Works in Progress Volume 29, No. 11 Serving the Olympia community and the cause of social justice since 1990. May 2019 A business that serves workers will become a business owned by workers Bethany Weidner Success in serving unions and lia and other area nonprofits, they with a California company called workers quickly needed more employees. And Union-Friendly Systems (UFSI), and The people who peer into comput- “Working Systems” was born as a way like the found- contracted to modernize a software ers on the third floor of the Mott- to pursue this dream. Working Sys- ers, these new package called MUMS that UFSI had man Building in downtown people didn’t created for the Communication Work- Olympia are about to embark No one wanted to give up come from for- ers of America (CWA). Another key on a new stage in their work- mal IT cours- achievement came with a contract ing lives. Working Systems this workplace that offered es—they too with the International Brotherhood of started out as an idea to offer developed Electrical Workers (IBEW) to supply tech services during the slack so many satisfactions, and program- the union’s 400 locals across the US season at Cascadia Research, served so many people ming skills with a program to manage their mem- morphed into an S Corpora- in their ber services. tion providing programming own idio- services to nonprofits and tems was structured as a corpo- syncratic A worker-centered workplace unions for the next 25 years, and to- ration by default—the newly ways. The business continued to add prod- day is in the process of converting to a ucts—a whole slate of software pro- minted owners hadn’t found But the worker owned cooperative. grams managing services and mem- others interested in taking on group bership, creation of websites and the risk and responsibility of still had Distinct from the start training and reporting. Sometimes such an untried venture. It to make The business was unique from its be- their programming task can be espe- turned out that many unions ends ginning in the 80s when computers cially satisfying, as when they added a needed this kind of support meet. were new and little understood. The drop-down menu with choices includ- and Working Systems’ client They owners were unique as well. Neither ing “non-binary” to replace the old base grew steadily. Starting small with needed to find ways to make versions Steven Kant nor Jim Cubbage was field that assumed everyone was male. the Washington Public Employees of their software that could work na- principally motivated by money. Nei- Other times, when there’s a critical Association, the State Labor Council, tionally. Early on, they connected ther had gone to school for technol- Sign Painters, United Way of Centra- strike action, they take pleasure in ogy. Jim was a biology major doing knowing that their software is helping. marine mammal research at Cascadia Research Collective. Steven worked Compared to a lot of businesses, Work- with computers as an intern at NASA, The appeal of a ing Systems has an absence of hierar- and later became involved with food chy. Pay is hourly and the range from co-ops, taught at an alternative high top to bottom of the (transparent) pay school, supported Nicaragua construc- co-operative economy scale is small. Neither Steven nor Jim tion brigades, naturally fiddled with is at the top. Benefits are equivalent computers and came up with software The easiest way to think about how and shouldering the risks and re- across the board. As befits an orga- to keep track of funds and other things. a cooperative differs from a typi- wards. nization that believes in the value of cal business is that in a cooperative, organized labor, everyone is a union Steven was running the math center people own it in common and make Olympia is fortunate to have the Northwest Cooperative Develop- member (the CWA). The owners are and teaching classes at the Evergreen decisions in common. There’s not also members, but not part of the bar- State College when its staff unionized. an outside investor who has ulti- ment Center located right here. They provide a critical introduction gaining unit. Because of the distorted He became organizing chair at Lo- mate control over the life and work way health insurance is offered and cal 443 of the Washington Federation of the business. The other big reason for anyone interested in converting to or starting a coop. Then they offer premiums are calculated in the US, of State Employees and in that role is that cooperatives are motivated by Working Systems like other small busi- honed his computer skills in combat service —to their members or to the guidance, support and resources to help make that conversion or do the nesses faced increasing difficulty this with some bulky old computers. He people who do the work —and not year in providing reasonable coverage brought those skills to Evergreen’s La- by how much profit they can reap. startup. Both Orca Books and Work- ing Systems are working with NCDC for everyone. As with other issues in bor Center just as local unions were Generally, people who join or form this workplace, the decision as to how wondering whether this new technol- cooperatives are also interested in on their transitions (see Orca Books notice on page 5.) to proceed came from members of the ogy could help them keep track of sustaining family businesses, fair bargaining unit. membership. trade, equitable community growth, A random list of co-ops in Olympia and even protecting natural resourc- Staying connected to the outcome “You have to make your own stuff” Olympia Food Co-op and co-op es —considerations that in a profit- workers’s collective of your work The next stop was Cascadia Re- driven business are contradicted by Programming is an isolating kind of search Collective where Steven and the profit motive. New Moon Cafe work that requires a lot of “me and Jim shared space and began helping the computer” time to produce out- The biggest and most familiar co- Dumpster Values groups to acquire and set up comput- comes. At the same time, everyone op in Olympia is the Olympia Food ers and networks in the days before the Capital Homecare Cooperative at this shop moves from the screen to Co-op. The Food Coop is a member- internet. Both kept on with part-time the help desk, which means they get owned co-op managed by a collec- Westside Cooperative Preschool work, which meant they had a freer to interact with people, solving prob- tive formed by the people who work hand in developing this new area. The Eastside Cooperative Preschool lems and making lives better. Scott there. People join the Co-op by pay- fact that they were their own bosses Breidenbach (who’s working on the ing a small fee or purchasing equity, meant it was easy when they decided Hidden Village—a manufactured co-op transition) said a visit to a union depending on their situation . Most to leave hardware and focus on creat- home community office can be an eye-opener when of the other co-ops on this list are ing custom software for their clients. you see a staffer struggling with the worker co-ops, formed by the indi- Cascadia Research Collective (not “The dream was to make things we software; you get to say, “we can fix viduals who produce the goods or exactly a coop) could sell at a really low price to small that!” and then do it. Two people do services that the business sells. They locals so they could have really good Orca Books—forming phone support full time, but everyone programs,” Steven said in a recent in- are their own bosses, managing the Working Systems—forming terview. organization, performing the work 4Workers, continued on page 11 Page 2 Works In Progress May 2019 Works In Progress Works in Progress (WIP) is a com- Special events munity newspaper based in Olympia, Labor in all its forms Washington and published monthly. The .Celebrate workers! paper was established by the Thurston Our theme for May which the enjoyment of life and the May 1, Sylvester Park, 3-7pm County Rainbow Coalition which pub- This issue is dedicated to Labor in all realization of the full human potential lished the first issue in May 1990. are possible. The determination of all 2019 NW Green Home Tour its forms, from waged to unwaged, la- Sat, May 4, 11 – 5 Our mission. The aim of WIP is to con- bor that takes place in traditional set- of us, the real creators of wealth in the Innovation, artistry and craftsmanship; front injustice and encourage a participa- tings such as factories, hospitals, con- world, is indispensable. —EQ remodels and cutting-edge work. Go to tory democracy based on justice in the struction sites, offices, schools, etc. to Theme for June: Where we find nwgreenhometour.org for a map and economic, political, environmental and less recognized forms of participation tickets ($0-$25 sliding scale). social realms and across classes, races a home and why. It’s not just about and genders. in the economic relations of society housing, it’s about a home. A home is May General Assembly like reproductive female labor, rear- Sat, May 4, 2 PM (visit tables How WIP is produced. WIP depends a place of refuge, where you express ing children, and caring for elders. All at 1 PM) at Sylvester Park, 615 on a volunteer managing editor, sup- your personality, where you might Washington St. ported by the Publishing Committee, to these diverse forms of labor constitute have neighbors—for schmoozing, for Seeking to transform our city through see to the accomplishment of nearly all an integral part of the capitalist sys- sharing views, for creating commu- participatory democracy; provide a struc- organizational, administrative and edito- tem in which we live, a system that nity, for practicing citizenship. In this ture for non-ruling class people to resist rial tasks. can be broadly characterized by put- country some people—a lot of peo- domination. All welcome. How WIP is supported. First and fore- ting profits first and people last, gen- most, WIP depends for survival on the ple!—have their home on the street, Working People’s Summit erating tremendous inequality and or in a car—we object to that. Some –Workshop on Homeless contributions and participation of writers, social suffering for most of humanity. activists, students, organizers, and other people live in manufactured homes in Response Strategies members of the community, broadly de- One of the most recent reports by Ox- “parks” where they pay owners until Sat, May 4, 9:30 to 11:30 am at Capital High School, 2707 Conger fined. We also receive support from the fam International points out that “26 those owners might decide to sell the Workers’ Defense Fund whose purpose is property. Others live in coop housing, Ave NW, Olympia. billionaires have the same combined Help determine the city’s response to the to strengthen organizations that engage or in apartments, sometimes apart- in struggle against the powerful for the net worth as the poorest 3.8 billion peo- homelessness crisis. empowerment of the powerless. ple on the planet.” As we can see, the ments whose owners benefit from property tax waivers granted by a Rally for Missing or Guidelines for writing for WIP. Our question here is not whether capital- Murdered Indigenous priority is to focus on stories that are ism works. It works quite well and in municipality. Some of us live in cozy single-family homes or duplexes. Oth- Women ignored or misrepresented in the main- obscene ways for a despicable minority. Sun, May 5, 10 am to 7 PM at the stream media, especially those that re- ers in McMansions or “gated commu- State Capitol Building late directly to our mission. Capitalism is basically organized nities.” Others of us have two, or five Dolls dressed in red will represent the To this end, we seek well-researched around the principle of extracting val- or seven homes! For June, we’d like missing and/or murdered indigenous news stories, serious analyses of issues ue from the labor of others who have to know where you live—and more peoples. confronting our communities and ac- nothing but their labor power to sale importantly, why. Maybe some reflec- counts of personal experiences or reflec- “Thurston for Bernie” Action in exchange for a salary. It is this type tions what this means and whether we Team Kick-off tions by local writers. We also consider of exchange that allows capitalists to poetry, graphics, cartoons and articles need to change it. Mon, May 6, 7pm, Thurston that challenge the boundaries of conven- accumulate wealth, which in turn fur- County Courthouse 2000 tional journalism. ther replicates this model of exploiting Theme for July: Community. Lakeridge Drive SW We’re hoping for reflections on what it Submitting your writing: Send an other people’s labor. Building #1 Ground Floor. means to be part of a community and email to [email protected] with the The world–wide condition of being Jacobin Reading Group word SUBMISSION on the subject line. how being part of a community might exploited by capital allows us to speak Wed, May 8, 6 am, Orca Books, Attach your submission as a word docu- enhance your individuality. Or how 509 E. 4th. ment. Include your name, a brief bio and of class (working class) as a key ele- the ideology of individualism isolates DSA discussion of articles of interest .to contact information. WIP volunteer edi- ment in the emancipation of society. us and denies us community. socialists primarily from Jacobin. jaco- tors will contact you if there is significant From this perspective, class as a cate- [email protected] for more information. Theme for August: Who’s run- editing needed. Send pictures etc as at- gory offers the possibility of including Women of Color in tachments. Pictures should be high reso- the largest possible number of people ning things? Please share your ob- lution with dimensions in relation to the servations about this at the household, Leadership content. Generally 300 pixels is one inch. open to implementing social change. Sat. May 11, 11-1 pm, 816 Adams. Simultaneously, the category of class community, national and internation- WOCL is a group cultivated as a safe Copyright and reprinting. lends itself to analyzing and address- al level. space for women of color to discuss Unless otherwise noted, content may be ing other important forms of exploita- issues, events, and experiences that copied for non-commercial use if attrib- Theme for September: What we uniquely affect them. More info : uted (Creative Commons BY-NV 3.0 Li- tion based on race, gender, ethnicity do to make the future? Can you Shawna Hawk at 360-352-8526 or sexual orientation. cense terms apply). share your understanding of the ac- Justice in Crisis Workers in Progress Works in Progress considers that work- tions and narratives that create the fu- Mon, May 13, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, the Publishing Committee: Emily Lard- place democracy, along with an in- ture as we move in to it. Do we want Unitarian Church, 2315 Division ner, Enrique Quintero, Bethany Weidner, formed political movement, are essen- the future to look like the past? St NW, Olympia. Kevin Pestinger tial to the creation of a better world in Short films (40 minutes total) by Brave Managing Editor: Bethany Weidner New Films. By the Numbers, The Power of Fear, OverCriminalized, To Prison for Design & Production: Lee Miller Poverty, Time to Come Home, 20 Years is Photography and art: Asa Benson-Core, Enough. Discussion with Marilyn Roberts Richie Ohlson, Paul Peck, Lindsey Dal- And then this happened… (NamI) and others on relevance to Thur- thorp, Ricky Osborne, ston County. Presented by NamI and Jus- Events Calendar: Janet Jordan The necessity defense wins one The Washington court found that “Be- tice Not Jails. [email protected] Treasurer: Ann Vandeman In the December 2017 issue of Works cause the harms that Ward asserted he Western Worker PO box: Pat Tassoni in Progress we reported on the trial of was trying to alleviate were more than Cooperative Convening Website: Heather Sundean, people involved in a four-state action just climate change, generally, but Sat, May 18, 10 am - 4 pm, The Carolyn Roos, Anna Zanella to shut off a pipeline carrying oil from also included both the specific dan- Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Distribution: Dave Groves, T. Mag- Canada. A key motive for the actions gers of Canadian tar sands oil and the St NW. ster, Mike Pelly, Sandia Slaby, Ellen impacts of sea level rise on Washing- Skill-building and organizing workshops was to put the fossil fuel industry on in partnership with Northwest Coop- Shortt, Scott Yoos, Kevin P, James O’Barr, ton, Ward’s actions were not intended trial by using the necessity defense: erative Development Center. $120 fee Jean Maust actions taken to stop the flow of oil to be merely symbolic in nature. As includes lunch; $60 for co-op members. Subscriptions: James O’Barr were necessary in order to prevent a such, the evidence he planned to in- Some Spanish translators. Info and regis- Proofreading: Jean Maust, Fred Silsby, harm larger than the harm caused by troduce was not solely aimed at in- tration at [email protected] Janet Jordan, Kevin P, James O’Barr, the act itself. ducing jury nullification and the trial Working People’s Summit Scott Yoos, Eric Rosane court erred in preventing Ward from Sun, May 19, 9 to 3 at Hotel RL, Advertising. Rates are approximately An important aim behind the valve introducing evidence in support of his 2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW $10 per column inch, with set rates for turning strategy was to bring the ne- necessity defense.” Join workers from across the South standard sizes. Discounts may be avail- cessity defense into courtrooms, ar- Sound for a day of workshops, discus- able for long-term ads, for nonprofits guing that climate-based civil disobe- As the Court of Appeals explained sions, and collective action. Sponsored by and for micro businesses. the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor dience is necessary as a lesser evil in their ruling: Subscription rates. Annual subscrip- Council. tion is $35/year. Purchase one for your- compared to the harm being done by “Washington recognizes a common law producing and burning fossil fuels. Off the Grid Tiny House/ self or an incarcerated person mailed necessity defense. The defense may Sustainable Living Show be raised when a defendant demon- first class each month. In that trial in South Dakota, Judge May 31, 10 am to June 2, 5 PM at strates that they reasonably believed Contact WIP. Online at olywip@gmail. Laurie Fontaine ruled that defendants the Thurston County Fairgrounds the commission of the crime was nec- com or via snail mail to: Works in Progress, Michael Foster and Sam Jessup could Designers, builders and suppliers will P.O. Box 295, Olympia, WA 98507. essary to avoid or minimize a harm, show their wares. not use the necessity defense; such the harm sought to be avoided was Website: www.olywip.org testimony “could confuse or mislead 2019 Primary Candidate greater than the harm resulting from Submission deadline next issue the jury into believing the legitimate Forum a violation of the law, the threatened Sunday, May 19 concerns regarding climate change June 10, 7 pm, Thurston Co. harm was not brought about by the de- Courthouse, Bldg 1, Rm 152. are an excuse or defense to the crimes [email protected] fendant, and no reasonable legal alter- Hear candidates running in the August charged.” That was exactly the case Proofreading Meeting native existed. primary for Port Commissioner, Olympia Sunday, May 26 the valve-turners had hoped to bring mayor, Tumwater and Yelm City Council. Info Our Revolution Thurston FB.. 115 Legion Way SW before the jurors. “Based on the specific harms that Ward asserted he was trying to avoid, his ac- Now valve turners will get their tions were not merely symbolic. The On the cover: chance. On April 8, 2019, the Wash- For a fuller listing of events protesters’ intent was to physically The grocery store checker sees the ington Court of Appeals Division One of April events, go to world, rich and poor, pass by every day. stop the flow of Canadian tar sands oil reversed a decision made in the State Art by Richie Ohlson into the United States. It was a direct LocalMotive.org. For some of Washington v. Kenneth Ward. Ward way of preventing a uniquely potent was one of the people arrested in the events posted to WIP after contributor to climate change from four-state action for turning the valves entering the United States. the deadline, check out the on Kinder-Morgan pipelines trans- WIP Facebook page. porting oil from Canadian tar sands into the US. May 2019 Works In Progress Page 3 It was never just about raising wages Celeste Robinson Even progressive local governments portunities to harness the revolution- protests that could have won a stron- resist ary energy of young people. ger, swifter policy. These were the When the $15 minimum wage was I’m proud to have been part of the disillusioning experiences that made signed into law in Saint Paul City Hall movement that will raise wages for Local Teamsters and allies me cry even though we won: it didn’t in November, I burst into tears. I spent more than 100,000 workers, myself in- elevated the fight have to be this hard. three years working on the campaigns The local labor movement did just cluded. Even more than the raises, I’m There were moments of the Fight for for $15 in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, proud of the ways we set an example that in the Fight for $15. Many local including 18 months as the co-director unions participated in the movement $15 where I was so frustrated with the of how ordinary people can win mean- local labor movement that I was ready of 15 Now Minnesota, where I coordi- ingful political change. But I am also by devoting staff time, donating mon- nated the coalition of faith, la- ey, and most importantly by to write off unions as useful allies in bor, and community groups that tying the demand for $15 in the struggle for my future altogeth- fought for and won $15 in Saint If unions can rise to the with contract struggles. When er. There were also many moments Paul. I poured my heart and soul Teamsters Local 320 made a where I saw our unions step up and into the campaign. challenge, young people like me $15 minimum wage a corner- be vibrant, powerful, badass commu- will take notice, and we will join.” stone of their negotiations for nities to unite diverse people and win A victory amid continuing fears “ a better world. St Paul Public School Nutrition Most of the people who saw me Service workers, it elevated Labor movement’s survival depends that day in City Hall probably as- the citywide fight while boosting coming to terms with the on youth sumed I was crying tears of happiness the morale and energy of the fact that I had to spend Right now, the labor movement has and satisfaction, and in part I was. But union’s negotiation. I was also overwhelmed with exhaus- three years prying a huge opportunities around Medicare tion, frustration, and fear and that I minimal concession The $15 coalition was strong for All, the Green New Deal, and more. hadn’t expected to feel so strongly. It from some of the most and successful because it Working successfully with young peo- was hard to celebrate our victory with- progressive munici- brought together students, ple like me will be key not only to the out thinking about the context of what pal governments in union workers, non-union success or failure of these campaigns, lies ahead. the country. It’s in- workers, and retirees but the success or failure of the la- timidating to have around the populist de- bor movement itself. We in the labor For millennials like me, the future fought so hard for mand for $15. It was movement need to push our unions looks bleak. New headlines break ev- so little when thrilling and inspiring to to meet these challenges with all the ery day exposing the precarity of our we need to win see labor help build the passion, discipline, and courage that global economy where a handful of so much. kind of movement that defines the best moments of labor billionaires hoard the majority of the could win a minimum history. If unions can rise to the chal- Young people world’s wealth. My generation is hav- wage increase, and lenge, young people like me will take see looming ing fewer children, citing economic in- more. notice, and we will join. security and fear about global political social change stability and climate change. I fought There are se- It shouldn’t be this Celeste Robinson is a waitress and for $15 as a part of resisting that future rious battles hard member of UNITE HERE Local 17. As and building something better. ahead, far larger ones than a mu- On the other hand, there were also the co-director of 15 Now Minnesota, nicipal minimum wage, that will de- times that the unions in the coali- she helped win a 15 minimum wage in Creating billionaires and termine what life is like for my gen- tion refused to fight with the urgency Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the first impoverishing workers eration. The tension of massive social that working people, and often their Fight for 15 victories in the Midwest. From the beginning, the Fight for $15 change is alive in youth and popular own members, demanded. At various She graduated from Macalester College was never just about raising wages, it culture: Teen Vogue is writing about points in the campaign, union leaders in 2016. This article first appeared was also about building public anger at general strikes, and Cardi B’s Insta- accepted months of delay in the ordi- in Workday Minnesota, a project of a system where corporations make bil- gram video calling for “action” in re- nance process, refused to hold labor- the Labor Education Service at the lions in profits while workers are paid sponse to the government shutdown endorsed City Council members ac- University of Minnesota. poverty wages. In many ways, it is the has more than 20 million views. Many countable, and pumped the brakes on modern incarnation of the root of the millennials may not have been edu- labor movement, the refusal to accept cated about the value of unions, but exploitation. the labor movement has so many op- Taking a day off from the job on May 1

[Ed note: Olympia’s own cherished Food off, while we here at the Olympia Co-op has returned to its practice of Food Co-op have privilege to discuss being open every day of the year —except the issues and come to a unified de- for one single, significant day: it is closed cision together, ultimately deciding to on May 1, International Workers’ Day. close in solidarity with the movement. The Co-op has posted on its website this explanation of why.] In recent years, May Day celebrations and rallies have focused on the strug- International Workers’ Day, May 1, gles of oppressed communities and has a long history in this country and immigrant rights. This year is bound others, originating with the United to be no exception, as many unions States labor movement in the late and groups allied with supporting im- 19th Century. On May 1, 1886, unions migrants and low wage workers are across the United States went on strike, planning a day of action. demanding that the As this day is celebrated in numerous standard workday be countries, with a variety of history shortened to eight and current events, much information hours. This was an im- can be found online. Give the gift of portant step in work- ers right to organize Here are some places to look Radiance and to seek fair treat- for more information: ment from employers. massage While that particular Industrial Work- jewelry  books day had a bloody ending ers of the World— and successes were slow, we A Union for All natural body care look back on May 1st as a day Workers/The Brief Origins of May Day candles  bulk herbs that changed things for workers here and around the world. These organizations have websites essential oils Our purpose, which includes to “sup- that may be of interest to you… port efforts to increase democratic pro- Food Chain Workers Alliance cess” and to “support efforts to foster a socially and economically egalitarian Grassroots Global Justice Alliance society,” drives our decisions on how Beyond the Movement: Uniting Move- to be a cooperative progressive busi- ments ness every day. We believe our posi- tion as a collective with an egalitarian Organized Workers for Labor Solidar- labor structure, makes it appropriate ity to choose International Workers’ Day Northwest Immigrant Rights Project as a day off in solidarity with others. www.radianceherbs.com National Network for Immigrant and Our collective would like to acknowl- Refugee Rights 113 5th Ave SE, Olympia • (360) 357-5250 edge that other workers have to go on Hours: M-F: 10am–7pm, Sat & Sun: 10am–6pm STRIKE to take this day of observance Page 4 Works In Progress May 2019 Penny wise and pound foolish The campaign to make members quit paying union dues

Chris Brooks Leave the union—or stay but don’t the network is providing support to mation is one way unions can nip opt- pay opt-out campaigns in Illinois, Michi- out campaigns in the bud—and sever- Holly Lindsey, has been a licensed The first part is to continue advanc- gan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. al unions are pursuing state legislation home child-care provider for 22 years ing so-called right-to-work laws to to do just that. and a union member for 12. She joined All of these organizations are directly starve union budgets. For 15 years, or indirectly funded by one of the After losing a court challenge to block SEIU 925 when the local formed in SPN has collaborated with forces like 2006. largest right-wing grant-making in- the Freedom Foundation from receiv- the American Legislative Exchange stitutions in the country, the Bradley ing a contact list of its members, SEIU Council, the National Right to Work Foundation, with $835 million in as- 925 teamed up with healthcare local Who’s knocking at your door? Committee and the Koch brothers to “At the very beginning, the union went sets. Internal Bradley Foundation doc- SEIU 775 to pass a statewide initiative get six states to pass right-to-work laws, uments from 2015 praise the Freedom exempting the personal information house–to–house to recruit us,” recalls as well as municipalities in blue states Lindsey, who runs a home daycare Foundation’s aggressive attacks on of child-care and home healthcare such as Illinois and New Mexico. The unions as “a national model.” Similar workers from Washington’s open re- and preschool near Longview, WA. In crowning success was Janus. time, the union began holding regular documents show the Bradley Founda- cords law. Unions in California and meetings. Working from home can be The second part is developing its opt- tion considered funding for SPN af- New Jersey have similarly worked isolating, so Lindsey is thankful for out campaigns to erode union mem- filiates such as the Empire Center for with Democrats to pass laws exempt- SEIU 925’s large network of childcare bership, pioneered in Washington Public Policy in New York, on the basis ing the personal information of gov- providers. “It’s been huge for us to col- state by the SPN-affiliated Free- ernment employees from open laborate and communicate as a group,” dom Foundation. records requests. The New Jer- she says. “The union just opened all The Freedom Foundation calls sey law also frustrates opt-out The third part is to require unions these doors for us.” campaigns by only allowing to recertify more often with peri- Janus “the opportunity of a workers to opt out during the 10 But the union isn’t the only one odic votes, as Wisconsin’s Act 10 lifetime” to starve unions. days following the anniversary trying to open doors these days. did in 2011. Such mandates sad- of their hire date. One day in 2017, Lindsey heard a dle unions with regular battles for knock on her sliding glass door. A ca- survival. of their having “the stomach” to follow Deepening member engagement sually dressed man in his 20s stood the Freedom Foundation’s example. In In many states, public-sector unions Who needs a union? have preempted opt-out campaigns outside, clipboard in hand. He was Negotiate your own contract May, the Empire Center mailed New with the Freedom Foundation. York state public employers warning with “all-in” campaigns, asking mem- The fourth is to eliminate the right of them to “immediately stop withhold- bers to sign “recommit” cards con- “He told me I pay a lot of money to unions to exclusively represent work- ing funds from nonmembers’ pay- firming their union membership. The the union for nothing,” Lindsey says. ers, allowing an individual to opt out checks” after Janus. American Federation of Teachers says “He tried to give me pamphlets show- of collective bargaining and sign their that by the time of the Janus ruling, ing how much money I would save own contract. This legislation, which Personal addresses of union it had secured 530,000 recommit cards if I opted out”—as much as $500 a SPN has not yet succeeded in getting members are “a vein of gold” from its estimated 800,000 members year in dues, he claimed. Lindsey felt a state to pass, splinters and weakens Opt-out campaigns hinge on the abil- nationwide who would be affected. threatened by the experience. “Most unions while creating an opportunity ity for these organizations to obtain Some locals, like the United Teach- times when people try to bust a union, for the employer to sow discord. For government employees’ contact in- ers of Los Angeles (UTLA), have used they do it in the workplace,” she says. example, employers could offer non- formation. SEIU 925 president Karen these campaigns as opportunities to “They don’t go to union members’ union workers a bonus or slightly Hart was dismayed when the Freedom deepen member engagement. To date, homes. They don’t bother them and higher hourly rate to discourage par- Foundation began contacting mem- the union has had one-on-one conver- their families like this.” ticipation. bers in 2014. sations and collected cards from al- most 25,000 members. Soon, Lindsey’s phone was lighting up “Taken individually, they are each bad,” “We were caught totally off guard,” with calls from others in her local who Lafer says. “In combination, this rep- she says. “We had no idea they had “We are making the case to our mem- had been visited by traveling union resents a concerted effort to do away obtained a list.” These lists are often bers that our all-in campaign and our busters. Then the anti-union mail- with public-sector unions.” obtained through public records re- contract campaign are inextricably ers and robocalls started, sometimes Only a small fraction of workers in quests. In one fundraising letter, the linked,” says Jeff Good, UTLA execu- three a day. They’ve never stopped. the private sector—less than seven Freedom Foundation described obtain- tive director. “If you want good con- SEIU 925 was the target of an “opt-out percent—belong to unions, down from ing the contact information of 300,000 tracts with good working conditions, campaign,” an anti-union initiative by 35 percent at their peak in 1954. The public employees in Washington using then you need a strong union, and we the State Policy Network (SPN), the public sector, on the other hand, has open records requests as being “like can’t have a strong union if people are web of billionaire-backed right-wing enjoyed a Canadian level of union a prospector locating a vein of gold.” choosing to sit out. So we are fight- groups that helped fund the Janus density, with one in three workers a The Freedom Foundation claims that ing for a good contract for community v. AFSCME lawsuit. The Washington- member of a union. According to the its multi-year campaign cost SEIU 925 schools and building a fighting union based Freedom Foundation is a star Illinois Economic Policy Institute, Ja- two-thirds of its members. The union that can win.” member. nus could prompt a drop in public- confirms this loss rate, but attributes sector membership as large as 8 per- it to a high-attrition workforce, not the Chris Brooks is a staff writer and labor Eliminate union participation in cent—a loss of 726,000 members—in opt-out campaign. educator at Labor Notes. This article is election finance the first half of an article that appeared the coming years. Whether or not the government is ob- SPN got the Supreme Court ruling it in the August 2018 issue of In These ligated to release the personal home wanted in Janus, which turned right- Opportunity of a lifetime Times, published with permission. This address of a high school librarian or to-work conditions into national policy The Freedom Foundation calls Janus story was supported by the Leonard a home healthcare worker is a murky for the public sector. All public sector “the opportunity of a lifetime” to starve C. Goodman Institute for Investigative legal area. Blocking SPN affiliates workers now have the option of re- unions. It ramped up its opt-out cam- Reporting. from obtaining private contact infor- ceiving union benefits without paying paign with an email drive in May 2018 for them. If enough workers choose targeting more than 100,000 public to stop paying dues, union budgets employees in Oregon, California and and power will be greatly diminished. Alaska. According to Bloomberg News’ That’s the goal of SPN. Josh Eidelson, the group also had 80 canvassers trained and ready to start SPN is now building on its Janus vic- knocking on doors in California, Wash- tory with campaigns to contact gov- ington and Oregon the day the Janus ernment employees in union-dense decision came down. Their goal is to states and encourage them to drop convince 127,000 public employees to their membership. Their targets in- opt out of union membership across clude blue states such as California, the three states. Illinois, New York, Oregon and Wash- ington that have resisted passing anti- Heavily-funded national tentacles union legislation. The plan is simple: Meanwhile, the Mackinac Center, an Gut unions of members and money so SPN affiliate, publicly launched an opt- they have less influence on state elec- out hotline for union members. The tions. Once sympathetic politicians California Policy Center, another affil- are in office, corporate interests can iate, sent a fundraising email to 8,000 pass state laws to torch what remains union social service workers in Los of organized labor. Angeles County with the stated goal of SPN is composed of 66 free-market reducing union dues “by $300 million think tanks across all 50 states. To en- in the next three years.” The Pennsyl- act their opt-out campaign, the net- vania-based Americans for Fair Treat- work embarked on a mix of television ment—an organization formed in 2014 and radio ads, social media, mailers, whose four board members are SPN- robocalls and door knockers. In These affiliate employees—recently hired a Times has reported on internal SPN former teacher and anti-union activist documents that describe a four-part to lead an opt-out campaign targeting strategy to “defund and defang” the la- that state’s 330,000 public employees. bor movement. SPN spokesperson Carrie Conko con- firmed to the Wall Street Journal that May 2019 Works In Progress Page 5 Being a union member is an act of resistance Strangling unions to That same spirit is evident in Iowa, where, in 2016, Republicans scored a trifecta and seized the governorship starve public employment and both chambers of the state govern- ment. The new legislature passed its Chris Brooks “It decimated our ability to represent many working people, the union has own variation of Act 10. The law cur- local and state government employ- no relevance.” tailed collective bargaining, capped The coordinated effort by wealthy ees,” says Neil Rainford, a Wisconsin wage increases unions could negoti- financiers to eliminate unions has AFSCME staff member for 18 years. Engaged and energized teachers ate at the rate of inflation, outlawed elements in addition to the “opt out” Union spokesperson Michael Horecki There is hope amidst the wreckage. the deduction of union dues from campaign. As the State Policy Network says that the losses were especially In Milwaukee, seven out of every 10 paychecks, and required a majority (SPN) and its right-wing allies secure bad in rural areas, where “many coun- teachers are members of the Milwau- of all eligible voters—even those who Republican domination of more state ties have few, if any, remaining union kee Teachers’ Education Association are not union members, since Iowa governments, they will turn also to members.” (MTEA), which has won its recertifi- is right-to-work—to vote to recertify laws requiring union recertification cation elections each year. “Most re- the union during an annual two-week elections. After Act 10, Wisconsin AFSCME let its gions are losing members every single election. locals choose whether to keep fighting month, and every single month our Even though the law was largely the Regulating unions, not corporations for recertification, and many stopped union is holding steady or putting In Wisconsin, for example, the Re- seeking official recognition by the same as in Wisconsin, the result was numbers up on the board,” says MTEA very different: 99 percent of unions publican-controlled legislature in 2011 state as the exclusive representative of vice president Amy Mizialko. passed Gov. Scott Walker’s union-bust- government employees. Instead, they recertified. ing