The documentary "The GAMA Strike: A victory for all workers" is now available online. This is an hour long program about the 2005 strike by migrant workers in Ireland, a bitterly fought struggle that eventually lead to major gains for the workers involved.

Winnipeg Indigenous Sovereignty Week – October 25-31, 2009

Sunday, Oct. 25, 11AM-3PM

Vegan ABC brunch with speakers starting at noon, including Darlene Necan of the Ojibways of Saugeen First Nation — Savant Lake, Ontario — on the struggles of her community for adequete housing and against the continued aerial spraying and clearcutting of the traditional land use base of her people.

@ Mondragon Bookstore and Cafe, 91 Albert St; Brunch $10

Monday Oct. 26, 7PM

Film ‘Green Green Water,’ with discussion on Manitoba Hydro’s violation of Aboriginal rights in N. Manitoba @ Eckhardt-Grammatte, third floor, University of Winnipeg

Tuesday Oct 27

5PM: Winnipeg Copwatch will be hosting “Start your own Copwatch” Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre, Langside at S of Ellice.

7PM: Film: ‘The Scars of Mercury’ and discussion on history of mercury poisoning of indigenous commnities @ Eckhardt-Grammatte, third floor, University of Winnipeg

Wednesday Oct. 28, 7:30PM

Panel:: Urban Issues and community policing – 7:30 U of W Eckhart-Grammatte Hall, third floor

Thursday Oct 29

12-2PM: Film ‘Finding Dawn’ with presentations and discussion, Aboriginal House University of Manitoba

7-11PM: Sovereign Indigenous Voices – spoken word and music -Urban Shaman Gallery, 203-290 McDermot Avenue

Friday Oct. 30

Sovereignty expressed. Decolonizing the street. Email winnipeg.ipsm@gmail.com for more information or to partake in planning this unique event…

Saturday Oct 31, 12-4PM

Defenders of the Land: Voices of Resistance – Panel and Workshop

Featuring four Aboriginal activists standing up to the Tar Sands, Hydroelectricity’s floods and broken promises, uranium mining, and clearcut logging — panel and workshops @ University of Winnipeg Bulman Student Centre, Spence St. doors and downstairs

Guest speakers include Sam McKay of the KI community – one of the KI6 – in Ontario; Mike Mercredi of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, on the tar sands; a hydro-affected community member; and a member of Grassy Narrows First Nation

Presented by:

Boreal Action Project, abc winnipeg, U of W Aboriginal Student Council, Ka Ni Kanichihk, winnipeg indigenous peoples solidarity movement /Friends of Grassy Narrows, ECOPIA, Winnipeg Copwatch, CKUW, UMFM, New Socialist Group, U of M Aboriginal Students Assocation, U of M Womyn’s Centre, U of W Aboriginal Governance Program, U of M Department of Native studies, University of Winnipeg Students Association, U of M Department of History

Every worker around the world understands that privatization is an one of the most dangerous and on going attacks on our class. In Winnipeg, we are fighting against the stealth privatization of the city 's water and waste departments. In Croatia, the The Network of Anarcho-Syndicalists (MASA) are at the forefront of fighting against the privatization of the biggest Croatian shipyards –the '3rd May' shipyards.

This is a slightly old call out for solidarity, but the campign is still on going, so any messages of solidarity are appreciated. Originally brought to our attention by Anarcho-Syndicalism 101:

Since the Croatian government and the existing political elites want to see Croatia as a member of the European Union, all the shipyards are soon to be privatized. The shipyards, employing around ten thousand workers, are indebted and robbed, and they are being selled for, literally, one Croatian kuna. Apparently, every buyer must keep the majority of the employees, and in that way, our government washes its hands. But, the workers know what to expect. They are aware of the fact that we will soon see the case of Poland repeating in Croatia, and they don’t like that at all. The workers are even more sinking into apathy and despair.

