Workers of the World

A REALLY EXCITING ACTION TODAY: The International Longshore & Warehouse Union is planning to SHUT DOWN ALL OF THE U.S.'s WEST COAST PORTS TODAY TO PROTEST THE WARS IN IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN!! I am floored, and wowed, and generally !ed by this May Day action. 29 ports will be shut down for 8 hours. Just imagine what a dent (and what a statement) it will make! It's really exciting to know that organized labor is using its organization to actively oppose war. We all know that strikes are a strategy for contract negotiations and other labor rights; how brilliant to use that strategy to demand an end to these outrageous wars and occupations, in recognition that these crimes against humanity affect all of us. Read the ILWU's call to action in their (PDF) newsletter here

Reading about this made me wonder how us "cultural workers" of the world can unite a bit more. There are a lot of amazing arts collectives out there (shout out to Just Seeds/Visual Resistance - please send in others you know of). How do we create a larger coalition with deeper ties and organizee more effectively in ever more creative, surprising, and outlandish ways? Calling all visionaries!

HAPPY MAY DAY!!