Solidarity Radio Solidarity

In this episode we are joined by Gabriella a rank and file Teamster, UPS worker, and Teamsters for a Democratic Union steering committee member. In this episode we discuss rank and file union organizing, the challenges and opportunities the upcoming Teamsters election presents, and Teamsters for a Democratic Union.

Follow Gabriella on Twitter @revivethestreijk for updates on her war on cheese and Teamsters posting. Check out the websites for  Teamsters for a Democratic Union https://www.tdu.org/ and Teamsters United https://www.oz2021.com/ to learn more about them. You can find the Joe Burns books mentioned by Gabriella at most book sellers.

For more about Solidarity go to our website www.solidarity-us.org and follow us on Twitter @SolidarityUS and Instagram @SolidarityUS1986. If you liked what you heard here, be sure to check out our comrades at the socialist journal Against the Current www.againstthecurrent.org. You can also follow them on Twitter @atc_mag and Instagram @atc.mag.

This is part two of two in a series of conversations about TDU, TU, and the Teamsters election.

Fred Zuckerman (left) and Sean O’Brien (right)





Joining us this week is Andy — a rank and file Teamster, public transit worker, member of the Tempest Magazine collective, and Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) member — and Hank — a rank and file Teamster, worker at UPS, and TDU member. In this episode we discuss rank and file union organizing, the challenges and opportunities the upcoming Teamsters election presents, and Teamsters for a Democratic Union.

If you want keep up with Hank check out his writing at Letterboxd and follow him on Twitter @ComradeRobocop. To read more from Andy you can follow him on Twitter @andsern or his Patreon. Finally, please do not forget to check out Tempest Magazine for its insightful writing and analysis.

Follow Socialism from Below on Twitter @socfrombelow. Do not forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast streaming platform and do not forget to rate us and write a review on iTunes. It takes five seconds and is a huge help to our podcast.

For more about Solidarity go to our website www.solidarity-us.org and follow us on Twitter @SolidarityUS and Instagram @SolidarityUS1986. If you liked what you heard here, be sure to check out our comrades at the socialist journal Against the Current www.againstthecurrent.org. You can also follow them on Twitter @atc_mag and Instagram @atc.mag.

This is part one of a two part series. In the next episode we will talk with Gabriella a rank and file Teamster, TDU member, and UPS worker.

Listen to the workshop of activists and organizers from across the country strategizing, sharing experiences, evaluating tactics, and making connections with others passionate about increasing the power of tenants and making decent housing a right. Transcript forthcoming!















Learn more about the participating organizations:















KC Tenants:







KC Tenants fights for safe, accessible and affordable housing for all. It is led by a multigenerational, multi-racial, poor and working-class group of tenants. They believe in developing grassroot leaders who fight for their own liberation and tell their own stories.























LA Tenants Union:







The LA Tenants Union is a movement of tenants who are seeking to make affordable and safe housing a right. They fight against landlord harassment, evictions, and displacement and organize to enhance the political power of tenants through advocacy, education and direct action.















City Life / Vida Urbana:







City Life/Vida Urbana is a Boston-based housing rights organization that was founded almost 50 years ago. It is a bilingual community organization fighting for racial, economic and gender justice in housing. CLVU organizes against housing displacement, whether it be through foreclosures or evictions, and for building working class power in matters of tenant and housing rights.















Philly Tenants Union:







Philly Tenants Union is a tenant-led organization that fights for the right to safe, decent and affordable housing. PTU engages both in direct action against individual landlords as well as in campaigns for legislative reforms that strengthen the rights of tenants.







Unfortunately Philly Tenants Union were unable to attend although they participated in the early planning of the event







 

Joining us from Seattle are Jade and Megan, two members of Seattle DSA. Jade is also a member of the national Afrosocialist Socialist of Color Caucus (AfroSoc Caucus) and is also a co-chair of Seattle DSA’s Anti-Racist Co-Conspirators Caucus (ARC). Megan is co-chair of SDSA Council district 3, co-chair of the Seattle AfroSoc caucus. We talk about reparations, class reductionism, restorative justice, and the necessity of open and frank conversation.







If you want to find out more about what Seattle DSA be sure to check out their website www.seattledsa.org and @SeattleDsa. If you want to learn more about what the Seattle AfroSoc caucus is up to give them a follow at @seattleAFROSOC and for more about the national caucus check out @AFROSOCDSA. While ARC doesn’t have any social media yet keep an eye out for future accounts.

This week we are joined by Luis of the Mexican socialist party the Partido Revolucionario de las y los Trabajadores. We talk about what the PRT is, the current political situation in Mexico, the Fourth International, and the meaning of “Trotskyism” in the 21st century.







To learn more about PRT check out their website, Facebook, and Twitter. To learn more about the FI check out their website, the website of their educational center International Institute for Research and Education, their magazine International Viewpoint.









1:34 What is Partido Revolutionario de las y los Trabajadores (PRT)? Situating it historically and in the current moment.







9:47 The meaning of nationalism and populism in Latin America.







16:03 The emergence of AMLO and its consequences.







24:40 The Fourth International and its historical relationship to “Trotskyism”







34:16 What is the FI now?







38:00 The strategy of building broad/useful parties







42:30 Talking about PSOL in the context of the “broad/useful parties” framework.







46:09 Final comments









We just launched our Socialism from Below Twitter account. Do not forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast streaming platform. Please follow us there, and do not forget to rate us and write a review on iTunes. It takes five seconds and is a huge help to our podcast.







For more about Solidarity go to our website and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. If you liked what you heard here, be sure to check out our comrades at the socialist journal Against the Current. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

This week we are joined by Jetzel, Magda, and Mak  who are all leaders in KC Tenants. We talk about how they use a diversity of tactics, the importance of organizing at the speed of trust, why socialists should organize tenants, and some pro tips for those of us who are new to tenant organizing.







Find out more about KC Tenants on Twitter, Instagram, and on their website. You can also find the pamphlets that Magda mentioned in longer form and zine form on their website. To support them you can head over to their donations page.









~ 0:34 What is KC Tenants?







~ 4:03 How do policy advocacy, direct action, and mutual aid fit together?







~  12:32 How did COVID-19 change how you organized? What were the challenges?







~ 20:09 Organizing at the speed of trust.







~ 24:20 Tenants hotline and workers’ inquiry







~ 30:26 Why should socialists organize tenants?







~ 34:12 Organizing a diverse working class.







~ 45:32 Pro tips for new tenant organizers.









We just launched our Socialism from Below Twitter account. Do not forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast streaming platform. Please follow us there, and do not forget to rate us and write a review on iTunes. It takes five seconds and is a huge help to our podcast.







For more about Solidarity go to our website and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. If you liked what you heard here, be sure to check out our comrades at the socialist journal Against the Current. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram.