Strike Support

[STI]

Ok. So it's looking as though it's pretty probable that Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) workers will be going on an illegal strike this coming week, and myself and some of the other anarchists I'm active with have been talking about doing some strike support.

...Thing is, what does that actually involve? Bringing donuts and coffee to the picket lines? Organizing large groups of people (a black bloc or flying squad, I guess) to picket with them? Bumming out cigarettes?

Share your thoughts and experiences, or else! :angry:

[violencia.Proletariat]

Well if they are going in for the long haul try and open up a day care free of charge. Financial support most deffinetly, etc. I dont see why unions/support groups dont raise funds/services to provide strikers ahead of time.

[which doctor]

Bring out some food, perhaps some hot coffee. The workers got to eat to. Associate yourself with the anarchist movement so the workers will understand that anarchists want to help the workers. I wouldn't suggest a blac bloc because those tend to just disrupt the workers. Don't make the workers your enemy!

[Severian]

Ask the strikers what kind of help they need. They'll have a better idea than anyone.

If the strike's illegal, it can be important to start arguing for the right to strike ahead of time; publicizing why they're striking, inviting postal workers to come speak to any audience you can arrange for 'em, starting with other unions, etc.

[Forward Union]

A couple of things, Money, and stuff to read.

Naturally the best support you've given them is by being there. It's very useful to have numbers, especially if the police try anything.

[Alexknucklehead]

Originally posted by Additives [email protected] 11 2006, 10:40 AM
A couple of things, Money, and stuff to read.

Naturally the best support you've given them is by being there. It's very useful to have numbers, especially if the police try anything.
I don't think using picket lines to sell newspapers and ram things down their necks in the old Trot fashion is a particularly good idea, just have a chat with them but be open about your politics.

The police trying anythings a bit far fetched isn't it, the strikes we have nowadays are hardly on the level on running battles between the cops and the miners are they :lol:

[Forward Union]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 06:27 PM
The police trying anythings a bit far fetched isn't it,

Sigh, very true. We'd all like strikers to be more confrontational. :ph34r:

[STI]

The police trying anythings a bit far fetched isn't it, the strikes we have nowadays are hardly on the level on running battles between the cops and the miners are they laugh.gif

Stranger things have happened. Remember, it is an illegal strike - it's against the law for them to be picketting. Police intervention is definately possible.

[violencia.Proletariat]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 11:50 AM

The police trying anythings a bit far fetched isn't it, the strikes we have nowadays are hardly on the level on running battles between the cops and the miners are they laugh.gif

Stranger things have happened. Remember, it is an illegal strike - it's against the law for them to be picketting. Police intervention is definately possible.


As Severian has said, make some signs legitimizing the strikes. Even if the slogan is cheesy like "liberation is not illegal" or "Why do ceo's get all the wage increases?"

[Alexknucklehead]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 04:04 PM
"liberation is not illegal"
Haha thats terrible man...

[violencia.Proletariat]

Originally posted by Alexknucklehead+Feb 12 2006, 12:15 PM--> (Alexknucklehead @ Feb 12 2006, 12:15 PM)
[email protected] 12 2006, 04:04 PM
"liberation is not illegal"
Haha thats terrible man... [/b]
Sorry Alex that I dont take the time to come up with catchy anarchist phrases like "right wing scum your time has come" :lol:

[Alexknucklehead]

Well you could have at least come up with something that didn't make it seem like some ALF nutters were doing strike support ;)

In seriousness though, I think if you're going to take a banner make it something easy and general...like 'working class solidarity'.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Or "Direct action gets the goods"

[violencia.Proletariat]

I thought of one, back in the depression they had a saying "wave the hoover flag" in other words pull your pockets out of your pants to show they were empty. So make a sign that says, wave the working class flag (or wave the flag the bourgeois gives us), and everyone has their pockets hanging out.

[bayano]

ive done a lot of strike support and there are many different kinds. (Incidentally, i briefly mentioned this looming strike on my blog, and would love any one the ground details if ud like)

as one person said, ask the workers. if they need Food Not Bosses (tho the union should be able to obtain food), free daycare, guerrilla theatre/dance/music/festive picket fun, or other services, that would be a great idea.

on the other hand, organizing flying pickets, or perhaps doing some things that the workers or the unions are uneasy about doing but wouldnt condemn can help to. if its not legal to picket the residences of the decision makers, for instance, that can be where u guys take the lead. or, carry out some front line defense if it looks like the cops might go cruisin to do some bruisin.

publicize the strike. talk to workers/unions u have access to about supporting it, and try to sway public opinion in ur own circles.

and check to see if the union has a lot of money. its possible the union has the funds to provide food, childcare, publicity, etc., but just isnt willing to go to certain measures.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Ask the strike organizers that you want to support them and want to picket with the strikers and help with informational packets and whatnot. In an illegal strike, the strike leaders may be a bit skethcy about help from radicals, but just be open about your politics and open that you are there to help and don't get discoraged if some official tries to red-bait you; they need your help, so any red-baiting would only be designed to make you hide your politics.

[bayano]

oh, and another way. in another forum, someone mentioned union busting companies.

so, go after whichever union busting firms or law offices are being used. this is a public strike, but in private sector strikes, u can go after other enterprises or customers of the offending business. say its a hotel strike, well, if the company that owns the hotel also owns a restaurant, caterer, factory, or something else, u can picket and protest these other branches of the business.