A Specter Stirs in Illinois ... and Elsewhere

At this point, a solid prediction on the outcome of or even of the implications of the current sit-down strike in Chicago is futile, but a few thoughts and hypotheses never hurt anyone.

Is a perfect storm brewing in the Land of Lincoln? Those of us from Illinois are not entirely shocked at the level of corruption in the halls of Springfield. Three of our last six governors went to the clink after all. Governor Rod Blagojevich’s predecessor, Republican George Ryan, is currently serving prison time for racketeering and other charges; in Illinois, corruption has no party affiliation. The old trope about Chicago politics holds just as much sway further down state in the capital. What is surprising, however, is the brazenness of Blagojevich’s recent actions. The man has been under the watchful eyes of the Law and Illinois’ citizen groups since the day he took office in 2002. It was only a matter of time.

The 260 members of the United Electrical Workers Local 1100 began their occupation of the Republic Windows and Door factory in Chicago (beginning December 5) at an opportune time.

The economic recession continues to grind away at the livelihood of working class Americans. Nationwide, 1.3 million workers have been laid off since September. The national unemployment rate has climbed 6.7% while Illinois’ unemployment stands at 7.3%. According to industry resource RealtyTrac, Illinois ranks in the top ten among states with highest home foreclosures.

And now, the Illinois political leadership has been demoralized, if not decapitated.

On top of all this, Bank of America (being taken over by Merrill Lynch), a recipient of $25 billion in taxpayer funds from a very unpopular bailout program, refused to extend necessary credit to Republic so that it could keep its doors open. UEW representatives say they are owed between $1.5-2 million in vacation pay and other benefits—a mere drop in the bucket for a Bank that used some of its bailout funds to invest $7 billion in China Construction Bank! Indeed, on the day before Blagojevich was led away in handcuffs, he held a press conference in which he announced Illinois would stop conducting business with Bank of America until it extended Republic its due credit. Alas, we can see that the Governor’s shoot-from-the-hip, balls-to-the-walls attitude does more harm than good (still, there are rumblings that the Chicago City Council is considering taking up the boycott).

A perfect storm then is mixing in the gentrified streets of Chicago: no political leadership, an economic downward spiral, and anger over the bailouts for Wall Street and none for Main Street, are coming to a head. Add a pinch of support from workers in places as far afield as Spain and Venezuela, words of encouragement from Jesse Jackson and even Barack Obama (who’s recent campaign strengthened union organizing skills), and you have one potent brew in the works.

No doubt beleaguered labor leaders in the UAW, Detroit, and other automobile related industries are looking to UEW’s occupation for inspiration. Hollywood actors of the Screen Actors Guild are considering a strike of their own. Will UAW occupy GM? Will SAG occupy Paramount Pictures? They could…

Internationally, socialist uprisings are making waves. In Greece, a nationwide strike today brought the country to a halt. In Hungary, airport workers marched off the job. Workers in the French port of Marseilles are on strike. Venezuelan workers have occupied the factory Vivex, and on and on.

And facing rising unpopularity at home, Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper dissolved parliament.

And Das Kapital has once again become a bestseller in Germany.

It’s too early, of course, to say for sure that what is happening in Chicago and around the world is a harbinger for better things for the working class. But when one takes a piece from here, a piece from there, and starts to put the elements together, a VERY interesting and exciting picture begins to emerge.

A flame has been lit, will it boil?

Rather than watch, I suggest we join in the fray.

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December 10, 2008