Rijeka’s local group of The Network of Anarcho-Syndicalists (MASA), whose members work in one of the biggest Croatian shipyards – 3rd May - which has over 3 000 employees, is trying to “shake up the workers”, and to offer them “a saving belt” form apathy, alienation and despair into which we are sinking more and more every day because of capitalism. We can see only one possible solution for this problem and that’s the direct action of the workers, through the idea of direct democracy and through organizing the workers’ plenum! With their rebellion and with blocking their faculties, the Croatian students have used in practice one of the main anarchist ideas – direct democracy! They have achieved the emergence of this idea to the surface and, hopefully, this idea shall be use for other battles also. As an organization, MASA promotes the idea of direct-democratic organizing of society and production, opposing to the existing system that is combined of the state and capitalism. But, it is not easy to organize the workers’ plenum. To make this idea effective, a lot of effort, work and struggle are required. So, writing this, we are calling for your action of solidarity. We are asking from all the organizations, especially from those akin to MASA, that are promoting the ideas of direct democracy, to write a letter of support to the shipyard workers organizing the workers’ plenum. The letter of support doesn’t have to be long; it doesn’t have to be a work of art, what’s important is an act of solidarity with the workers, so they will know that they are not alone, they will know that their comrades are with them. Send your letter of support to the following e-mail address: sec.international[at]masa-hr.org So far, we have received letters of solidarity from comrades from syndicates: Priama Akcia (Slovakia), USI (Italy), Solidarity Federation (United Kingdom), CRAS (Russia), AIT (Portugal) and NSF (Norway). Thank you for your support. We hope that workers will succeed in their attempts! We hope that together with them we will be able to organize the first workers’ plenum in Croatia. Direct democracy and direct action! Plenum’s to the workplaces! Juraj Katalenac International Secretary of MASA sec.international[at]masa-hr.org Few notes: 1) Plenum - Term used by Croatian students in their blockades for direct democratic general assembly. 2) Picture used here's actually MASA's sticker which say: "Shipyards to the workers! Management into the sea!"

See also: http://www.masa-hr.org

here's an event announcement forwarded from a friend of the branch. Looks like it would be an fun and interesting night:


Sat., November 7, 2009
5:30 p.m. Drinks 7:00 p.m. Dinner Music Speakers
with John Humphrey, Trade Union Commission,
Communist Party of Canada

Ukrainian Labour Temple
591 Pritchard Ave.

$50 - $28.13 tax credit
$35 - No show (will not attend) - $26.25 tax credit
$10 Unemployed
Cheques or money orders payable to:
“Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba”

Advance sales only.

Call 586-7824 or visit:

North End Socialist Centre,
387 Selkirk Ave. (at Salter)
586-7824*

Workers Organizing Resource Centre,
280 Smith St. (between Portage & Graham)
947-2220*

Mondragon Bookstore & Restaurant
91 Albert St. (at Bannatyne)
946-5241*

From LaborStart:

Under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi trade unions were held in the regime's tight grip.

When that regime fell, independent trade union activists emerged from the underground and quickly set up new, and free, unions.

Today those unions are united as the General Federation of Iraqi Workers and are a beacon of hope to the Iraqi people who have suffered for so long.

But they are once again under threat of state control.

The Iraqi government is attempting to wrest control of the unions, and the unions are fighting back.

They've asked us to launch a global campaign in defense of their independence and it will take you less than a minute to add your voice in their support.

Please click here to learn more and to send off your message of protest to the Iraqi government.

And pass this message on to your fellow union members.

Thanks very much.

Eric Lee

Here is an appeal from CNT-f's Federation of Education Workers, please check it out. The was fist posted on Molly Blog:

Against state repression in Poitiers:

Against state repression in Poitiers

The CNT Federation of Education Workers protests the harsh punishment that has fallen on comrades in Poitiers since October 10.

Following the demonstration against the closure and the construction of the private prison in Vivonne, eighteen people, including certain militants, have been arrested and placed in custody. Some have even been arrested when they did not attend the demonstration! Judged at first appearance - legal name 'expeditious justice' - three of them were sentenced to prison.