behemoth, Act 10. Much of the re- decided to fight for workers outside After the Milwaukee school district “It really backfired on them,” says An- porting on Act 10 called it a right-to- the official system of collective bar- proposed a 2019 budget that cut class- keny High School history teacher Nick work bill, but it also made collecting gaining. room spending by 5 percent per stu- Covington. In Covington’s local, the union dues more difficult, dramati- dent, MTEA launched an aggressive Ankeny Education Association, stew- cally limited the scope of collective Finding new avenues to support campaign to restore funding. At rallies, ards and activists had personal con- bargaining, and created a recertifica- workers MTEA members often chanted, “If we versations with everyone in the bar- tion requirement: Each year, Wiscon- “We’ve developed this model we call don’t get it, shut it down.” The threat gaining unit—regardless of whether sin unions must now hold an election the association model,” says Rain- was not idle. The union spent months they were a member. “We had a color- and convince more than 50 percent of ford. “It relies on politics and electing organizing escalating actions, from coordinated system for following up the bargaining unit to vote for repre- people at the local level, and then we town halls to walk-ins, at which teach- with people who were on the fence. sentation. Under this system, anyone negotiate the terms and conditions of ers rallied outside schools to greet par- We were constantly communicating,” who doesn’t vote is effectively vot- employment annually through a meet ents and students with signs and in- Covington says. ing against the union. Simply getting and confer process. We have been able formation. enough members to participate in a to place language from our previous The Iowa activists had a simple mes- contracts into the employee hand- At one raucous school board meet- sage: Being a union member is an act vote for the status quo became one of ing, union members shouted down the biggest challenges. book. We don’t have dues, we have of resistance to the state legislature fees, which are taken out of member the board with chants while the union that tried to take their bargaining Imagine how many unions we can paychecks by local government. Since president delivered 3,000 petition sig- rights. It worked. decimate natures opposing the cuts. At anoth- we operate outside the state system, Teachers in Florida shared a similar SPN affiliates couldn’t be happier with er, more than 3,000 MTEA members none of it requires any oversight or in- message in response to a new law re- the results. “In 2010, our Network unit- and supporters picketed outside the volvement from the state.” quiring unions to annually prove they ed our intellectual resources, winning central office, then marched into the have 50 percent membership. Those messaging and moral support behind Building new relationships with boardroom behind a drumline. The that do not must organize a recertifi- Governor Scott Walker’s heroic efforts members union asked members to sign a pledge cation election. to bring historic government union According to many in the Wisconsin “to do what it takes” to stop the bud- collective bargaining and pension re- labor movement, the shift in AFSC- get cuts, signaling their intent without Florida teachers’ unions are tapping form to Wisconsin,” SPN president ME’s approach was born of necessity. using the word “strike.” In May, the into rage over the fact that elected offi- Tracie Sharp wrote. “Most Wisconsin Decades of business-as-usual union- superintendent announced that the cials are making anti-union legislation public employee unions have lost be- ism had turned Wisconsin public-sec- district was restoring the funding by a top priority in the weeks following tween 30 percent and 60 percent of tor unions into highly legalistic organi- chopping from the top and making 4Strangling, continued on page 10 their members in the two years since zations incapable of responding to the cuts to district management instead. Act 10 went into effect. And this de- crisis. “The culture that people have cline has in turn cost organized labor known historically is the business tens of millions of dollars. Imagine model: professional staff taking care of the impact this will have when we problems, meeting the needs of mem- Orca Books to convert to achieve even more government union bers and doing the organizing,” says reforms across the nation this year!” former Wisconsin AFSCME organizer Edward Sadlowski. “The fundamentals membership cooperative Indeed, Wisconsin AFSCME—which of organizing—mapping out the work- once represented almost every state, site, identifying leaders, building rela- The iconic Olympia bookstore, Orca Linda Berensten, the current owner, county and city employee across the tionships on the shop floor, that kind Books, will be expanding its owner- says: “My wish is for Orca to continue, state, close to 63,000 government of thing—were completely missing ship to the community as it transitions and for me to still be a part of it, but workers—has now lost 90 percent of from most unions’ culture. Without a into a cooperative business model. I’m looking forward to having more its membership. vision and no plan to move forward, The staff, along with current owner time to read, travel, and be a grandma.” union density plummeted. For too Linda Berensten, have been working with the Northwest Cooperative De- Orca Books Co-op seeks to be a multi- velopment Center (NWCDC) to create stakeholder co-op with four mem- a plan for the conversion which will bership classes: Basic Consumer, occur over the next six months. Orca Low-Income Consumer, Worker, and Books Cooperative was officially in- Organizational. Each member will pay corporated on April 17, 2019 and will a membership fee which will provide be launching its membership drive at certain benefits, discounts, and voting Co-opatopia on April 27th during the rights. There will be a board of direc- Spring Arts Walk. tors which will consist of member- owners. The bookstore has been a commu- nity space for 27 years—not only for John McNamara, with the NWCDC, author events and storytimes—but noted that “co-ops offer long-term sta- for meetings, first dates, and taking bility to businesses that help define a refuge from the rain. Orca has won community. Olympia has become a countless community awards for “Best leader in the national co-op communi- Bookstore,” and has offered donations ty over the last five years. Orca Books and support to local schools, non- offers the community a chance to profits, and arts’ organizations. A huge keep an anchor institution downtown part of our business model revolves that helps define Olympia’s identity around evaluating and redistributing and continue to build a resilient coop- used books from all over the globe erative economy for our community.” and literary spectrum. Orca believes For more information: that buying and trading used books is https://www.orcabooks.com/co-op community recycling at its best. Billy Kendra Hadlock, Marketing Frank Jr. called Orca Books “the life Coordinator [email protected] of Olympia,” and the staff at Orca are 360-352-0123 /509 E 4th Ave, Olympia, deeply committed to carrying the leg- WA 98501 acy of Orca Books onward. Page 6 Works In Progress May 2019 News you might have missed: Extinction Rebellion actions here and abroad [Ed note: Extinction Rebellion is an nian reported that in 2018 alone, Ze- in exports the year before. Now Zenith the number of oil train cars. Over the international movement that uses non- nith exported more than $71 million of Energy is expanding its facility so that past year Zenith Energy transformed violent civil disobedience to achieve crude oil, up from only $2,535 million it can handle more than three times a sleepy asphalt operation in the heart radical change in order to minimise of Portland’s industrial district into a the risk of human extinction and multi-million-gallon oil spigot. The oil ecological collapse. Recently, a string arriving in the tank cars is processed of demonstrations blocked bridges bitumen, to which a solvent has been and major streets in central London, added in Canada. It’s known in the disrupted train services and saw over a industry as “dilbit”—diluted bitumen. thousand people arrested. The group is According to its manufacturer, it is ex- rallying behind warnings that significant tremely dangerous. reductions in carbon emissions must be achieved within the next 11 years to Oil trains endanger public safety and avoid devastating consequences for the public health. They create environ- planet, such as mass extinction, by the mental risks for communities that live end of the century. ] close to rail lines in Portland and along the Columbia River, and for those who Portland, Oregon, April 22. Local rely on waterways that could be con- citizens from Extinction Rebellion taminated from an oil train spill. An- took a stand on Earth Day at Zenith other note of interest: Zenith Energy Energy, dumping a truck full of soil is a project of an international hedge over the train tracks and planting fund, Warburg Pincus. Former bail-out a “victory over fossil fuels” garden— doctor and Secretary of the Treasury complete with sheds, scarecrows, and Timothy Geithner is now president of a real growing garden. Warburg-Pincus.. Last year, Zenith Energy quietly be- Extinction Rebellion PDX gan exporting tar sands oil from its Some time after this picture was taken, Portland police arrived in large numbers and accompanied the action with this Willamette River facility. The Orego- arrested the Extension Rebellion protesters. statement: “We believe that local struggles, like the one we’re facing here in Portland, are critical to shutting down the fossil Streams, salmon, orca fuel industry. We also believe that it’s high time to begin taking the next step in our movement; that is, coordinating our resistance with our allies all across and the cycle of life the PNW, the US and the world, and Streams are rated healthy when they describe how our streams sustain us consolidating our efforts into a unified support many kinds of life. For a in Thurston County. Previous forums physical and political force. We want salmon stream, that means benthic covered our local watersheds and the the flow of fossil fuels, and the flow of invertebrates —little “bugs” that live extent of the County’s water, compet- capital that supports it, to stop—at the in sediments and have evolved over ing interests vying for a dwindling brink of extinction, we are not asking thousands of years in the cold, clear- supply, ways to conserve and protect for permission.” running streams of the Pacific North- water, and the threats to water quality west. posed by stormwater and toxic runoff. For further information: To understand A variety of large maps will allow you the consequences of the changes at Zenith, The best conditions for stream bugs to trace all the streams and water bod- Gordon R. Friedman, a reporter for The also tend to be very good for salmon, ies in the county. Oregonian/OregonLive spent a month as these bugs represent part of the pri- poring over thousands of pages of records mary food supply for young salmon. At this final event, speakers will ad- from local, state and federal regulators. Salmon later return the favor when dress the different stages in the circle He interviewed officials working at nine they die, becoming food for a variety of life. Ann Marie Pearce from Thur- oversight agencies, toured the Portland of bugs in the stream. Salmon also ston County Planning Water Division terminal and talked with Zenith Energy contribute nitrogen, recycled for the will talk about the state of our streams executives. This extraordinary, alarming trees on the stream banks. And be- and what Stream Teams are doing to article is worth reading. You can find cause salmon are the main source of improve it. A map will display streams it at https://expo.oregonlive.com/ food for the killer whale population, that still have Chinook salmon runs. news/crude-oil-trains. the fact that their runs are dwindling Gabe Madel, a fish biologist with is directly connected to the feared ex- Washington State’s Department of Fish tinction of our southern resident Or- and Wildlife will outline prospects and cas. As salmon continue to decrease expectations for our salmon popula- in number, the suffering of our river tion. Kirsten Harmah from the Che- From Geoengineering ecosystems will increase. halis Tribe Department of Natural Re- sources will display a map that shows League of Women Voters of Thurston to Bioengineering the formidable and frequent barriers County’s final public forum of the year, to fish passage, and what the Chehalis Where’s the Water: Streams, Salmon, Basin Partnership is doing to remove and Orcas, May 7 at the Olympia Cen- them and restore salmon runs. Last, ter. Doors open at 5:30 pm, program Cindy Hansen, Education Coordinator starts at 6:00 pm. Admission is free. of the Orca Network, will talk about The final presentations of the League the plight of our resident Orcas. They of Women Voters’ 6-part forum on survive at the end of the food chain, as water will tie together the series and do we—a wake up call for us all. A free talk on military manipulation of the ionosphere, 5G, nanotechnology and Transhumanism with Elana Freeland & Chris Fontenot

Saturday, May 11 11 am - 2 pm 3201 Boston Harbor Rd NE Olympia WA Elana Freeland is author of Chris Fontenot moderates A Chemtrails, HAARP and the Full Refreshments provided Microwaved Planet on Spectrum Dominance of Planet More info at Youtube, has worked in Earth and Under and Ionized 360.480.5527 nuclear propulsion and electric Sky. See more at engineering and is a proponent Elanafreeland.com of the Electric Universe Theory.

