The-Ave.US

SEATTLE, March 2 : A demonstration of solidarity with Wisconsin protestors was called today by SASS (Students Against Sweat Shops). A crowd of 200+ braved blustery weather and drumming rain, even small hailstones at one point, to hear a succession of short, punchy speeches laced together with chants and singing.

Student activists hold up backdrop drenched by fierce rain and wind at UW SASS Solidarity with Wisconsin Rally

Native Cairene student Howrah holds a sign at the UW Solidarity with Wisconsin Rally, 3/2/11. Sign reads, "We Are Tahrir Square West! We demand economic justice and deep democracy in the USA!"

UW History & Labor Studies Prof. Jim Gregory speaks at Solidarity w/WI Rally, Seattle, 3/2/11

At right, UW History Professor Jim Gregory exhorts the gathered unionists and students to keep the pressure on for a better deal for labor, union and non-union. He asserted that the Wisconsin revolt may prove a tipping point in popular consciousness and power, as the successful resolution of the Tahrir Square standoff did for the Arab world. And indeed, this writer adds, much of the world beyond — even here.

A number of testimonials were given to the positive features of collective bargaining in attaining and protecting a middle-class standard of living. David Parsons, UAW Local 4121 president, spoke to this, as did Ann Lawson of SEIU Local 925 and Carol Dotlich, statewide president of WFSE. Chants heard in the square included “Ain’t no power like the power of the people,” “Union Power,” and “Just say no to right-wing lies/Defend your right to organize.” A new one (to this author, at least):  1-2-3-4, We refuse to blame the poor/5-6-7-8, Stop the politics of hate!

Activists at the UW SASS Solidarity With Wisconsin Rally, 3/2/11.

Eunice of the sponsoring organization wrapped the event  with an inspiring rhetorical fillip. And as the group chanted, “Family needs, not corporate greed,” the fickle sun burst through the clouds and bathed the rally in contrasty light that picked out the flying raindrops driven by a boisterous wind — as boisterous as the winds that have buffeted our sister state, depicted on a large banner as a Wisconsin map in the shape of a fist. How appropriate.

The plain people of the land have found a voice to vent their choked anger and stunted ambitions. It has been said, if the people lead, the leaders will follow. Are we hearing any real leadership from the White House yet? Just a gentle hint, this might be the time for it.

Surely the President cannot be blind to the existential threat to the two-party system, and particularly to his own party, posed by this concerted and long-rehearsed attack on public employee unions. As Rachel Maddow pointed out on MSNBC today, only three out of the top ten donor PACs are identified with liberal causes and Democratic candidates; all three are mainly funded by union moneys. The wonder is why Obama has tried so hard to play nice with the radical Republican vampires. A little hard thinking may reveal in which quarter his best interests lie.

Fat Cat watches over UW - WI Solidarity Rally, Seattle, 3/22/11

And lest we be belabored for taking up out-of-state upheavals that have no relevance here, it IS happening here: alleged push-back and bad-faith bargaining by the University in its negotiations with WFSE. At issue is the University’s newly asserted right not to choose to negotiate with shop stewards it dislikes. Under the newly formulated guidelines, the U would be free to reject any appointed steward as the representative of membership in any given round of talks (but no reciprocal courtesy would be granted to the union). This issue brought a goodly number of fightin’ mad rank and file to the rally, who marched off to demonstrate as the SASS rally broke up. Signs glimpsed included “Class Warfare? Damn Right We’ll Fight!“, “The Right to Organize Shall Not Be Abridged,” and “Go Badgers! We Support Wisconsin Workers“.

WFSE Local 1488 Ready to protest, at 3/2/11 UW rally - Photo copyright 2011 by Larry Neilson

Next steps: March 17, 2011 — “Protect Our Future” March on the Capitol, Olympia – Sponsored by FuseWA. This is scheduled in case the situation in Madison is not resolved to our satisfaction by that time. The smart money is on a continued impasse. Although if it goes on long enough, Gov. Scott Walker may found himself recalled and relegated to the proverbial dustbin of history.

All photos shot using a Samsung camera phone — batteries were shot in my new electronic camera!