To silence the social movement, the state has arbitrarily chosen three innocent scapegoats and uses this pretext to implicate all local activists. Hortefeux (Molly note=I just can't translate this. My Larousse and two online translation services gave me no help. I assume it means something like "quickly" ie "pants on fire" because of the "feux" part or perhaps something like "slyly" or perhaps something totally different. Perhaps a francophone could help me out here )reactive fear of the internal enemy and used it to push through new 'libericidal' laws ie "an inventory of places of community life that bring together the potentially violent anarchist mileau", "a very precise identification of the small groups that organized these events," and the "dissolution of these groups".

The CNT Federation of Education Workers calls for the creation of support committees for those charged or joining existing ones. We denounce a state that uses police violence, the wicked laws and a biased "justice" which aims to destroy all social protest. We will continue to fight against the closure, we will continue to participate in demonstrations against all violence, economic, social and political. We will continue to struggle and develop self management and solidarity against fear and injustice.

CNT FTE

Toulouse, October 17, 2009
Contacts of the CNT FTE: http://www.cnt-f.org/fte/ (site), fede-educ@cnt-f.org (mail), 06 26 50 01 36 (phone).

Details of the prisoners:

- Patrick, sentenced to four months, four months suspended sentence and a fine of 800 € for assault on a police officer, Sam (treasurer of the CNT education 86) a month in prison, five-months suspended sentence for assault on a police officer, Jean-Salvy, a month in prison, five-month suspended sentence for assault on a police officer; Nathalie and Charles, two-month suspended sentence for possession of fireworks, Serge, six months suspended sentence, two years probation and € 2 850 d fine for malicious damage to private property, Leo, six months suspended sentence for deliberate damage by fire and throwing stones, Candice, six months suspended sentence and 950 € fine for deliberate damage to public property of . Moreover, the prosecution has filed an appeal for four of them.

- Upcoming trials: January 5, 2010, a minor (14 years) for rebellion and rejection of DNA sampling in Limoges, February 23, 2010, Angel (CNT education 86) and Sarah for refusing DNA collection (and refusing photos and fingerprints for Angel).

Information:

- The committee Poitevin against repression of social movements (http://antirepression.unblog.fr/ ) calls for a rally Monday, October 19 at 17:30 Place d'Armes, Poitiers. - A support blog for Sam and Jean-Salvy: http://soutiensametjeansalvy.over-blog.org/ To sign the call for their release: http://5237.lapetition.be/

To contact the support committee: soutiensametjeansalvy@gmail.com

Nick Ternette is a left-wing legend in Winnipeg, currently recovering from his bout with gangrene that claimed both his legs-and his teeth as well. The Winnipeg GMB sent Nick a card with all our support he needs. This event notice was originally posted on Molly Blog:

Today is the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. John Brown, a radical abolitionist, led twenty-one other men in the hopes of seizing the federal armory at Harper's Ferry, the holding place for approximately 100,000 rifles and muskets, hoping to arm slaves and create a violent rebellion against the south. However, after thirty-six hours the revolt was suppressed by federal forces led by Robert E. Lee and Brown was jailed. The raid resulted in thirteen deaths, twelve rebels and one U.S. Marine. After being found guilty of murder, treason, and inciting a slave insurrection, Brown was hanged on December 2, 1859.

Here is a piece from one of the founders of the I.W.W., Eugne V. Debs, on John Brown, as well as a music video of the song Goodbye to Old Ohio by Magpie remember 'Captain' John Brown:

John Brown: History’s Greatest Hero

by Eugene V. Debs

Appeal to Reason, November 23, 1907

The most picturesque character, the bravest man and most self-sacrificing soul in American history, was hanged at Charleston, Va., December 2, 1859.

On that day Thoreau said: “Some eighteen hundred years ago Christ was crucified. This morning, perchance, Captain Brown was hung. These are the two ends of a chain which is not without its links. He is not ‘Old Brown’ any longer; he is an Angel of Light… I foresee the time when the painter will paint that scene, no longer going to Rome for a subject; the poet will sing it, the historian record it, and with the landing of the Pilgrims and the Declaration of Independence it will be the ornament of some future national gallery, when at least the present form of slavery shall be no more here. We shall then be at liberty to weep for Captain Brown.’

