Workers Struggles
Asarco strike poses need for international unity of US and Mexican copper miners
Real internationalism vs. the United Steelworkers’ partnership with Los Mineros
By Jessica Goldstein and Jerry White, 20 January 2020
The copper and metal mining industry is dominated by global corporations, posing the need for workers to develop an international strategy to fight.
New UAW Ford director part of union’s narrow inner circle
By Shannon Jones, 18 January 2020
The appointment of UAW Region 1D director Gerald Kariem to head the union’s Ford department elevates another long-time bureaucrat into the top leadership.
Snowplow operators in northeastern Minnesota begin strike over benefits
By Anthony Bertolt, 18 January 2020
The county government’s proposal would slash sick leave by nearly half for new hires and create a two-tiered benefit system dividing young and old workers.
Saskatchewan NDP silent on oil refinery lockout
By Carl Bronski, 18 January 2020
With the explicit support of the right-wing Saskatchewan Party government, the courts and the police, CRC is mounting a massive scabbing operation.
Mumbai hospital workers demand outstanding wages; South Korean car workers strike; Australian tram drivers vote to walk out
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
18 January 2020
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Nurses strike in Northern Ireland for pay parity; Zimbabwe municipal workers refuse pay offer as hospital strike continues and teachers plan walkout
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
17 January 2020
Thousands of Northern Ireland nurses struck for five days staring January 10 while Zimbabwe public sector workers have rejected a derisory pay offer.
Strikebreaking operation directed at workers in plant near Pittsburgh
By Samual Davidson, 13 January 2020
Management at a metal fabricating plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have begun hiring scabs to replace 90 members of the United Auto Workers, on strike since September.
GM layoff of 240 temps exposes UAW’s bogus “pathway” to full-time positions
By Tom Hall, 13 January 2020
This move reveals the pattern for the future: a small trickle of temps hired in, with the rest strung out on a nearly unattainable “pathway” before being disposed of.
Mack Trucks to layoff 305 workers at Allentown, Pennsylvania factory
By Steve Filips, 11 January 2020
The announcement comes only months after the UAW’s betrayal of the Mack Truck strike last year.
The Indian general strike and the global fight against communalism and war
By Keith Jones, 11 January 2020
Tens of millions of workers, youth and rural toilers participated in Wednesday’s all-India one-day general strike, transcending communal, caste and ethno-linguistic divides.
India: Haryana public transport workers strike against outsourcing; Pakistani journalists oppose salary and job cuts
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
11 January 2020
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French oil refinery workers join strikes; nurses walk out in Northern Ireland
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
10 January 2020
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Indian workers need a revolutionary socialist program to fight Modi, capitalist austerity, and communal reaction
By Deepal Jayasekera and Keith Jones, 8 January 2020
While tens of millions of workers and youth will join today’s general strike to fight the BJP’s “pro-investor” and communalist policies, the unions and Stalinist parties are seeking to tie the mass opposition to Modi to the big-business Congress Party and the Indian state.
Tens of millions to join all-India one-day strike on Wednesday
By Keith Jones, 7 January 2020
The Modi government faces mass opposition to its socially incendiary big business agenda and promotion of Hindu supremacist reaction.
Montreal Airport refuelers on strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
7 January 2020
Workers in charge of refueling jets, employees of Swissport, have been on strike since December 31 over pay after overwhelmingly rejecting a management offer.
UAW capitulates to Harvard, shuts down grad student strike
By Kate Randall, 4 January 2020
The shutdown of the strike is a complete capitulation by the UAW, which exploited the genuine anger of graduate student workers over their exploitation by Harvard in a nearly month-long stunt that achieved virtually nothing.
Garbage collectors strike in India’s Maharashtra state capital; military vehicle production workers oppose sackings in Tamil Nadu
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
4 January 2020
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French transport strike continues into the New Year; German and Portuguese airport workers carry out stoppages
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
3 January 2020
Transport workers in France are continuing a strike against labour reforms while airport staff in Germany and Portugal launched strikes.
Two-day national postal workers strike in Mexico
Workers Struggles: the Americas
31 December 2019
Mexican postal workers are protesting the failure of management to live up to previous wage agreements as well as deteriorating working conditions.
“They treat us like cavemen. They don’t care if we live or die.”
Striking Arizona copper miners determined to continue fight
By Evan Blake and Jerry White, 30 December 2019
On strike for 11 weeks against Asarco LLC, the miners have shown great determination in the face of a virtual blackout by the mainstream media and pro-corporate unions.
