There are situations in which you can legally be fired for participating in a general strike. Suggest updating the website for accuracy.

The website behind this general strike contains misleading information regarding whether or not you can be fired for going on strike.

It’s important to be upfront that the NLRA does not apply to domestic workers or farm workers (California is the only US state to offer mostly equivalent legal protection to striking farm workers).

There is not any protection under that law against being fired for striking or labor organizing activity if you work in those industries. The NLRA also does not apply to supervisors or managers, or workers who are independent contractors. It also places restrictions on the rights of medical workers to go on strike. Furthermore, Railroad workers are covered under a different law that I believe places some restrictions on strike activity (I’m not familiar enough with it to go into any detail).

Furthermore it is debatable whether or not you are protected for striking without some direct connection to improving working conditions or pay from your employer. I’m not aware of any successful case where someone was reinstated in their job because they were fired for participating in a politically-motivated strike, at least under the NLRA.

There is also the practical side of things. Realistically an employer can fire you and claim to be doing it for any number of reasons. Unless you have smoking gun evidence that they did it because of your strike activity and lots of documentation on your history as an outstanding worker, the NLRA is toothless. This isn’t just an issue in the context of a general strike, this is a bigger issue with US labor organizing in general.

And although unionized employees can theoretically argue that their union should support the strike, given the bureaucratic, mainstream-orientation of all major unions in the US, that is unlikely to happen. Which is a problem because unionized workers can legally be fired for striking without union approval.

——

Ignoring these realities and papering over them is tantamount to encouraging working people to “economically martyr” themselves under false pretenses.

General strikes—if they are going to be at all meaningful or effective—have to arise from a broader, militant, and class-conscious workers movement. If that foundation doesn’t exist, this kind of activity isn’t going to accomplish anything. This is a lesson that has already been learned through historical example, no need to waste energy relearning it.

https://redd.it/ojuj01
@Octoberstrike

When the time comes who is going to help lead this strike?

Of course it is important to start within your own community and spread the word. Create a support system for those who will be impacted most by this strike. But we will need a General strike committee, Negotiating committee, Picketing committee, Publicity committee, Financial/fundraising committee. We also need to listen to the people, there are many individuals saying there are more that need to be added to the list of demands. The disabled community and BIPOC are often forgotten. There is the very current issue of the over 1,000 remains of indigenous children in the US and Canada as well as Line 3.

https://redd.it/ojznb7
@Octoberstrike

Letter template to House and Senate Reps and RESIST BOT - text SIGN PCINLG to 50409

This can be sent to Senators and House Reps. Visit [https://resist.bot/petitions/pcinlg/](https://resist.bot/petitions/pcinlg/) or text SIGN PCINLG to 50409.

​

Dear \[Representative’s Name\],

As your constituent, I am writing today to ask for your support of the National General Strike taking place on October 15, 2021. I know that you are very busy, but I ask you to publicly support the National General Strike because we need to make progress in the fight for equality, healthcare, and quality of life for the American people, as well as drastic change in our efforts to slow global warming.

The main goals of the National General Strike are:

* 25% corporate tax rate (No loopholes)
* Free healthcare for all
* 12 weeks paid parental leave
* A $20 minimum wage
* A four-day work week
* Stricter Environmental Regulations on Corporations (Bans on single-use and micro plastics, as well as limited emissions)

The U.S. Government is not serving its people and, as your constituent, I am asking for your support in fighting for this change. You can visit [octoberstrike.com](http://octoberstrike.com/) to learn more, but a few ways in which the U.S. Government is failing its people are:

* The United States is the only developed country that requires zero paid time off for parental leave.
* Unemployment rose to 14% in 2021 because companies refused to raise wages.
* Only 100 corporations are responsible for 71% of all global carbon emissions.
* The federal minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009.
* 40 million Americans live at, or below the national poverty line.
* Pharmaceutical companies are extorting patients for medications.
* The average American is $90,460 in debt just to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, clothes, education, and medical bills.

If you support any of the goals that I’ve mentioned above, which I believe that you should, please support Americans in this strike. I am asking just asking for your support of the National General Strike, but also for your support to be public. Your constituents and the American people as a whole need positive changes to be made and we need them now. I look forward to hearing from you regarding the positive steps you are taking to support the National General Strike taking place October 15, 2021.

Sincerely,

\[Insert Your Name\]

\[District or State\]

\[Contact Information (if you wish/want a reply)\]

https://redd.it/ok7f5v
@Octoberstrike

Additional Demands/ Discord link

The demands so far are ok, but are leaving many things out!

Like with all issues, we need to hear input from the disabled community and BIPOC folks; they have been saying this for centuries, and they deserve our attention in this matter.

We need to demand disability rights and land back, especially now with line 3 and demanding that indigenous burial grounds are left alone and recognized by the US govt.

Strikes do not happen as often as they should, so this one NEEDS TO COUNT! No person should be left behind.

- cease construction of line 3
- disability accommodations & abolishing sub minimum wage for disabled folks
- defunding of police and prison industrial complex

In general, we cannot stop out striking efforts until food, housing, and healthcare are available for all, with no strings attached.

remember that during this strike, as always, a strong community that looks out for each other is an essential defense against corrupt corporations and capitalism. Here is a discord link of folks from around the US who are actively organizing mutual aid:

https://discord.gg/D4sy44zf

Stay safe, look out for your communities, and stay strong y’all

https://redd.it/ojw8tp
@Octoberstrike

Any chance we can make this international?