Few people dared on that fateful day to breathe a sympathetic word for the grizzled old agitator. For years he had carried on his warfare against chattel slavery. He had only a handful of fanatical followers to support him. But to his mind his duty was clear, and that was enough. He would fight it out to the end, and if need be alone.

Old John Brown set an example of moral courage and of single-hearted devotion to an ideal for all men and for all ages.

With every drop of his honest blood he hated slavery, and in his early manhood he resolved to lay his life on Freedom’s altar in wiping out that insufferable affliction. He never faltered. So God-like was his unconquerable soul that he dared to face the world alone.

How perfectly sublime!

He did not reckon the overwhelming numbers against him, nor the paltry few that were on his side. This grosser aspect of the issue found no lodgment in his mind or heart. He was right and Jehovah was with him. His was not to reckon consequences, but to strike the immortal blow and step from the gallows to the throne of God.

Not for earthly glory did John Brown wage his holy warfare; not for any recognition or reward the people had it in their power to bestow. His great heart was set upon a higher goal, animated by a loftier ambition. His grand soul was illuminated by a sublimer ideal.

A race of human beings, lowly and despised, was in chains, and this festering crime was eating out the heart of civilization.

In the presence of this awful plague logic was silent, reason dumb, pity dead.

The wrath of retributive justice, long asleep, awakened at last and hurled its lurid bolt. Old John Brown struck the blow and the storm broke. That hour chattel slavery was dead.

In the first frightful convulsion the slave power seized the grand old liberator by the throat, put him in irons and threw him into a dungeon to await execution.

Alas! It was too late. His work was done. All Virginia could do was to furnish the crown for his martyrdom.

Victor Hugo exclaimed in a burst of reverential passion: “John Brown is grander than George Washington!”

History may be searched in vain for an example of noble heroism and sublime self-sacrifice equal to that of Old John Brown.

From the beginning of his career to its close he had but one idea and one ideal, and that was to destroy chattel slavery; and in that cause he sealed his devotion with his noble blood. Realizing that his work was done, he passed serenely, almost with joy, from the scenes of men.

His calmness upon the gallows was awe-inspiring; his exaltation supreme.

Old John Brown is not dead. His soul still marches on, and each passing year weaves new garlands for his brow and adds fresh luster to his deathless glory.

Who shall be the John Brown of Wage-Slavery?

From LabourStart:

On Saturday, October 10, thousands of Mexican Federal Police seized control of hundreds of installations of the state-owned Central Light and Power Company (Luz y Fuerza del Centro), which supplies electricity to Mexico City and several neighbouring states.

Minutes later the government announced that the company was being liquidated and the 40,000 unionized workers dismissed.

If allowed to stand, the government's decree could lead not only to the privatization of the country's electrical industry, but also to the destruction of the Mexican Electrical Workers' Union (SME) and elimination of its members' collective agreement and pension benefits for 15,000 retirees.

The SME is one of Mexico's oldest independent trade union organizations with one of the best collective agreements in the country. It has been playing a leading role in the fight against privatization, proposed regressive reforms to the Federal Labour Law, and other neoliberal policies.

Its destruction would therefore represent a major setback for Mexico's independent labour movement and for all Mexican workers.

Please click here to send on your protest

From IUF:

Coca-Cola Ireland Workers need your support!

Workers at Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co (Coca-Cola HBC), organized in the IUF's Irish affiliate SIPTU, have been walking the picket lines at 5 company distribution centers since August 27 in a tough struggle against a harsh attack on their working conditions.

