On this edition of Your Call, we discuss this year's labor strikes.
Over 20,000 teachers and school employees went on strike in West Virginia earlier this year, followed by a wave of educators in other states. In September, McDonald's workers went on strike over sexual harassment and low wages. A month later, fast food workers walked off the job to demand union rights and a $15 minimum wage. Marriott hotel workers in eight cities recently signed new contracts after striking for raises and affordable healthcare. Last week, Kaiser mental health workers in California went on a five-day strike to protest how long their patients have to wait for appointments. What have workers won through strikes this year?
Guests:
Erik Loomis, associate professor of history at the University of Rhode Island, and author of the forthcoming book, A History of America in Ten Strikes
Clem Papazian, licensed social worker at Kaiser in Oakland
Larrilou Carumba, Marriott housekeeper
Web Resources:
Rethinking Schools: The 2018 Wave Of Teacher Strikes: A Turning Point for Our Schools?
San Diego Tribune: Marriott strike yields 40 percent pay hike for Westin housekeepers
Gizmodo: Amazon's Aggressive Anti-Union Tactics Revealed in Leaked 45-Minute Video
The Guardian: Why a historic strike by Chicago charter school teachers matters