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Open daily 11 am - 8 pm ■ eastsidesmokecompany.com Esc 2008 State Avenue NE in Olympia ■ 360-350-0385 May 2019 Works In Progress Page 7 others. Omar and Tlaib are the first Muslim women elected to Congress, The vilification of the Left and Presley is the first black woman from Massachusetts to serve in Congress, and Ocasio Cortez is the youngest person, not to mention the youngest the pursuit of [more] capital Democratic Socialist, ever elected to Congress. All these women, particu- Enrique Quintero maintain political peace. In other this bag, deception, slander, defama- larly Ocasio Cortez and Ilhan Omar, words, they need to preserve a politi- tion, and discrediting the individual are the recipients of a virulent and vi- Things happen for a reason cal climate that favors what they con- precede or accompany all forms of po- cious campaign of vilification aimed It is easy to vilify the left. Effective sider to be the ‘normal, uninterrupted’ litical opposition against the left. at their identity, their religious beliefs, vilification requires only money, po- pursuit of their interests i.e. the ex- their personalities, and in the case of The new agents of disturbance of litical power, and access to the media. pansion of profits. If we take a pan- AOC, her humble origins in the work- American capitalism Those presently involved in the cur- oramic view of what for decades has force. This degraded form of civil dis- Bernie Sanders and his movement de- rent campaign of defaming the left been considered the customary politi- course is carried out through innumer- serve a prominent mention in any dis- have had access to those three neces- cal discourse of America, it becomes able media actions: via newspapers cussion of the reintroduction of social- sary ingredients for such a long time obvious that the so-called normality articles, books, TV shows, sermons, ism to mainstream political discourse. that engaging in the rhetoric of vilifi- of the existing rhetoric of domination Twitter, Facebook ads, government Nonetheless, this achievement cation demands very little documents, etc. At the moment of this does not stand alone; it rests work. In all practical terms, writing, Omar and AOC continue to be ...deception, slander, defamation, upon the shoulders of a long all that’s demanded from vilified for their progressive political tradition of revolutionary or- them is to keep in mind stands, and also for challenging, with and discrediting the individual ganizations (Socialists, Com- Hitler’s instruction: “if you their actions, the obsolete ideology of munist, Trotskyists, anarchists, tell a big enough lie and tell precede or accompany all forms of American patriarchs. Besides experi- etc. ) that goes back to the be- it frequently enough, it will encing direct attacks from the Trump political opposition against the left. ginning of the 19th century, be believed.” Seventy-five administration and its allies, AOC and and that in a different fashion— years after his death, the Omar have also encountered direct sometimes in contradiction German Nazi still seems to have many is being challenged by new and emer- hostility and a clear distancing rheto- with each other—have kept alive the dedicated disciples in America who gent (or re-emergent) political actors ric seeking to ostracize their progres- idea that a better world is possible un- are willing, and able, to follow his dic- willing to challenge the current social sive positions within the Democratic der socialism. While in many instanc- tum. The contemporary merchants of conditions and propose new alterna- establishment. delusion and slander are of course the tives. es membership in these revolutionary usual suspects: organizations has been and continues Disparaging union activism This article argues that the agents of to be small, nevertheless, these orga- 1. Big corporations (money) disturbance prompting the rabid, vit- This spring Dissent magazine reported nizations, without dismay and in spite that last year, “more workers took part 2. Political institutions in Washington riolic vilification of the left include of continuous harassment from the in strikes than any year since 1986 such as Trump’s White House, the the following: the advent of social- repressive organizations of the state, [and] fully 62 percent of Americans Senate, the Judiciary, and political ism as part of the new American po- have persevered in their political work support unions; according to a recent parties working for the interests of litical vocabulary and political reality; among workers, minorities, discrimi- Gallup poll, that number has increased Wall Street (political power) and the growing emergence of young and nated against groups, student organi- socially aware women leading and 14 points over the last decade.” More- 3. Professional incubators of misinfor- zations, and more. over, unions played a significant role mation and slander such as the sy- transforming the old American politi- In synch with this revolutionary tradi- in the 2018 elections in terms of elect- cophants of Fox News (the media). cal arena; the comeback of organized tion, the strictly constitutional fram- ing progressive candidates, particu- To put all this in simpler terms, the labor leaning towards the left; and the ing of Sanders’ socialist strategy has larly in states such as Michigan and triumvirate of economics, politics, participation of youth (from elemen- challenged the aforementioned tri- Pennsylvania. The red state teacher and ideological control continue to tary to high school) who are taking a umvirate of power, primarily through strikes and the Los Angeles teachers’ operate on a daily basis in the U.S. critical position and actively partici- pating in the discussion of how to con- electoral and parliamentary gains. In victory a couple of months ago, as Nonetheless, at this point in the le- struct—in the present time, and with a 2016 his movement was able to agglu- well as the airport workers’ struggle, thal game of American class-struggle, sense of planetary ecological urgency tinate 13 million people and he won all suggest a potential come–back of pointing at the enemy may be impor- —the foundations for an ecologically 23 primaries throughout the nation. labor and a clear turn to the left in tant but that identification constitutes responsible society in the future. In the 2018 elections, Sanders et al spite of a steady campaign to under- no new news. We know who they are, played a key role in barring the Re- mine union power. This campaign of we know how they play this class- The serious potential threat of these publican majority from the House of vilification has been directed mostly game, and we know how to recognize four forces combined has not escaped Representatives. In a nod to the tradi- to teachers’ unions, organized and pro- them even after they have changed the political radar of the American tions in which Sanders works, recent pelled by the chronic unsubstantiated their names, faces, or the name of right, particularly in the context of the surveys of young adults under the age style of the presidential twitters. their teams. What’s more important to upcoming presidential elections. Un- of twenty-nine show that the majority ask ourselves now is, what is making able to mount and sustain a serious identify themselves more as socialists Transformation arising from youth the current avalanche of vilification critique of the overall platform of so- than as supporters of capitalism. activism against the left possible? What trigger cial justice and ecological responsibil- Finally, very young students from el- has activated the visceral attitudes of ity advocated by the left (an inability Democrats look to the Mueller ementary to high school level have the organized forces of the American demonstrated, for instance, by Bernie report, not to any social platform decided to play an oppositional and right in the present political moment? Sanders’ successful participation in a While the demonization of Bernie transformative role in American And finally, the perennial question of discussion of health care for all and Sanders originated primarily within politics. The source of this political politics: What’s to be done? the Green New Deal on Fox News a the Republican political spectrum, it awareness and decision appears to be few days ago), what is left in the ideo- has also been echoed by the Demo- twofold. First, it’s a survival response Socialism, women, the very young logical arsenal of the right is the bag of cratic Party establishment. This Dem- to the numerous student massacres and organized labor tricks inherited from cold war ideolog- ocratic opposition to Sanders has an taking place in the nation, leading to Capitalists do not care much about ical dinosaurs such as J. Edgar Hoover old history, and it is not limited to massive nationwide activism aiming peace of mind. All they need is to (FBI) and Allen W. Dulles (CIA). In previous attacks on his persona at the to regulate the relatively free ‘distribu- hands of the Clintons’ vindictive ap- tion’ of guns in the U.S. The second paratus. A recent article by the New source has an international origin. It A Playback Theatre performance York Times (April 16, 2019), describes was sparked in Europe by 16 year old the current efforts of some Democrats climate activist Greta Thunberg. Her and their ‘donor class’ supporters to activism and example have found fer- The Power of Youth thwart Sanders’ potential nomination tile ground within the youth in Ameri- In collaboration with STAND–Students Together at all costs. According to the Times, can schools. This culminated recently Advocating for Non-Violence and Diversity these efforts have lately assumed the in nationwide rallies joining the Glob- form of an anti-Sanders campaign via al Youth Climate Strike Movement Friday, May 10, 2019 • 7:30 p.m. “undisclosed Democratic dinners in (which is active in more than 1,200 cities in 90-plus countries). Traditions Café – 300 5th Ave. SW New York” attended by, among others, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Cali- In the words of a young American downtown Olympia fornia, Senate minority leader Chuck activist, “If the adults are going to Cost: Suggested Donation $7.00-$12.00 Schumer of New York, Terry McAu- screw-up our entire future, we have liffe of Virginia, presidential candi- (No one is turned away) to do something about it.” Needless date Pete Buttigieg, and the president to say, if we look at how deliberately Each month we invite a guest artist(s), of the so-called Center for American detrimental this administration has community organization, arts program or Progress, Neera Tanden. Let’s be clear. been for the environment and at the social service agency to be a part of our High-ranking Democrats have spent US withdrawal from the Paris Agree- more time waiting for the Mueller Re- ment, Trump’s nomination of Greta as performance. Through this collaboration we acknowledge and hon- port in order to incriminate Trump or the work individuals and organizations do in our community. spokesperson for the United States at than agglutinating popular support the UN, while declaring that he would This month we collaborate with Olympia High School’s student club, behind a social platform that benefits offer automatic citizenship to Swedish STAND – Students Together Advocating for Non-Violence and Diversity. the people and the nation. That’s has minors whose first name begins with This campus club has been active over the years in our community on been the main difference between G, is nothing other than a desperate issues related to social justice. They have also participated in rebuilding them and Bernie Sanders. publicity act designed to trivialize homes in New Orleans. both Greta and her cause. Attacking progressive women Playback Theatre is a spontaneous collaboration between per- The next group being vilified is the What’s to be done? formers and audience. People tell moments from their