View Full Version : Labor Actions (Strikes)
dado potato
10-22-21, 3:24pm
The Cornell Labor Action Tracker now lists 255 strikes in the USA.
http://striketracker.ilr.cornell.edu
Labor militancy is increasing across the US. Some of the employers involved:
Amazon
Kellogg's
Nabisco
Frito-Lay
John Deere
Volvo Trucks
Frontier Communications
Kaiser Permanente
Catholic Health
Cook County Health
Columbia University
Tacoma Public Schools
Peoria Unified SD
East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools
With the growing income inequality over the past decades I'm surprised we didn't see this sooner, or more of it.
Labor militancy is increasing across the US.
Militancy?
How does this compare to the same period in 2018 or 2019?
dado potato
10-27-21, 1:41pm
This morning at about 6 AM a UAW striker at the John Deere facility in Milan IL was hit by a car and killed near the picket line. The vehicle was driven by a salaried Deere employee. In Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, the United Mine Workers of America, on strike against Warrior Met Coal since April 1, have complained about being rammed by vehicles driven by replacement workers (aka "scabs"). In both instances, the company took measures to continue operations during the strike by employing salaried workers. Conflict escalated as replacement workers crossed the picket lines.
In some states, such as Iowa and Oklahoma, the legislatures have passed bills in the wake of George Floyd BLM protests granting immunity to drivers whose vehicles strike and injure protestors on public streets. It is understandable that individuals are recognizing weaponized vehicles as a new factor in picket line confrontations.
It is understandable that individuals are recognizing weaponized vehicles as a new factor in picket line confrontations.
Is it also understandable that its never a good idea to play in traffic?
In some states, such as Iowa and Oklahoma, the legislatures have passed bills in the wake of George Floyd BLM protests granting immunity to drivers whose vehicles strike and injure protestors on public streets. It is understandable that individuals are recognizing weaponized vehicles as a new factor in picket line confrontations.
I believe I related my encounter with local protestors, who managed to completely box in my vehicle in the middle of an intersection for several minutes, while zestily waving their signs right in my face, approaching the windshield and windows of the vehicle while shaking the signs and shouting.
It could have ended very poorly.
I believe I related my encounter with local protestors, who managed to completely box in my vehicle in the middle of an intersection for several minutes, while zestily waving their signs right in my face, approaching the windshield and windows of the vehicle while shaking the signs and shouting.
It could have ended very poorly.
Didn’t they teach you in driver’s Ed that it’s acceptable to run people over?
happystuff
10-28-21, 10:14am
This morning at about 6 AM a UAW striker at the John Deere facility in Milan IL was hit by a car and killed near the picket line....... It is understandable that individuals are recognizing weaponized vehicles as a new factor in picket line confrontations.
That is so sad and so unnecessary!
Isn’t it indulging in a bit of ideological conclusion-jumping to assume this collision was intentional? My understanding was that the police were saying it did not appear so, but then I suppose the people who take the weaponized car narrative seriously are also receptive to the evil cop narrative.
I suppose if strikers getting struck by vehicles intentionally is as much of a thing as evil police are then at least one of these events will have a cell phone wielding teenager collecting receipts.
Didn’t they teach you in driver’s Ed that it’s acceptable to run people over?
I was not free to go about my business, move, or even to exit my vehicle. Because of the intentional actions of other people, who freely admitted to local press that they "wanted people to feel the fear".
Well, RCW 9A.40.040 says such actions are a Class C felony.
RCW 9A.16.020 and RCW 9A.16.050 state that force can be used to prevent such things, or to escape from them.
Furthermore, the way the protestors were milling around in the blind spots of vehicles seemed quite likely to produce injuries. I almost simply parked the car in the middle of the intersection and exited, abandoning the vehicle, save that I was unable to even get out of it.
iris lilies
10-28-21, 5:42pm
I was not free to go about my business, move, or even to exit my vehicle. Because of the intentional actions of other people, who freely admitted to local press that they "wanted people to feel the fear".
Well, RCW 9A.40.040 says such actions are a Class C felony.
RCW 9A.16.020 and RCW 9A.16.050 state that force can be used to prevent such things, or to escape from them.
Furthermore, the way the protestors were milling around in the blind spots of vehicles seemed quite likely to produce injuries. I almost simply parked the car in the middle of the intersection and exited, abandoning the vehicle, save that I was unable to even get out of it.
Class C felony won’t even get you a look from our city prosecutor.
