are pleasantly surprised by the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to approve the abortion rights ballot initiative. This is our chance to strike a small but powerful blow against the police state oppression of pregnant Floridians. We can enshrine our right to abortion in the Florida Constitution.

Pinellas and Tampa DSA will join DSA’s statewide campaign for the initiative and do all that we can to contribute. You’ll see us canvassing, fundraising, and rallying together, fighting for reproductive freedom.

No matter what happens, we will affirm the inherent right of pregnant people to defy these atrocious abortion bans. We will continue to criticize the initiative where it does not go far enough, and connect working class people with the resources they need to live free.
We will survive this fascist cruelty with our dignity intact. Together in solidarity, we will build a socialist opposition in Florida!

Join DSA today!

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