lives, then one comprised by women like Alexan- First, we need to be alert to the mech- dria Ocasio–Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Il- watch them re-created with movement, music and dialogue. han Omar, Ayanna Pressley and many 4the left, cont. on page 11 Page 8 Works In Progress May 2019 “Put up the bars against immigration. and more readily assimilable into the Enact more stringent laws concern- United States. ing naturalization and enforce these laws to the letter. Let citizenship be On March 17, 1924, Johnson proposed a privilege to those who live and love a new bill using the 1890 census as the United States. Deny citizenship to its benchmark. The bill limited Euro- those newcomers who respect neither pean immigrants to 2 percent of each our flag nor our institutions and who group’s population in this country as have imported a mass of isms that, if of 1890. A maximum of 150,000 immi- not checked, must lead to anarchy and grants, drawn almost entirely from the An immigration legacy eugenicists’ favored nations, was set revolution.” as the annual ceiling on all immigra- Johnson’s proposals centered on an- tion. The act excluded from entry any- from the Red Coast nual quota limiting the number of one born in a geographically defined immigrants able to enter the country. “Asiatic Barred Zone,” which included Did Steve Miller and Wilbur Ross In 1921, Johnson introduced a bill set- most of the continent of Asia. A final ting up a quota system limiting any section of the act banned immigration copy Albert Johnson? nationality to just 3 percent of the by groups ineligible for naturalization, number counted during the 1910 cen- a category that included the Japanese. sus. The anti-immigration bill passed Aaron Goings temporary inhabitants—who, before both houses of Congress by resound- The measure easily passed both hous- they have learned to speak our lan- ing margins, and gained President es and was signed by the President Congressman Albert Johnson, one guage and before they know of on May 26, 1924. The law is of the Pacific Northwest’s most in- our customs and institutions, rightfully seen as among the fluential politicians, struck many of are taught by foreign-born agi- The 1924 bill limited European most important immigration the same themes in relation to immi- tators to hate the United States laws in US history. grants as does the current command- and to contribute their money immigrants to 2 percent of each er in chief. Johnson’s greatest legacy The law’s impact exceeded and their energies to a revolu- group’s population in the 1890 even its most optimistic sup- was the 1924 Johnson-Reed Act, which tion, bloodless or otherwise, applied a stringent quota system to porters’ expectations. In part which plots the downfall of our census. An annual maximum due to the Johnson-Reed Act, American immigration policies, and present form of government.” is widely regarded as the most impor- of 150,000 immigrants... over the 23 years from 1924 tant piece of restrictive immigration Johnson was explicit in his de- to 1947, only 2,718,006 im- legislation in United States history. sire to use immigration restric- migrants came to the United tion to fight the IWW. He relied on the Warren Harding’s signature. The pur- States. On November 5, 1912, voters in South- pose of this and similar quotas was much-used caricature of the anarchist The effects of Johnson’s campaigns west Washington, known then as “the immigrant to strengthen his argument clear. Most Northern European immi- Red Coast,” elected Albert Johnson, grants had come to the United States against immigrants and radicals last- for restriction. Johnson preferred to ed far beyond his Congressional ca- editor of the popular Daily Washing- let the occasional “blind grandmother” in large numbers prior to 1910, so the tonian, to serve as their member of law would have little effect on the fu- reer. By placing race-based quotas on and “crippled child” into the United immigration, Johnson succeeded at Congress. Over the next twenty years, States than “an immigrant with red ture entry of British, German, Irish, Johnson became one of the most pow- or Scandinavian immigrants, where- “putting up the bars” against millions in his heart and a bomb in his hand.” of people who saw the United States, erful Congressional leaders in the Johnson assured his supporters that as many potential immigrants from United States, serving in nine succes- Southern and Eastern Europe would warts and all, as a potential sanctuary any “discussion of immigration leads against war and persecution. sive congresses until his defeat in the at once to a discussion of the I.W.W.,” be barred from entry. 1932 election. and that the combination of these two Still, to Johnson and many of his col- Aaron Goings, Ph.D., is a senior Johnson’s anti-immigrant policies, issues created the greatest and most leagues, the restrictions seemed too researcher at the Institute of Advanced though inherently racist, stemmed in immediate threat to the United States. lenient. Building on his public reputa- Social Research in Finland. He part from his hatred of working-class With his decisive victory in the 1912 tion as an immigration “expert,” John- previously taught at St. Martin’s College. radicals. His election came only a few congressional election, Johnson took son took up a position as president of short months after Johnson played his red-baiting, anti-immigrant cru- the Eugenic Research Association dur- This piece is excerpted with permission a key role in the 1912 Grays Harbor sade to the nation’s capital. When ing 1923–1924. This group pushed for from The Red Coast: Radicalism lumber strike when thousands of mill Johnson moved to Washington, DC, the adoption of public policy based on and Anti-Radicalism in Southwest workers affiliated with the radical In- he brought the Home Defender along. the pseudo-science of eugenics. The Washington by Aaron Goings, Brian dustrial Workers of the World (IWW or There, while serving within the mi- eugenics movement, with Johnson Barnes, and Roger Snider, copyright Wobblies) struck, shutting down the nority Republican Party in Congress, as its chief Congressional advocate, © 2019. Available from booksellers or region’s massive lumber industry. The he worked to establish the paper as “A pushed for more stringent limits to Oregon State University Press. IWW was (and is) an industrial union National Newspaper Opposed to Revo- recognize Northern and Western Euro- and revolutionary organization for the lutionary Socialism.” peans as more intelligent, democratic, express purpose of overthrowing the capitalist system. The Wobs saw the Overall, though, the Congressman world and their place in it through the made his mark on Washington—and lens of class: the fundamental division on America—not through his hateful in industrial capitalist America was editorials, but through his work to en- between those who owned the means act racist restrictive legislation. Dur- of production and those who worked ing his first term in Congress, John- for them. son served on the House Immigration healthful Committee. During the strike, Johnson and his fellow Grays Harbor editors served Northwest newspapers credited his as loud and enthusiastic mouthpieces assignment to that committee to the delectable for the anti-Wobbly drive. Johnson “fact” that “Mr. Johnson has made the battled the radicals not just with the immigration problem a matter of spe- pen, but with the sword. He joined cial study for many years.” Johnson used his first speech on the House affordable a citizens’ vigilante committee com- posed of Grays Harbor businessmen floor to assail Asian immigration, giv- that assaulted Wobblies, socialists, and ing the public a hint of what was to WESTSIDE STORE EASTSIDE STORE their family members, and drove large come. Speaking of the need to retain & GARDEN CENTER & DELI numbers of them out of Hoquiam and a tariff, the Congressman claimed: 921 Rogers St. NW 3111 Pacific Ave SE Aberdeen. “China will send her hordes into this country. They will force the wage- Olympia, WA 98502 Olympia, WA 98501 Johnson’s war with the Red Coast earner and the farmer out. . . . Until 360.754.7666 360.956.3870 Wobblies, many of whom were newly now a protective tariff wall has kept arrived immigrants from southern our people of the great Pacific North- and eastern Europe, shaped his ex- west from too close competition with treme attitudes about radicalism and these Oriental off-scourings.” immigration. Between 1913 and 1918, Johnson con- In response to his need to more fully tinued to serve on the House Immi- express his anti-radical and anti-immi- gration Committee, where he pursued grant attitudes, Johnson established the study of various racist ideologies, a second newspaper, the Home De- including eugenics. He was the chief fender, in May 1912. The opening is- advocate of these beliefs among his sue of the monthly explained that its colleagues. He also formed friend- goal was “to take an active part against ships with committee members on the spread of radical, revolutionary both sides of the aisle, a fact that aided socialism.” The Home Defender also his crusade against immigrants and expressed anti-immigrant positions radicals when he was appointed chair that might have shocked the less-big- of the committee in 1919. Johnson oted Washingtonian subscribers. “The contended that the number of immi- Growth of Socialism in this country,” grants allowed into the country should he wrote,“may be directly charged to be dramatically restricted, essentially open 8am – 9pm daily this great incoming heterogeneous arguing for a wall—or, more specifi- www.olympiafood.coop mass of undesirable wage-cutting in- cally, bars—to be built to protect the habitants, many of them admittedly nation’s borders: May 2019 Works In Progress Page 9 With friends like these, who needs enemies? Mary Jo Dolis Here is Forbes’ (a business magazine!) explanation of why this The Social Security Board of Trustees happens: released its 2019 report to Congress in “Thanks to decades of a billionaire- April. Right now, the aver- funded campaign to undermine age annual Social Security confidence in Social Security, the benefit is about $16,000. Trustees Report will likely be The new Trustees Report greeted with cries that Social confirms that expanding Security is going broke. The vs. cutting Social Secu- truth is that Social Security rity’s modest benefits is is in strong financial shape. For an exciting dinner a question of values and choice, not affordability. Report shows that Social Se- curity has an accumulated party, put catastrophe What the report surplus of roughly $2.9 tril- actually says: lion. It further shows that at • Social Security has a large the end of the century, it will on the menu surplus―projected to reach roughly cost just 6.07% of GDP. That is con- $2.9 trillion next year; siderably lower, as a percentage of The Great Derangement: Climate Change • Social Security continues to be ex- GDP, than what is spent today by and the Unthinkable, by Amitav Ghosh tremely affordable with less than Germany, Austria, France and most one penny of every dollar spent on other industrialized countries on administrative costs (this is a frac- their retirement, survivors and dis- Kathleen Byrd Taking time to talk tion of what other industrialized ability programs. Now, it’s spring and I want every smart countries pay for similar programs); That brings us to the second misre- Amitav Ghosh, an Indian novelist person I know to be talking about this and winner of numerous honors and • Social Security can pay out ALL porting we are likely to see. Along book, about the catastrophes in our benefits owed for the next 16 years― with that modest, unsurprising awards, including honorary doctor- midst and the ways in which we are ates from the University of Puget until 2035―at which point it can still shortfall being the cause for breath- connected and complicit: climate deni- pay 80% of benefits owed. less media reports about supposed Sound and Maastricht College in the al and concealment is not about them; Netherlands, is a brilliant novelist and Well, Forbes magazine of all things, collapse, the report will be greeted, it’s about us, all of us. Ghosh confronts predicted exactly what happened—the again if past experience repeats, thinker. Ghosh writes that “Studies the reality of climate catastrophe with have shown that a mention of global news coverage of the report would with lamentations from many ob- nuance and imagination and an ap- completely misrepresent the contents: servers that Congress has no plan to warming at the dinner table is almost propriate dose of rage: “A special place certain to lead to a quick change of address Social Security’s projected ought to be reserved in hell … for reck- PBS—”Despite the lack of big short- shortfall. That is incorrect. subject.” less planners who build with such dis- term changes, both Medicare and So- cial Security remain on unaffordable Democrats have specific concrete It doesn’t have to be that way regard for their surroundings.” financial paths that will without seri- plans that they stand behind. They Read The Hungry Tide, for an intro- Language that reveals ous reforms soak up ever-larger shares plan not just to ensure that all prom- duction to Ghosh’s fiction, and then rather than conceals of government spending.” ised benefits will be paid in full and immediately follow with The Great Ghosh’s exposition of the modes and on time for the foreseeable future, Derangement: Climate Change and the varieties of climate concealment clos- CNBC—”The report shows the Social but to address our nation’s retire- Unthinkable. Next, organize a dinner es in the last section “Politics” with Security Trust Fund projected to be ment income crisis by increasing party. Ghosh’s book is sure to add a an illuminating critique of the 2015 depleted in 2035.” Social Security’s modest benefits. new potency to your conversation. Paris Agreement on Climate Change CBS News—”Social Security is on a It is only Congressional Republicans whose “diction … is borrowed directly Ghosh invites readers into his intel- path to become insolvent in 2035, with who have no plans —except cutting from the free-trade agreements of the lectual and imaginative inquiry, ask- only enough money cover about 80 benefits and turning the program neoliberal era.” This gives “the impres- ing questions like “What is it about percent of its obligations.” over to private businesses.” Climate Change that the mention of sion of language being deployed as an it should lead to banishment from instrument of concealment and with- Fox News—”Social Security Shortfall . So don’t be fooled. the preserves of serious fiction? And drawal; in contrast with Pope Francis’s Social Security is slated to run dry in what does this tell us about culture 2015 Laudato Si, which “challenges 2035, faces shakey fiscal future.” Mary Jo Dolis is the pen name of a writ large and its pattern of evasion?” contemporary practices not just in its committed skeptic. His questions probe underneath the choice of words but also in the direct- surface of politics, denial, and even ness of its style” which “returns over capitalism, to ask why the arts, litera- and over again to the theme of “how ture, civic planning and other cultural inseparable the bond is between con- forces fail to consider the reality and cern for nature, justice for the poor, reach of climate catastrophe that is commitment to society, and interior our current reality. peace.” A space where we make the future Ghosh reminds us that as dire as our Ghosh’s local-to-global perspective of- predicament is, every crisis is an op- fers something like seeing a map of portunity. The opportunity now is to the world where Africa is central for see reality and to spread words that the first time. As one friend aptly put, reveal rather than conceal. In recent “It will blow your mind!” Ghosh blows weeks, I’ve followed Greta Thunberg open an in-between space between and listened to her direct and vision- climate deniers and climate activists. ary wisdom. The Great Derangement is This is the space in which most of us divided into sections that were origi- live and work. This is where we act in nally presented as four lectures at the world and contribute to culture. the University of Chicago in 2015. As We make the future here. the book advances, Ghosh connects stories, cultural habits, and land use He also reminds us of the relation- planning, to our knowledge of history ship between empire and colonialism, and to structures of power at local, na- not just capitalism (Naomi Klein) that tional, and global levels. drives our understanding and respons- Cartridge Care Inc. es to climate catastrophe. An honest and hopeful analysis I hope that Ghosh’s book becomes THE PRINTER EXPERTS since 1990 Making time to read the subject of many dinner conversa- I bought this book last summer after tions, along with Thunberg’s vision, reading The Hungry Tide, and until Feb- as they offer a more accurate map, a TONER - FILM - INK JETS ruary it remained on my shelf, looking more honest and hopeful analysis of Remanufactured and new - Hundreds in stock rather bleak. I’ve read dozens of books our current predicament. It might not on climate change, and I didn’t think make you comfortable, but it might my winter mood could stomach anoth- help to wake you from a sleep of de- REPAIR - SERVICE - SALES for er. Then I broke my wrist and settled spair. Printers - Fax - Copiers - Plotters into reading all the books I’d purchased and hadn’t yet read. Kathleen Byrd is a teacher and writer who has lived and raised her daughter Free Pick Up & Delivery in Olympia. 1314 Lebanon St. SE - Lacey 360-459-8845 Page 10 Works In Progress May 2019

“Single parenting isn’t just being the Financial instability up close: only one to take care of your kid. It’s not about being able to ‘tap out’ for a break or tag team bath- and A single parent’s memoir bedtime; those were the least of the difficulties I faced. I had a crushing to disrupt narratives about financial ing back, toward homelessness. We amount of responsibility. I took out Emily Lardner instability and poverty. Founded in lived, we survived, in careful im- the trash. I brought in the groceries Four days of debate in June may yield 2012 by Barbara Ehrenreich, EHRP balance. This was my unwitnessed I had gone to the store to select and a progressive Democratic platform aims to give voice and work to writ- existence, as I polished another’s to buy. I cooked. I cleaned. I changed focused on addressing systemic in- ers and photographers from under- make theirs appear perfect.” out the toilet paper. I made the bed. represented groups, following in the equality. If so, that change will be in Land describes listening to co-workers I dusted. I checked the oil in the no small part because of the ongoing tradition of the Farm Security Admin- car. I drove Mia to the doctor, to her grassroots activism across the country istration and the Works dad’s house…. When I demanding changes. One powerful Progress Administration. ...when a person is too deep in systemic sat down, I worried.” strategy has been to change the domi- As they say on their website, EHRP’s “aim is For several years, Land’s nant narrative that studiously ignores poverty, there is no upward trajectory. daily circumstances the systemic undervaluing and exploi- to humanize inequality: Our writers and photog- Life is struggle and nothing else. lead her to focus on day tation of labor in favor of personaliz- to day problem solving ing poverty as a moral failing. raphers, some of whom may be on the brink with no future orienta- Changing the narrative matters. The of poverty themselves, tell intimate, and parents at her daughter’s pre- tion. She couldn’t afford it: school and even strangers comment Poor People’s Campaign, working to- heartbreaking and sometimes shock- “As a poor person, I was not accus- wards their Moral Action Congress in ing stories originating from their own disparagingly on people using food stamps. Most of the time, they exclude tomed to looking past the month, DC June 17-19, articulates this as a communities.” week, or sometimes hour. I com- central tenet of their work: her from their judgements: Stephanie Land, author of the memoir partmentalized my life the same “We aim to shift the distorted moral Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Moth- “When people think of food stamps, way I cleaned every room of every narrative often promoted by religious er’s Will to Survive, is a writer whose they don’t envision someone like house—left to right, top to bottom. extremists in the nation from issues work has been supported by EHRP. In me: someone plain-faced and white. Whether on paper or in my mind, like prayer in school, abortion, and Maid, Lane recounts her experiences Someone like the girl they’d known the problems I had to deal with gun rights, to one that is concerned living as a single mom in and around in high school who’d been quiet first—the car repair, the court date, with how our society treats the poor, Port Townsend and Skagit Valley, mak- but nice. Someone like a neighbor. the empty cupboards—went at the those on the margins, the least of these, ing a living cleaning houses. Through Someone like them. Maybe that top, on the left. The next pressing women, LGBTQIA folks, workers, im- her descriptive writing, Land unveils made them too nervous about their issue went next to it, on the right. migrants, the disabled and the sick; the circumstances of her life as a own situation. Maybe they saw in I’d focus on one problem at a time, equality and representation under the housecleaner: me the chance of their own fragile working left to right, top to bottom.” circumstances, that, with one lost law; and the desire for peace, love and What finally allows Land to break out harmony within and among nations.” “My job afforded me little money job, one divorce, they’d be in the to spend on clothes, even for work. same place as I was.” of her day-to-day labor cleaning hous- In partnership with the Institute I worked through illnesses and es is the risk she takes at Skagit Valley for Policy Studies, the Poor People’s brought my daughter to daycare She also describes encounters in gro- College to apply for financial aid. With Campaign has audited efforts made when she should have been at home. cery stores where strangers insult that loan, Land was able to stop work- in the fifty years since the campaign My job offered no sick pay, no vaca- her for choosing organic milk for her ing as much, complete her associate was started by Martin Luther King Jr tion days, no foreseeable increase three-year old daughter, for presum- degree, and move on to Montana to and thousands of others. The Souls of in wage, yet through it all, still I ing she has a right to care about her finish a BA in English and writing. In Poor Folk, available free via the PPC begged to work more. Wages lost daughter’s nutrition. reflecting on her decision, Land writes and IPS websites, tackles two central from missed work hours could rare- A pervasive theme in the book is the that it was the legacy of her mother myths: poverty is the fault of the poor, ly be made up, and if I missed too labor of single parenting. The father of achieving middle-class status (albeit and that, in spite of our abundance in many, I risked being fired. My car’s Land’s daughter takes care of her oc- temporarily) through education that the US, there isn’t enough here for ev- reliability was vital, since a broken casionally, and for a while, Land lives let her take a similar risk. As she puts eryone to survive and thrive. hose, a faulty thermostat, or even with another man. However, primary it, shortsightedness kept her from get- a flat tire could throw us off, knock ting overwhelmed, but it also kept her The Economic Hardship Reporting responsibility for caring for her child us backward, send us teetering, fall- falls to Land. The work is grueling. from dreaming: “When a person is too Project (EHRP ) is similarly designed deep in systemic poverty, there is no upward trajectory. Life is struggle and nothing else. But for me, many of my decisions came from an assumption employee unions, after decades of de- that things would, eventually, start to American politics.” Strangling mobilization, is to learn how to break improve.” away from business-as-usual union- On this point, Norquist has wide Land’s memoir is worth reading, From page 5 ism and enlist their members and the agreement from labor activists. “Wis- whether or not you’ve worked as a community to resist. And they will consin is the petri dish for the rest of housecleaner, been a single parent, or the tragic school shooting in Parkland. have to do this with fewer staff and re- the country,” says Dave Poklinkoski, have experienced extended financial “All three of the educators shot down sources than before. president of IBEW 2304 in Madison. instability and poverty. Like the Poor were union members,” says Broward “This was an experiment. Billionaires Teachers’ Union president Anna Fus- No one decides our fate but us People’s Campaign, like The Souls of and corporations are trying to figure Poor Folk, Land gives voice to the ex- co. out how they can maintain their rule. The unions that are building a fighting culture are the ones most likely to fare periences that any progressive politi- “This legislation just proves that these Spreading Act 10 on a national scale is cal platform must address. legislators have no respect or value their plan to do it.” well in a right-to-work environment for educators. Their only concern is and to beat back legislative attacks. “The current onslaught against labor According to the MTEA’s Mizialko, the Emily Lardner lives, works and writes in stripping down and privatizing our unions is the largest, the best funded Grays Harbor County. schools.” best fortification is a strong, member- and the most elaborately coordinated run union that is constantly in action, A petri dish for the nation in U.S. history,” says Sarah Lawrence building allies in the community and Writing in 2017, anti-tax crusader and College historian Priscilla Murolo. “All power in the workplace. “No one de- conservative strategist Grover Norquist, unions are in the crosshairs.” cides our fate but us,” she says. head of the SPN affiliate Americans Is there hope for labor beyond Sun Break for Tax Reform, argued that Wisconsin Chris Brooks is a staff writer and labor merely surviving? educator at Labor Notes. This article should be a model for all Republican As the recent teacher uprising sweep- legislatures. He sees union-busting as a is the second half of an article that Records ing the nation has shown, workers are appeared in the August 2018 issue of In way to erode a Democratic fundraising, not apathetic. Pushed far enough, and door-knocking and voting base. “If Act These Times, published with permission. announcing the release of when they see a way, they are willing This story was supported by the Leonard 10 is enacted in a dozen more states,” to fight. he said, “the modern Democratic Party C. Goodman Institute for Investigative Rising will cease to be a competitive power in The challenge facing many public- Reporting. by Greg Black & the Planetary People Rising is an album of progressive rock with all original songs specifically meant to encourage our shared joy Centralia Square Antique Mall and direction in these tempestuous times. These are touchstones as we Antiques•Restaurant•Hotel continue to push further for a loving and sustainable planet. Directions from Olympia Available at Rainy Day South on Interstate 5 Records and New Traditions Off at Exit 82 (Factory Outlets) East on Harrison Sun Break Records only produces Right on Pearl CDs that are made in the most environmentally friendly way possible. 201 S Pearl & Locust Open 7 days Order information: 10am–5pm [email protected] May 2019 Works In Progress Page 11 Continuing programs for peace at the Rachel Corrie Foundation The Rachel Corrie Foundation for view as prerequisites for world peace. kids; and the Palestinian Cultural Pal- Peace & Justice (RFC) is a grassroots, Continuing the work begun and envi- ace Youth Performances. 501(c)3 non-profit organization that sioned by our daughter, Rachel Cor- conducts and supports programs that rie, our initial emphasis has been on Through the years, many in our com- foster connections between people, Israel/Palestine. munity have demonstrated support that build understanding, respect, and generosity for these efforts, they and appreciation for differences, and The Rachel Corrie Foundation is gear- can’t happen without you. Members of that promote cooperation within and ing up once again to support projects the community can join together once in Gaza: the Rachel Corrie Gaza Sport again in sustaining these grassroots between local and global communi- 233 Division St NW ties. The foundation encourages and Initiative; the Samira Project (with projects. Please mark and celebrate supports grassroots efforts in pursuit MECA and Madison-Rafah Sister City Rachel’s 40th birthday by standing (360) 943-8044 of human rights and social, economic, Project partners), providing academic strong with RCF and with the youth and environmental justice, which we and psychological support for Gaza and families of Gaza. Wildwood (360) 688-1234

ing concern, any business might lose operative Development Center, the ty to develop changes that can move money from one year to the next. As employees of Working Systems opted the business to the next level. A mil- Steven pointed out, “We have to have to move ahead with a workers’ coop- lion union members using Working Workers a line of credit—at any given time erative. No one wanted to give up this System’s products, in 25 different la- From page 1 we have $200,000 out in accounts re- workplace that offered so many satis- bor unions covering over 750 locals, ceivable, and banks aren’t interested factions, and served so many people. could be joined by a million more in rotates through the desk dedicated for in operations like ours.” The crucial Scott Breidenbach is part of the Board the coming years. the IBEW locals. The “management” exception is a local bank like Heri- that has been formed. In talking about structure that emerged over time was tage, where money becomes available the coming reorganization, Scott re- Bethany Weidner functions as the utility for smaller groups to meet around when officers and customers get to flected on the fact that the group will outfielder at Works in Progress their specific tasks (web-based pro- know each other. But known or not, be taking advantage of the opportuni- grammers don’t overlap much with the bank wants a personal financial desk-top programmers), and then a statement and an individual signature big meeting with reps from the small on the line. When there was money at groups. the end of the year, it went to improve When too much money is concentrated in too few the business not the owners’ bank ac- The financial is personal count balance. hands, the owners of the money are motivated At times in the past, the idea of form- ing a cooperative, or handing off the Programming for the future to look for places to “invest” for themselves: business arose. Those discussions Last fall, the discussion of handing didn’t produce anyone anxious to take off the business turned serious as the golf courses, more homes, beach homes, bigger on the risks and responsibilities cov- founders decided they were ready to “ beach homes, bigger golf courses, rare wines, ered by Steven and Jim. Even as a go- retire. With the help of the NW Co- famous paintings by artists who died destitute and so on…Not in production useful to the society.” Ranked-choice RankandFile, California voting strengthens The left democracy From page 7 The May 2019 interview on “Glen’s Ranked-Choice Voting works and anisms of vilification, which include Parallax Perspectives” series pro- how it can strengthen democracy: deliberate trivializing of serious is- motes an increasingly popular elec- sues, serious platforms, serious peo- toral reform. • Lisa Ayrault is a very active vol- unteer with FairVote Washington. ple. Second, we need to recognize that Everybody knows that our nation’s where she is the organization’s the struggle against the domination of electoral system is broken. The chair performing the duties of an capital and its interests is a long one. problems prevent us from having Executive Director. As Terry Eagleton writes, we have to an honest, vibrant democracy. The • Michael Martin is FairVote Wash- maintain hope without optimism. Fi- May 2019 interview on “Glen’s Paral- ington’s Legislative Director, nally, we need to be alert to and sup- lax Perspectives” focuses on an excit- working with the State Legislature portive of the use of political rhetoric ing, practical remedy for one prob- to bring Ranked Choice Voting to that transgresses traditional tropes lem – Ranked-Choice Voting. Washington State. Also, Michael and in so doing, opens up new spaces for reflection and debate. AOC’s new Our current voting method frustrates is a leader in the Clark County group – one of a growing number video on The Intercept is a brilliant ex- people who would like to vote for ample. the candidate they really want, but of chapters of FairVote Washing- they are afraid of “wasting their vote” ton. A way forward with the next or the “spoiler” effect. In this situa- Throughout the nation, more peo- generation tion, voters split between two decent ple—and more local and state gov- In that video, AOC breaks away from candidates which allows a really bad ernments—are reforming elections tradition. The protagonist of the strug- candidate to win with less than half in this way. gle to address climate change is not a of the vote. People feel frustrated Everyone everywhere can watch singular actor, but rather a member of when they are afraid to vote for the this interview, read a summary or one generation seeking to be replaced candidate they really want and feel get a list of links for further infor- by members of an even younger gen- forced to vote for a less desirable mation through Glen’s blog, www. eration. The protagonist isn’t driven candidate who was “electable,” or for parallaxperspectives.org. Cable TV by her interest in serving as a leader “the lesser of two evils.” subscribers in Thurston County can but rather by the suffering inflicted on others through deliberate strate- Ranked-Choice Voting would solve watch on Thurston Community Tele- gies of vilification and climate denial. this problem. It would eliminate vision (TCTV) every Monday at 1:30 The protagonist is merely one person primary elections and instead let pm, every Wednesday at 5:00 pm, in a long line of people who are com- voters rank the candidates in order and every Thursday at 9:00 pm. The mitted to doing the right thing for the of preference in an election. If your program and summary are posted to people and the planet—the axis of his- first-choice candidate does not win, the blog. tory does not run through an individ- the votes of people who ranked that Each program and thorough summa- ual, but rather the individual places candidate first would be transferred ry are also posted to the blog’s “TV herself in a larger historical tradition. to that voter’s second choice. The Programs” category and to a topic At the same time, the protagonist has process might need to repeat again category. Questions? Contact a self—she isn’t acting selflessly but and perhaps again until one candi- Glen Anderson, the series’ producer/ rather, she’s acting in the interests of date ends up with a majority of votes. host at (360) 491-9093 glenander- her own and the next generation. Two guests explain clearly how [email protected]. Enrique Quintero is an engaged observer of the current political scene. May 2019 Free, take one! Serving the Olympia community and the cause of social justice since 1990. Works In Progress

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