For every sad story of a protestor being run down (and it IS sad whether accidental or intentional) there are hundreds, and lately thousands of people unable to “go about their business” or move their vehicle due to protestors illegally occupying public streets. Interstate 70 is a popular spot for shutting down traffic here in St. louis. Big semi-trucks screeching to a halt, and then sitting for hours is what the protestors want, apparently.
https://www.kmov.com/news/george-floyd-protests-st-louis-man-killed-fedex-truck/article_f8a89482-a259-11ea-84b8-a374c58a7d47.html
This incident last year was presented by protesters as a Fed Ex truck deliberately running over a protester. If you watch the video I think you’ll see there’s some or mitigating factors such as people jumping on the sideboard and flashing guns at the driver. Also many helpful protesters relieved the truck of its many packages while stepping on and over the man being dragged by the truck.
I wonder what the correct response is, once the protestors begin attempting to open the door of your vehicle, or strike the glass to effect entry?
I'm pretty sure the answer involves a lot of paperwork.
iris lilies
10-28-21, 7:52pm
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/989856412/oklahoma-law-grants-immunity-to-drivers-who-unintentionally-harm-protesters
This news article says the state of Oklahoma has put into place a law that relieves liability for those who escape a protest and in doing so injure people in the crowd. I can see where being surrounded by protesters would be a scary thing and you’d want to get your vehicle out of there. Reginald Denny anyone?
But I don’t understand how a law can overturn standard laws about manslaughter and or murder.
But I don’t understand how a law can overturn standard laws about manslaughter and or murder.I don't think they do, but you'd never know that from the standard media refrain about beleaguered union members suffering at the hands of evil capitalists and 'scabs'.
But I don’t understand how a law can overturn standard laws about manslaughter and or murder.
I don't think they do. Here in WA, as I mentioned above, use of force is allowed to the citizenry to escape from this sort of situation. Even deadly force if need be.
Probably committing felonies against other citizens in the streets isn't a good plan.
As always the devil will be in the details. Since Charlottesburg running over protestors one disagrees with seems to have become a thing. Perhaps it was a thing before but just didn't have media attention, I have no idea. But it will be unfortunate if these laws become get out of jail free cards in the way that in some states stand your ground means it's ok to stalk someone as they are walking down the street and cause a confrontation resulting in a situation where you feel the need to "stand your ground".
But it will be unfortunate if these laws become get out of jail free cards in the way that in some states stand your ground means it's ok to stalk someone as they are walking down the street and cause a confrontation resulting in a situation where you feel the need to "stand your ground".
WA State has had, in essence, a "stand your ground" law for many decades, and the streets are not running red with the blood of innocents shot by ground-standers.
Perhaps other forces are at work.
WA State has had, in essence, a "stand your ground" law for many decades, and the streets are not running red with the blood of innocents shot by ground-standers.
Perhaps other forces are at work.
Or perhaps the laws and the court decisions are not the same as in other states. As I said, as with most things the devil is in the details. It may not be that there isn't an asshole like Zimmerman in Washington but simply that the assholes like Zimmerman who live there understand that they will be treated differently than they would in Florida.
Is vehicular manslaughter as a tool of political oppression really “a thing”, or are people trying to spin up a few incidents into a trend?
Teacher Terry
10-29-21, 2:47pm
A few people locally have run over demonstrators. I also don’t believe people should be demonstrating in the streets. They need to stay on the sidewalk.
I don’t think the first amendment mentioned being restricted to sidewalks.
I don’t think the first amendment mentioned being restricted to sidewalks.
No it isn't, but anyone stepping into traffic to exercise that right is taking a terrible risk. One that once taken can't really be blamed on someone else.
I don’t think the first amendment mentioned being restricted to sidewalks.
Nor does it mention sticking my hand in a wood chipper. It’s really more of a natural selection thing than a constitutional issue.
I don’t think the first amendment mentioned being restricted to sidewalks.
It also doesn't mention that you can unlawfully imprison another citizen to force them to listen to your speech.
The Supreme Court has issued a few opinions on the matter of parade permits, and parades/gatherings as speech. There are some bits in some of them about blocking traffic and violating laws.
dado potato
10-29-21, 6:15pm
I try to make sense of the violence in places where it seems to be new or running amok. I am at a loss to understand it.
happystuff
10-30-21, 10:58am
I try to make sense of the violence in places where it seems to be new or running amok. I am at a loss to understand it.
I don't think violence ever makes sense and finds that it usually detracts from any message trying to be presented.
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