In June, the company announced a plan to restructure operations by outsourcing the workplaces to third party providers with massively reduced terms and conditions for the outsourced employees. The “alternative” offer of keeping the jobs in CCHBC stipulated a reduction in terms and conditions amounting to up to 40% (Coca-Cola Hellenic: Workers pay, Shareholders profit from crisis). The union proposed talks to examine alternatives to outsourcing, but HBC rejected negotiations for a new agreement with jobs being performed by directly employed staff. Management insisted there was no alternative to outsourcing, and jobs would have to go.

SIPTU served strike notice on August 20 and took industrial action one week later. On September.8, 130 members were sacked despite the ongoing industrial dispute. The company then rejected as too "costly" the September 18 recommendations of the Labour Court to open negotiations on restructuring in line with past practice.

On October 7, the SIPTU congress called for international solidarity and support for its members at Coca-Cola HBC. SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor described the conflict at Coca-Cola as “Symptomatic of the drive in our society to solve the problems caused by gross mismanagement of the economy entirely at the expense of working people." Calling for international protest, he said "We have to take the issues to them in Ireland, in the UK, in Europe and in the United States. We will be there, wherever they are.”

You can support SIPTU and the Irish Coca-Cola workers -

Click here to send a message to the company now!

The IWW’s General Defense Committee Local 6 is calling on all GDC and IWW members to pass the hat at meetings and in their community to help us raise CDN $1,500 (US$1,300) to pay for the legal defense of Fellow Worker Andrew Nellis, an organizer of the Ottawa Panhandlers Union. We want to reach this target by November 30.

FW Nellis won the immediate court battle when the City of Ottawa prosecutors dropped the charges against him. They decided to do so when faced with his lawyer’s groundwork for a constitutional challenge to the city’s removal of shelter from the homeless in one of Canada’s coldest cities. FW Nellis had tried to cut a padlocked gate on a fence that was put up to prevent the homeless from sleeping under a downtown underpass as part of May Day 2008 organizing.

To date, Local 6 has raised one-fifth of the funds needed to pay Andrew’s legal bills, so we have about CDN $1,200 to go. Andrew cannot work and is fighting the city for access to disability funding, so he cannot pay these bills on his own. So that is where our funding appeal for donations of all sizes (from $5 to $20 or more) comes in to support his outstanding organizing work and to settle accounts with the lawyer so that he, too, can engage in future defense work.

Please donate now through www.paypal.com by sending your personal gift to gdc6@ottawaiww.org or visit our web page http://ottawaiww.org/?page_id=254 to donate using the Paypal button.

Alternately, please send cheques or money orders in any currency directed to “General Defense Committee”, at PO Box 52003, 298 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1S0.

All donations that exceed our target will be used to establish a dedicated defense fund for the Ottawa Panhandlers’ Union, which is on the frontline of defending the poor and working class in Ottawa and facing weekly police harassment and intimidation for doing it.

In defense of our class,

Peter Moore

Secretary-Treasurer

General Defense Committee Local 6

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

http://ottawaiww.org/?page_id=254

Headlines:

• Another Starbucks Barista Unjustly Fired
• Sydney Bus Drivers Take Wildcat Action
• Berry-Picking Vietnamese Guest Workers Go On Strike

Features:

• Delegate Convention Ushers in New Era of IWW
• Steve Early’s “Embedded With Organized Labor" reviewed
• South African Ladismith Cheese Stinks

Download a free PDF copy of this issue.

An Open Letter to the Serbian Consulate, Canada

We are writing to demand the immediate release of Tadej Kurep, Ivan Vulović, Sanja Dojkić, Ratibor Trivunac and Nikola Mitrović, activists of the Sindikalna konfederacija Anarho-sindikalistička inicijativa (ASI), Serbian section of the International Worker’s Association (IWA), who where arrested on Sept. 4 in Belgrade on absurd grounds of “international terrorism”. The prosecutor's assertions are clearly ridiculous and malicious in nature. It seems perfectly clear to us that the courts are being used to push conventional boundaries of what constitutes “terrorism” in order to hit non-violent activists accused of minor incidents with disproportionate sentences.