Coca-Cola bottling workers strike in north India; Bangladesh garment workers protest over unpaid wages
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
28 December 2019
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Ontario teachers hold one-day strike; Mexican truckers announce January strike; Three-day walkout of Honolulu airport food service workers
Workers Struggles: The Americas
28 December 2019
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Industrial carnage in US: 5,250 workers killed on the job in 2018
By Steve Filips, 27 December 2019
Fatal on-the-job injuries in the US increased by 2 percent in 2018, according to this year’s report by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Zimbabwe four-month-long hospital strike continues; French rail workers to strike over Christmas defying unions
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
27 December 2019
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BALPA trade union sells out British Airways pilots struggle
By Barry Mason, 24 December 2019
BALPA have forced through an agreement over pay that workers previously threw out.
Boston transit: “Safety is not the priority” at the MBTA, panel finds
By Andrew Timon, 23 December 2019
Only a parasitic mechanism that subordinates public need to profit could bring the MBTA to the point of trains literally falling apart and off the tracks.
Over 1,500 steelworkers to lose their jobs as US Steel announces idling of Great Lakes Works outside of Detroit
By Jessica Goldstein, 21 December 2019
The attack on steel industry jobs is part of a worldwide assault on manufacturing jobs and wages as corporations seek to restructure in advance of a looming recession.
French unions work to end strike as government maintains pension cuts
By Anthony Torres, 21 December 2019
The unions are now calling for an end to strike action or using negotiations scheduled for January as a pretext to weaken workers’ resolve and betray the strike.
At what human cost?
Amazon Logistics set to surpass delivery volume of FedEx, UPS by 2022
By Kayla Costa, 21 December 2019
The advanced techniques of workplace exploitation along with low wages and breakneck conditions that have made Amazon notorious are being set as the standard for the entire logistics industry.
Thousands of Indian construction workers demonstrate; Australian Jetstar workers strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
21 December 2019
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Asarco copper miner strike in Arizona and Texas in danger
By Jerry White, 20 December 2019
As the strike by nearly 2,000 copper miners enters the third month everything depends on workers breaking the isolation of the struggle by the United Steelworkers and other unions.
Zimbabwe hospital doctors out for 15 weeks; German Amazon workers strike at three centres
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
20 December 2019
Doctors in Zimbabwe are continuing their walkout in the face of intensifying repression while 1,200 German Amazon workers protested low pay by staging a walkout.
Mass protests erupt against Modi-led Indian government’s Hindu supremacist agenda
By Keith Jones, 17 December 2019
Demonstrations against the BJP government’s Hindu supremacist “Citizenship Amendment Act” continued yesterday, spreading to cities across India.
John Deere to lay off 57 workers at Davenport, Iowa, assembly plant
By George Gallanis, 17 December 2019
The newly announced layoffs come after Deere cut 163 workers in October and revealed last month plans to lay off more workers through a “voluntary separation program.” Despite this, the United Auto Workers has idly stood by, giving Deere the greenlight to continue its layoffs unabated.
Ontario Teachers plan third one-day strike; Mexican housing agency workers strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
17 December 2019
High school teachers across the Canadian province of Ontario are planning another partial strike December 18 while workers at Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers in Mexico City have carried out a one-day strike.
Feds subpoena security camera footage and visitor logs in investigation of July fire at Detroit UAW headquarters
By Jessica Goldstein, 14 December 2019
The details of the subpoena were revealed just two weeks after US Attorney Matthew Schneider said government oversight of the UAW was a “definite possibility” under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Tens of thousands Bangladeshi jute mill workers protest; Jetstar pilots and workers strike in Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
14 December 2019
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Wave of teachers strikes confront attacks on pensions and working conditions in Brazil
By Tomas Castanheira, 13 December 2019
Bolsonaro’s government and its Economy Minister Paulo Guedes have made it clear that they aim to privatize all public services, including schools.
Algerian and Palestinian general strikes; Zimbabwe’s striking doctors threats
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
13 December 2019
Workers in Algeria carried out a four-day general strike while Palestinians in Hebron struck and doctors in Zimbabwe are continuing their months-long struggle.
Ontario teachers plan new work stoppage
Workers Struggles: The Americas
10 December 2019
The walkout by Ontario public high school teachers and school support staff set for December 11 follows the first province-wide teachers strike held last week.
United Teachers Los Angeles and National Nurses Union back Democratic candidate
Union sellouts endorse the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign
By Dan Conway and Matt Rigel, 7 December 2019
The United Teachers Los Angeles and the National Nurses Union have both endorsed Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
GM sends termination notices to 48 TPT workers in Indiana less than two months after UAW signs concessions contract
By Jessica Goldstein, 7 December 2019
The contract makes clear that the so-called “pathway” to regular employment in the contract highlights touted by the UAW is a fraud.
