| We started off this summer with a chapter conversation about goals for our organizing. The results were overwhelmingly in favor of more socials and opportunities for engagement. Through ice cream socials, movie nights, rallying, canvassing, picketing, book discussions, and sipping coffee in solidarity, the structures of camaraderie and action are being built and reinforced. We invite you to create connections and have a say in our future with Twin Cities DSA on Sunday September 11th at 1PM as we continue this work at our upcoming 2022 annual convention: Building Community, Class Struggle, and Capacity: Fighting for our Future in the Autumn of Capitalism. Our chapter convention is where we get to know one another, hold our steering committee elections, consider changes to our bylaws, and discuss resolutions that direct the chapter’s actions into the future. You can find registration information and the meeting packet and agenda by going to tcdsa.org/convention, or check the details included with the convention notice emailed to you last week. It has been a red hot labor summer, and as the seasons change, we invite you to help build what comes next. (Spoiler: there’s more labor and some elections). |
| Local and National Labor Updates Nurses Strike For 3 days (September 12, 13, and 14) fifteen thousand Minnesota nurses will be striking hospitals in the metro area and in Duluth. Nurses stood at their posts through the height of the pandemic, making sure their patients were cared for. But the nursing profession is in crisis and that’s why nurses are striking in the largest private sector nurses strike in U.S. history. They need adequate staffing, a wage increase and protection for benefits won over the years. A key activity for TCDSA members during the 3 day strike will be walking the picket lines. For those of us in unions, get your union to endorse the strike, get union members walking the picket line and publicizing the strike. Individuals and unions can also donate to the MNA strike fund at mnnurses.org/strikefund/. We will be publishing a list of struck hospitals before September 12 so TCDSA members will know where to go. Starbucks Union Drive Marches On Since you read the last TCDSA newsletter, another Starbucks store, the one located in Edina, has gone union. They won by a vote of 9-0. This brings the number of union stores in Minnesota to 5. One of those stores is having a sip-in on September 5 from 2-6PM. The St. Anthony store is located at 3704 Silver lake Rd. NE, St. Anthony Mn. This is a great opportunity to come out and show support for workers who are battling an extremely anti-union, multi-billion dollar corporation. Amazon Labor Union The ALU has been officially recognized by the National Labor Relations Board as the union representing 8,000 warehouse workers in Staten Island, N.Y. Amazon had brought a number of charges against ALU in an attempt to overturn the union victory. The NLRB dismissed all charges. Rail Workers Are Not Happy According to a survey conducted by Rail Workers United, 96% of those surveyed are unhappy with a proposed settlement by a Biden Presidential Emergency Board recommended contract and are ready to strike. The 115,000 rail workers could strike as early as September 16. |
| Big events in the next week |
| Join fellow comrades to show solidarity with organizing Starbucks workers by showing up to stores and order an easy to make drink with the name “Union Strong” or “SBWU” to show your solidarity with your local Starbucks and Baristas. Hang out with other comrades, wear some pro-union flair, and be part of the growing labor movement across the nation. Starbucks Cedar Ave – 4712 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407 – Saturday Sept 3 10am-12pm- Sunday Sept 4th 1-3pm- Monday Sept 5th 9-11am Starbucks Edina – 5112 Edina Industrial Blvd Edina, MN 55439 – Monday Sept 5th 9am-1pm Starbucks St. Anthony – 3704 Silver Lake Rd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55421 – Monday Sept 5th – 2-6pm |
| Twin Cities DSA Annual Convention Every September, Twin Cities DSA gathers for our annual convention where we elect chapter leadership, consider resolutions and bylaws proposals, and set a path forward together for socialist organizing in the coming year. Two keynote speakers will join us: a leader of the Starbucks union drive here in Minneapolis, and Robin Wonsley, the first Black Democratic Socialist City Councilmember in Minneapolis. Robin is a member of Twin Cities DSA and was endorsed by the general membership in 2021. There are two ways to join: Attend virtually (Zoom)Register to join us in-person Member check-in begins at 1:00, with the official meeting start at 1:30. See the full meeting packet, including proposed resolutions, bylaws amendments and candidate statements, at tcdsa.org/convention. To protect the health and safety of all members, masks will be required for in-person attendees at all times indoors. We are expecting a full meeting room, which will allow up to 125 people in theater seating. The Roseville Library is fully ADA accessible and is located on Metro Transit Routes 65 and 83. It is 0.7 miles from the A Line. Childcare will be provided by a member who will be paid for their time. Need a ride? Let us know on the in-person registration form and we’ll connect you to a rideshare volunteer. |
| Chapter Branch/Committee Meetings and Events |
| • Electoral Committee Meeting – Sunday, 9/21, 2:00pm-3:30pm – Zoom Here |
| We will be talking about past and future strategies, as well as possible new candidate endorsements. |
| Go to tcdsa.org/events to see everything! |
| From the Blog |
| Labor Day, Anti-Racism, and the New Labor Movement “How should anti-racists celebrate Labor Day? Or rather, how is the labor movement related to the work we do in fighting for racial justice?” Check out the TCDSA blog for thoughts on those questions by chapter member Cynthia S. Originally published in the Standing Up for Racial Justice newsletter. |