This attack on the ASI is an attack on every struggling worker. All dissenters should be concerned by the trend towards using the word “terrorist” to push a political agenda, instill fear, and chill dissent. We cannot allow these tactics, which where developed in the United States to persecute non-violent environmental activists, to frighten us into backing down our struggle against exploitation and greed, and for the creation of a better, more just and free world.

The Winnipeg General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) expresses solidarity with our detained comrades, offers unconditional support and help and is joining the calls for their immediate release and withdrawal of such absurd accusations.

AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!

LET THE CATS OUT!

Winnipeg General Membership Branch

Industrial Workers of the World

From Molly Blog:

As we organize strike support for the IBEW on strike against Manitoba Hydro (see previous posts here, here and here), this poster has had time to think what good strike support looks like. To that end, here is a really good article from Labor Notes on how to build strong strike support:

Building Strong Strike Support

— Chris Kutalik

As the clock struck 4 p.m., committee organizers paced anxiously around the empty banquet room. Dinners for 500 strikers and supporters sat simmering in unclaimed trays. By 4:30 the mostly still-empty room had reduced some of them to open worry.

In this case—a June tribute dinner for American Axle strikers—the day was saved by hundreds arriving an hour later, on “union time.” A few lessons on building a strong, well-running support committee could help a newbie strike supporter avoid all that anxiety in the first place.

GETTING A MOVE ON

As in a good contract campaign or a strategic strike, strike supporters should begin building as early as possible, ideally before a contract expires and a strike is likely.

In the real world, though, supporters—and often even strikers—have little to no control over how long workers are out walking pickets. An early start can cut the risk of being too little, too late.

While the American Axle Strike Support Committee, in a recent example, was built quickly, stayed organized, and pulled off a major event, it could not overcome the sobering fact that it was organized a week before the 87-day strike was over.

The committee, for all its good work, was mostly limited to building support efforts for strikers suffering from the settlement’s aftermath.

STARTING UP

Because major strikes have been infrequent this decade, support committees are often built on an ad hoc, local basis. In many cases, you need to pull together a group of individual activists you can quickly count on for your initial committee meeting.

Do you already work with a group of solidarity-minded union members or other activists in your workplace or community? Pull them in. Know sympathetic clergy members or community organizers? Bring them along.

If you are lucky enough to be in a city that has an active Jobs with Justice chapter, a central labor council with a “street heat” committee, local unions with a history of supporting other pickets, or labor-supporting community coalitions or activist groups, woo representatives from them. Keep in mind that these groups are not set up Red Cross-style for instant solidarity relief; pulling them in takes as much patient effort as bringing in individuals.

Strike support efforts in the Detroit area, for instance, often fall back on a loose network of groups such as the Action Coalition of Strikers and Supporters and the Wobbly Kitchen, both of which came out of the Detroit newspaper strike more than a decade ago.

Call and confirm with everyone you reach out to that they are coming to the first meeting.

WORKING WITH STRIKERS

Another important initial step is to get buy-in from the strikers themselves. This may seem like a no-brainer, but messy circumstances can make this tricky. A good goal is to have as many strikers and strikers’ family members as you can participating in the committee meetings, with solid lines of communication and trust between strikers and backers.

A good union either will have already marshaled its supporters before the strike or will be eager early on to find and work with supporters.

While the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association had no initial plan for community support in the Northwest Airlines mechanics strike in 2005, the union did reach out to fledgling supporters’ committees in several hub cities in the first weeks of the strike.

AMFA Local 5 took it an extra step by forming a solidarity committee of members who went out and walked other unions’ pickets, inspiring others in turn to join up with their strike support committee.

Unfortunately, a number of union leaders will be reluctant to work with outsiders or in some cases outright hostile. Sometimes you just need to respectfully convince skeptical or suspicious officers or members that outside support can open another, useful front in their fight.

Think about the best representative from your committee, such as a retired member of the local or a well-known community member, to approach them.