Harvard University retaliates against striking graduate students
By Kate Randall, 7 December 2019
Several academic departments have informed graduate student teaching staff that they are responsible for reporting whether they are working, and that those who are striking should not expect to be paid.
Northern Virginia transit worker strike spreads as 600 Fairfax Connector workers join 130 Metrobus workers on strike against Transdev
By Harvey Simpkins, 7 December 2019
The ATU is seeking to limit the Fairfax Connector strike as much as possible, stating that the strike is over “unfair labor practices” and “bad faith bargaining” committed by the Company. It has offered no official demands.
The way forward for the mass strike in France
By Alex Lantier, 7 December 2019
The working class faces a fight to bring down the Macron government, drawing into struggle ever broader layers of workers and youth in France and internationally.
Vote “no” on the FCA contract! Form rank and file committees to oppose UAW sellout!
By the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, 7 December 2019
The United Auto Workers is seeking to ram through a sellout contract at Fiat Chrysler which will lay the basis for the expanded use of temporary workers, further attacks on health care and integrate the union even more closely with corporate management.
Indian oil workers strike against privatisation: Auto workers in Haryana protest in solidarity with striking Honda contract workers
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
7 December 2019
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German Amazon workers walk out; Zimbabwe doctors and public sector continue 13-week stoppage
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
7 December 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Thousands of Sri Lankan estate workers strike over workloads and wages
By M. Thevarajah and K. Kandipan, 5 December 2019
Strikes have erupted already in tea plantations following last month’s presidential election.
Mercedes-Benz to cut more than 10,000 jobs
By K. Nesan, 30 November 2019
The announcement is part of a sweeping assault on jobs in the international auto industry.
Explosions at Texas petrochemical plant force over 40,000 to evacuate their homes
By Jacob Crosse, 30 November 2019
The Port Neches plant, owned by the Houston-based Texas Petroleum Chemical Group, has been out of compliance for years and fined multiple times by the Environmental Protection Agency.
John Deere demands further job cuts through “voluntary separation program”
By George Gallanis, 30 November 2019
The “voluntary separation program” was announced just prior to Deere’s posting of lower net income during its fourth quarterly earnings call.
Indian auto parts workers demand union rights; Bangladesh cargo workers on indefinite strike; French Polynesia hotel workers expand walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
30 November 2019
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Brookings Institution study finds a staggering 44 percent of US workers earn low wages
By Jessica Goldstein, 29 November 2019
The study’s finding that 44 percent of the US workforce earn low wages paints a devastating picture of the realities of capitalism and working class life in the world’s wealthiest country.
Some production resumes as US copper miners’ strike drags on
By Samuel Davidson, 29 November 2019
The USW, which leads the nine different unions that represent workers in the mines, has downplayed the company’s efforts to break the strike.
Croatian teachers’ strikes; healthcare workers’ stoppage in Northern Ireland; Zimbabwe unrest over runaway inflation continues
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 November 2019
Thousands of Croatian teachers are continuing strikes over pay while 25,000 health staff in Northern Ireland have taken industrial action and Zimbabwe unions have called a mass demonstration over deteriorating economic conditions.
5,000 Vancouver bus drivers set to strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
26 November 2019
The Unifor union has authorized a three-day transit strike in Vancouver, the first since 2001.
German bus drivers in state of Hesse on strike
By Marianne Arens, 25 November 2019
The strike has once again brought to light the grueling working conditions faced by around 130,000 bus drivers across the country.
“It’s bordering on slavery how they treat us”
Bus drivers in Hesse, Germany, discuss their strike
By Marianne Arens, 25 November 2019
Striking bus drivers employed by private companies in the German state of Hesse are resisting scandalously low wages and exploitative working conditions.
Strike wave in Peru stokes ruling class fears of Chilean “contagion”
By Cesar Uco and Bill Van Auken, 25 November 2019
In the midst of its deepest political crisis, Peru’s economic indicators have dropped sharply and the class struggle is heating up.
GM bribery lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler fueling growing outrage among autoworkers over UAW corruption
By Tom Hall, 23 November 2019
The lawsuit is part of a ruthless struggle over market share in the auto industry, under conditions of an accelerating global downturn and an escalation of the attack on autoworkers.
West Midland Trains workers escalate fight against strike-breaking operation
By Michael Barnes, 23 November 2019
The WMT strike is the latest in an almost four-year battle by workers at the UK’s private rail franchises to forge a unified struggle between drivers and conductors.
