Funferal

Solidarity efforts for WGA

As the Writers’ strike continues into a second week, word of an interesting solidarity action as many of the blogs that usually cover the content generated by these writers are ‘going dark’ for a day to express their support. This at the same time that another group of writers, working for CBS news, vote to authorize a strike – they have been working under an expired contract since 2005, and have not be at the bargaining table since January.

Here in Urbana we face the possibility of a strike soon by quite a different group of workers, as SEIU local 73, representing food and building service workers at the University of Illinois, face off against the University. Having sat at the table with the University earlier this year (as a member of the GEO bargaining team) I can appreciate what they are going through. Hopefully, of course, the contract can be settled without having to resort to a strike, but if it does come about I’m happy that various departments, including my own, have announced that they will respect the right of workers, such as myself, to honour the picket lines.