In other cases, where undemocratic or incompetent officers reign and may be antagonistic, look for other local officers or rank-and-file members you can work with—and damn the torpedoes. Tough fights throw up new activists and leaders from the ranks; seek them out.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

Regardless of your starting point, work relentlessly to broaden your initial support base. Make pitches for your committee at other meetings you attend—and organize others to do the same at theirs.

A public letter of support or a petition can be an organizing tool. As its first task, the American Axle committee wrote a solidarity statement that connected the strike to the broader concerns of the Detroit community.

The statement was used not just to make a symbolic argument for solidarity, but to pull in and publicize a wider range of support by approaching an ever-growing list of key signers. The statement was made into thousands of flyers and distributed (make sure to have a union bug on it) to a wide range of organizations.

As more names were added, different versions with the longer lists were produced. Many of those listed turned out small groups for the June dinner.

Use all the media available to get the “y’all come” message out. Write a short press release and send it around to the local press. Set up a simple website on an easy-to-use, free host like blogger.com. Example: Detroit Support: Detroit-area union and community members working to support unions..

If the strike is national or regional, look outside your city for other committees. A nationally coordinated network, as in the 1992-1995 Staley lockout or the 1985-86 Hormel strike, can be powerful.

FORCE MULTIPLIER

Once you have your committee built, figure out where to put your energy. Each strike has its particular needs, and the committee will have to hash out a number of questions. Does the strike look like a winner?

If yes, focus on building broader cross-union and community support and providing logistical support for picket lines. If no, then you may need to also figure out a more dramatic plan of action. Because strikers are shackled by a wide (and increasing) range of legal prohibitions, such as not being able to block scabs and deliveries, outside supporters can play an important role in militant actions. Make sure to get buy-in from committee members and strikers about their comfort range.

Solidarity efforts have arcs. A well-thought-out timetable of escalating actions will strengthen the overall effort. Start small with less-risky actions such as a community rally and work up the scale.

One example of a middle-range action was a car caravan at the Detroit airport in which mechanics strike supporters drove round and round in the terminal, snarling traffic. Well-supported strikes have upped the ante even further: the Detroit newspaper strike brought out hundreds who blockaded press plant gates over and over again.

Relearning the art of building support committees is a necessary piece in the overall revival of labor’s strike weapon.

----

As Always, Please join the Solidarity with Manitoba Hydro workers! facebook group to show your web support and the Negotiations Update page at IBEW site.

From the IBEW site, here's some instructions for those going to picket:

Instructions to Picketers

1. Report to the picket captain at the start of your shift. They will be identified by red arm bands located on their left arms

2. Picket signs or aprons must be worn at all times. These will be available through your picket captains

3. Patrol your assigned work area

4. Keep track of those who cross the picket lines and inform your picket captain

5. Don’t engage in debate or arguments with those whom choose to cross the picket line. SCABS or strike breakers should be told how you feel

6. Do not obstruct the general public

7. Refer all media requests to the Local Union Office at 1-866-356-2034

8. Keep the picket lines neat and please do not litter

9. We expect nothing less than to have peaceful picket lines and for members to obey all applicable laws

10. Picket captains have the authority to remove anybody causing a disturbance by fighting, uttering threats, being drunk, etc. If necessary the picket captain will contact local authorities to have the individual removed from the picket line or have charges laid. Illegal activities will not be tolerated by Manitoba Hydro or IBEW Local 2034

11. Retired workers may be contacted by Manitoba Hydro to perform our work. If they show up to cross the picket line they shall be treated as any other SCAB

12. In some larger locations port-a-potties will be provided

Remember:

The purpose of the picket line is to:

1) convey to the public that you are on strike

2) to restrict Manitoba Hydro’s business

You have a legal right to picket and inform the public. The public has the right to cross or not to cross your picket line. Do not worry about inconveniences that are created by your picket actions, they are legitimate.

We would also like to send out a call to all strikers on the line: We want to here from you! This blog is a blog for you, lets hear your experiences on the line. Drop us an email at: winnipegiww@hotmail.com.

Also remember to join the Solidarity with Manitoba Hydro workers! facebook group.