Striking Dutch healthcare workers speak about first ever nationwide strike
By Daniel Woreck and Harm Zonderland, 23 November 2019
The WSWS spoke to striking healthcare workers at a rally in Utrecht about their working conditions and strike amid an international resurgence of class struggles.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the South Pacific
23 November 2019
Workers in the Punjab rallied and blocked traffic after a 15-year-old labourer was brutally beaten to death at a plywood factory.
National strike shakes Colombia’s right-wing government
By Evan Blake, 22 November 2019
In the latest eruption of the global class struggle, hundreds of thousands marched in over 100 cities demanding the ouster of President Duque.
National strike by Finnish postal workers continues; stoppages at UK colleges; South African Airline workers strike
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
22 November 2019
A strike by 9,000 Finnish postal workers is in its second week while instructors have struck several colleges in Britain and workers at state-owned South African Airlines struck last week.
Over 3,000 Canadian National Railway workers strike across Canada
By Roger Jordan, 20 November 2019
Workers, who have been without a contract since July, are protesting against dangerous working conditions and long shifts, which have led to high levels of fatigue.
India: The indefinite strike by 48,000 Telangana transport workers at crossroads
By Kranti Kumara, 19 November 2019
Despite the immense courage displayed by the workers for over six weeks into their indefinite strike, the struggle is in imminent danger because of the rotten strategy adopted by the union.
Strike looms at Canadian National Railway
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 November 2019
Some 3,000 conductors, trainspersons and yard workers were poised to strike Tuesday as contract talks between the Teamsters and Canadian National Railway reached an impasse over the weekend.
United Auto Workers declares sellout Ford contract ratified amidst widespread opposition
By Tom Hall, 16 November 2019
The vote, in which more workers voted “no” or abstained than voted in favor, is a declaration of no confidence in the UAW.
Political and economic turmoil escalates in Lebanon
By Jean Shaoul, 16 November 2019
According to the World Bank, a further devaluation of the Lebanese pound could push up to half the country’s six million people below the official poverty line.
Strike against Asarco copper enters second month
By Samuel Davidson, 16 November 2019
The strike by 2,000 copper miners in Arizona and Texas against massive concessions demands has entered its second month, while the United Steelworkers seeks to isolate and betray the strike.
School closures threatened as Chicago teachers vote on widely-hated tentative agreement
By George Marlowe, 15 November 2019
The Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey wrote a letter threatening school closures by Mayor Lightfoot as teachers vote on an agreement favored by Wall Street and widely opposed by new and veteran educators.
National strike of postal workers in Finland; mass strikes in Algeria; struggles continue in Lebanon and Zimbabwe
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
15 November 2019
About 9,000 Finnish postal workers at the state-owned Posti walked out Monday while mass protests continue in Algeria and Lebanon and the strike by Zimbabwe doctors has spread following sackings.
UK High Court bans strike by 110,000 Royal Mail postal workers
By Robert Stevens, 14 November 2019
In response to the ruling, unofficial walkouts by postal workers must be organised and linked up with other workers throughout the delivery and communication industry and other sectors coming into struggle.
Union-backed Chicago Sun-Times attacks Chicago teachers
By Michael Walters and George Gallanis, 14 November 2019
The Sun-Times, co-owned by the Chicago Federation of Labor, published several articles smearing and attacking Chicago teachers for fighting for improved schools and wages.
Dominican health workers strike, Chilean copper miners protest subcontracting
Workers Struggles: The Americas
12 November 2019
Healthcare workers in the Domincan Republic held a one day strike November 7 to press wage demands while Chilean copper miners are set to strike against the abuse of subcontract workers.
Chicago Ford workers denounce UAW contract: “They want to monitor you every minute, every second”
By Marcus Day, 11 November 2019
Anger is growing since workers have learned that the deal would allow Ford to deploy the high-tech surveillance methods increasingly perfected by Amazon.
Amidst growing opposition
UAW-Ford contract gives green light for video monitoring of workers
By Shannon Jones, 9 November 2019
The contract gives management the right to carry out video recording and motion tracking to drive up productivity and discipline workers.
Defying their unions, Dutch teachers stage countrywide one-day strike
By Harm Zonderland and Parwini Zora, 9 November 2019
The teachers’ action was the latest in a series of mass protests across the country, which has been dubbed an “autumn of discontent.”
Massive vote in favour of strike by Ontario elementary school teachers
By Jake Silver and Roger Jordan, 9 November 2019
The virtually unanimous strike vote by teachers reflects the depth of opposition to the government’s austerity agenda and is part of a growing upsurge of the class struggle internationally.
