Why And How To Strike On May Day
Posted 12 years ago on April 21, 2012, 12:46 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
originally published at StrikeEverywhere.net
Why are we striking? Why should you strike? And, what do we mean by General Strike?
We are striking to halt the flow of capital, reclaim a tool of resistance, and unify movements against exploitation, repression, and corruption. You should join the movement and strike because: everyone else will be doing it and it’ll be fun and empowering. But more importantly, join because you’ve experienced exploitation, repression, and corruption, and you are aware of their impact around you. Join if you are forced to work and consume; if you want to have a choice for an alternative.
By general strike, we mean everyone from all walks of life halting their role in producing, consuming, and participating within the current system. We invite the precarious workers, unemployed, undocumented, students, and everyone to join.
What do you get out of striking?
You can empower yourself. It’s an opportunity to directly stand up against what you feel is wrong. You can network. It’s an opportunity to meet and connect with others who want to improve the world for themselves and for others. You can learn about alternatives and resources that are available to you. It’s an opportunity to learn what other groups are doing to create alternatives, and what resources they are providing. You can get so much from striking; come out and learn what striking can do for you!
Curious about the General Strike on May 1 2012 but unsure what you can do?
Here are some easy, minimally involved, and low risk things you can do.
In Advance, starting now:
- Plan ahead, take a vacation. Take a personal day or two off and make a long weekend of it.
- Subscribe to the StrikeEverywhere mailing list and learn about the organizing https://lists.riseup.net/http://www.subscribe/strikeeverywhere/
- Attend meetings, benefits, and actions leading up to May 1st to get a feel for what the General Strike might be like.
April 27th - 30th:
- Use the long weekend to attend free workshops about the general strike, direct action, etc.
- Go to benefits, shows, and parties. Be social and meet others who will be participating in the General Strike. Build energy, excitement, and new friendships.
- Build an affinity group, or find a buddy or crew of friends who will go to the General Strike with you.
- Attend meetings and be a part of organizing for the General Strike. Or attend to learn about the plans and how to prepare.
- Put up stickers, posters, flyers, and agitate for the General Strike.
- If you are from out of town: pick up a map and learn the layout of the city and where you can plugin.
April 30th – May 1st:
- Out of vacation days? Take a sick day or two. Make a long weekend of it.
- Don’t get sick days? You’re not a slave, take a couple days off.
- Don’t spend money. Make use of the free resources that will be available through groups like OWS and others organizing alternatives to capitalism. Take part in and enjoy these alternatives!
- Come out into the streets and see what other people are doing. See for yourself what is happening (don’t rely on the media to show you). Experience the General Strike for yourself!
- Join in and participate in actions or play it by ear if you are uncertain.
- Bring your friends, a crew, an affinity group, and everyone you know. The more people that you take to the streets with, the safer you will be.
Convinced? Planning to take part in the General Strike need something concrete to do:
- Go to StrikeEverywhere.net and look at the calendar of events to see if any of the actions are something you want to take part in.
- Go to http://strikeeverywhere.net/framework/new-york-city-tasks/ and volunteer to do a task, or suggest a new task for people working
Self-employed and unsure how you can participate?
You can stop producing and consuming. If you are a boss, give your workers and yourself a long weekend. Come out to the streets. Participate in and enjoy alternatives to capitalism.
Unemployed and uncertain how you can participate in a strike?
Come out into the streets, enjoy alternatives and resources that are made available to you. Join the movement, join people in the streets, and support others who are in the same position as you or in a precarious work situation.
Undocumented and uncertain how you can participate in a strike?
If you feel at risk, take precautions and make sure you feel safe at all times. If possible come out into the streets, enjoy alternatives and resources that are made available to you.
If these low risk activities result in any backlash or threats from your employer:
- Write us at info@strikeeverywhere.net
- Post it on facebook and twitter
You are not a slave, and have the right not to work. Actions will be organized to help shutdown hostile work environments and provide support and solidarity for those who chose to not work.
For Legal Support, contact:
National Lawyers Guild 212 679 6018
S t r i ke E ve r y w h e r e . n e t
Strike Everywhere!
Global General Strike!
info@strikeeverywhere.net
http://strikeeverywhere.net
facebook.com/strikeeverywhere
twitter.com/strikeeverywher
YES, I with this protest movement! Together this will have a big effect. It's coming and now we have the day. Expect US!!!
The Puzzler
OWS should make "Sustainability" their main goal. A sustainable society doesn't have ups and downs, and should encompass all of the major focal points of the movement.
This is a very exciting day for the history of this country. I am convinced that no matter how successful it is the mainstream media will play it down to the greatest possible extent. But I have a feeling it's success will nullify their efforts to do so. I am saying a prayer that all right-minded Americans will heed the call to take back our democracy; will set aside their sense of duty and security for courage and the call of freedom! Here's to May 1st!
I would like to put out a call for an all-out social media blitz to get the word out for this national strike!
OWS and it's allies have done a great thing just by putting the concept of a General Strike into the atmospherics, and an added bonus is a revival of May Day and all it means in the land of its birth.
FB, tweet, email tell everyone!
I Love It!!!
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Exactly what is this supposed to accomplish?
"We are striking to halt the flow of capital" In effect throw a monkey wrench into the gears of our weakened economy. The flow of capital is not the enemy, the people who have stolen our Democracy are. What will the decent people think when they are not able to do business. Won't they be angry at the people who are responsible? Why hurt the innocent when our force should be directed at the guilty? This will hurt the movement, not help it.
if they are selling products not produced with fair wage then that is part of the problem
So exactly how will not going to school help?
It won't help. It's a form of economic terrorism. Targeting the innocent working people for the crimes of the corrupt politicians and banksters.
Political and economic struggle is nasty and not neat and clean. Like Mao said, "a revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1927mao.html
Our own labor movement did not rely on the voluntary compliance of each and every worker in a strike. Picket lines were often rough and tumble affairs and accounts were sometimes settled with strike breakers later and in other places. Violence as well as appeals to reason is used by both sides to "convince" individuals to go with a particular program.
http://www.1channel.ch/watch-220430-Harlan-County-War
The violence of the bosses would consist of the threat of hunger, police and gun thug attacks, jail. Strikers had to find "counterarguments". When labor forgot these things it began to be lost.
Political and economic struggle is as nasty as we allow it to become. Will follow MLK and Ghandi's example.
Well while MLK and Ghandi didn't lead violent episodes there were plenty of them in their time and they were integral to those struggles.
Violence shown was integral to demonstrating who was on the side of injustice, non violence shown who was on the side of justice.
I do think the general strike should be amended to shop only from local retailers selling made in america or fair trade products from ethic business. However not buy from big corporations and products made from slave labor does send a message since we vote with the dollar as well as at the ballot box
I think each will do what he or she can do. This is an early baby step.
You didn't answer the question, if it won't help then why does the list include no school.
to spend time with family, to protest against the failing education system k-12, to protest the ever increasing fees and tuition hikes.
I'm not in favor of the tactics of the strike. If you look at my response above that begins with "We are striking to halt the flow of capital". The quoted words are what I'm responding to from the original post.
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The strike lacks a goal. If we want to make real economic change, we must force that change. It will not be given to us. A one day general strike with no clear direction of that force is like our raised fist taking a single punch at a thousand different opponents, landing on none of them. It feels like you are doing something positive but nothing is accomplished.
The strike IS the goal. I'll have to assume you didn't read all that stuff up there above your comment. This is called The Occupy Movement and we occupy public spaces and sometimes "private" ones, such as banks. We do this to create a chain of events. This strike is just one link in the chain we began creating back on Spt.17. All this hullabaloo in the streets is simply to make noise so that the kings of wall st. may hear us, and so that the corporate media hears us, but most importantly so that the rest of the people not out on the street, the 99%, can hear us loud and clear. We are a New Wave of change and we know if we struggle now the future will be ours and our children's and their children's and NOT for the bankers, the Billionaires like Bloomberg, and not for the crooked politicians who represent the interests of the corrupt capitalist class. We are going forward to create a new America in peace (no wars) with itself and it's neighbors; creating beauty and goods for all. The core of all this will be the working and middle classes: the wheel of historical change. Mayday is the International Day of the Working Classes! See you in the streets and let's make noise!!!
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I don't live in America, so someone please inform me of how this go's. Thank you.
It seems the above article should satisfy most of your questions.
For the most part, but some things weren't clear. Thank you for clearing those up:)
You're welcome.
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