UK’s Royal Mail seeks legal action to prevent postal strike
By Robert Stevens, 9 November 2019
Royal Mail intends to impose conditions now widespread throughout the “gig economy.” The Communication Workers Union have done everything possible to avert industrial action.
Honda motorcycle and Kerala state transport workers strike in India; Pakistan health workers oppose privatisation
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 November 2019
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An appeal from Pani Wijesiriwardena, SEP (Sri Lanka) presidential candidate
Defend the striking transport workers in Telengana, India
8 November 2019
“Workers in India, Sri Lanka, throughout South Asia and internationally must not allow capitalist governments to unleash these reactionary social attacks on any section of the working class.”
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
Zimbabwe nurses join doctors’ stoppage; One-day nationwide strike by Dutch teachers
8 November 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Chicago Ford workers reject UAW agreement
By Jerry White, 7 November 2019
In the first major Ford assembly plant to vote, 1,497 workers (62 percent) voted “no” on the deal and 913 (38 percent) voted “yes,” according to figures released by UAW Local 551.
Vote “no” on the tentative teachers' contract! Form rank-and-file committees to defend public education in Chicago!
By Alexander Fangmann, 7 November 2019
With voting set to begin on the tentative agreement, teachers and other educators in Chicago are approaching a critical juncture in the fight to defend public education.
UAW pushes through concessions for 3,600 workers at Mack-Volvo Truck
By Samuel Davidson, 6 November 2019
The United Auto Workers forced through a concessions contract for 3,600 workers at Volvo-Mack Truck plants in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida after calling off a 12-day strike a week earlier.
India’s Telangana state government gives fresh ultimatum to 48,000 fired strikers
By Kranti Kumara, 5 November 2019
A call to make the defence of the victimized TSRTC workers the spearhead of a working class counter-offensive against privatization and the casualization of work would resonate across India.
Chicago teachers denounce union’s sellout agreement as Bernie Sanders, Democrats claim “victory”
By George Marlowe, 5 November 2019
Despite the official celebration, the CTU’s tentative agreement for a five-year contract entirely accepts the terms set by Chicago Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Ontario elementary teachers return big majority for strike authorization
Workers Struggles: The Americas
5 November 2019
Some 83,000 members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario have given a 98 percent strike authorization vote as talks continue with the provincial government.
UAW sanctions plant closing, expansion of temps in deal with Ford
By Shannon Jones, 2 November 2019
The tentative agreement announced with Ford will further advance the restructuring of the auto industry into a low wage sector employing large numbers of contingent workers.
Breaking: UAW President Gary Jones takes paid leave as feds move closer to indictment
By Tom Hall, 2 November 2019
The rise and fall of Gary Jones demonstrates the United Auto Workers is a criminal syndicate that is no less hostile to the interest of autoworkers than the auto companies themselves.
Corruption scandal moves in on UAW President Gary Jones
By Joseph Kishore, 2 November 2019
The latest allegations, involving the embezzlement of $1.5 million in dues money, follow the shutdown of the GM strike as the UAW attempts to ram through a pro-company agreement with Ford.
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot’s budget: Increased policing and austerity on behalf of the financial aristocracy
By Alexander Fangmann, 2 November 2019
Lightfoot’s first budget, containing large increases to the police department and higher fees affecting workers, is a continuation of the Democratic Party’s right-wing assault on the working class.
Thousands of doctors strike in Tamil Nadu, India
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 November 2019
While 16,000 Tamil Nadu doctors walked-out to demand salary increases and promotions, thousands of the state’s railway workers struck against privatisation measures.
Croatian education workers strike continues, Zimbabwe doctors on strike for two months
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
1 November 2019
Seven hundred Croation educators have walked out in a program of rotating strikes while Zimbabwe doctors are continuing an action over the erosion of pay due to inflation.
Chicago Teachers Union attempting to ram through tentative agreement over widespread opposition
By Kristina Betinis, 31 October 2019
The tentative agreement announced by the CTU Wednesday night betrays all the aspirations of the 24,000 teachers who have been on strike for ten days.
New York City transit workers and the fight for social equality
By Allen Whyte and Daniel de Vries, 30 October 2019
Working without a contract since May, transit workers are facing unprecedented attacks on working conditions being demanded by Wall Street.
GM fires Flint workers over social media posts during strike
By Jerry White, 29 October 2019
Flint Assembly workers, including a 19-year veteran of GM, have been targeted in a campaign of retaliation aimed at silencing opposition to the corporations and the UAW.
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