The demands fit in other countries like Canada. They can be edited slightly if needed and fliers can be modified. Shutting down the global market would be incredibly powerful.

https://redd.it/ojmo0z
@Octoberstrike

Americans with disabilities

I need to work with accommodations and occasional time off. I finally got let go in February after nearly 10 years of hell since my diagnosis and I know I can never work in this country again without hurting my mental health.

How does the strike help the ADA community which already has trouble finding employment?

https://redd.it/ojo752
@Octoberstrike

The price we'd pay for $20 minimum wage
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2019/07/28/mitch-albom-rashida-tlaib-20-minimum-age/1847078001/

https://redd.it/ou9dj8
@Octoberstrike

State specific strike subreddits?

Title says it all basically, should we start smaller state based communities and try to start having more local groups? I’m pretty isolated socially so I don’t really ha e any other ways to reach out.

https://redd.it/ojm99m
@Octoberstrike

How to make this non-partisan?

Just want to be sure this is an effective action that unites everyone in the working and middle class against the ruling class effectively and not a repeat of Occupy Wall Street. The view I'm coming from now is someone who was on the ground with OWS but has become completely disillusioned with that scene because of "cancel culture", the quest for purity, identity politics, Trump derangement disorder, and Church of Covid type stuff. What I'm seeing here seems geared towards a young, far-left crowd. Who wants to brainstorm ways to make this something that pulls in a wider range of ages and political views? I love the idea of a general strike and demanding a higher standard of living and open discussions about the problems of late-stage capitalism, but I don't want to be the only lockdown skeptic to show up. I also don't totally agree with the free healthcare thing for weird reasons related to the events of 2020. Who wants to talk about it in a polite, nuanced way?


EDIT: For the people having a knee-jerk reaction to lockdown skepticism, maybe read some posts on r/LockdownCriticalLeft to get started on understanding that point of view. Anti-lockdown leftists are a small segment of the population, but skeptics in general are not. It's good to know where they're coming from, as they comprise a good portion of the working class-- which is what this is supposed to be geared towards.

https://redd.it/ojyoix
@Octoberstrike

what’re some additional info points/facts that I can provide to encourage others to strike?

I plan on putting up posters/having flyers, but I live in the midwest and am afraid that posters alone will only be helpful in spreading the word to other leftists. I want to be able to provide additional facts to get more people to participate or at least do more research of their own about current working conditions. I’m thinking about providing stats about ceo’s income vs workers, how the minimum wage hasn’t increased, etc. I’m also aiming towards info/persuasion that isn’t “too leftist” just so that there’s a better chance that more central democratic people can be reached.

https://redd.it/ojqcgb
@Octoberstrike

No-strike contracts

Some of us work under Union Contracts with a no-strike clause and as such aren't legally protected if we participate. While I would certainly support a wildcat strike if we can muster up enough support without the union, what are some other ways those of us under those existing Union contracts can help? I'm sure many of my co-workers that are unwilling to take that kind of risk would still want to help in some way.

https://redd.it/ojhqhh
@Octoberstrike

Rural community strike tips?

The spots where I work are incredibly conservative with no resources or mutual aid orgs besides a church-run soup kitchen. I’ve been having a hard time trying to figure out how to do support when I can’t find other folks willing to participate,,,

I’ll be working at a job in a larger city but still can’t find resources! There is a college there though that I go to. (I’ll probs put up posters there and see if I could start a club or something adjacent to a group)

I have no clue how to inspire or spread the word in ways that are of interest to rural conservative communities! I feel like there’s little I can do in these areas, but if anyone has a similar experience on organizing and supporting with these types of communities I’d be overjoyed!!!

https://redd.it/ojh2pv
@Octoberstrike

Cheese

https://redd.it/ojcm5i
@Octoberstrike

Only 10% of American workers are represented by a union. The other 90% are unrepresented. If unions want to back this strike, that's awesome. If not, it will be successful without them.
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

https://redd.it/ojhvbo
@Octoberstrike

I have a couple of questions about the strike

1. Who are some important or powerful people in the leftist community who are a part if it or mentioned it?

2. Has it been mentioned in any mainstream media?

3. Why do you think it'll be successful?

4.How many people do you know for sure are going to be apart of it?

The main reason im asking is so I can convince some of my relatives to take the day off.

https://redd.it/oj8jsm
@Octoberstrike

Anybody else have Reddit starting to ask them about this? Have also had other questions about what kind of group this is, etc. Just thought it was interesting... it might be starting to take off.
https://redd.it/oizmxx
@Octoberstrike

Opinion: We Americans should make demands here in the U.S. but we should be helping to organize and pushing for a global strike.

I think that tech and specifically the option to help support those striking (through GoFundMe, etc) makes it possible for everyone to participate in a strike, even those who can't justify striking in person themselves and this gives rise to the potential of making a much larger impact in much, much smaller numbers.

And then Reddit as well as other social medias give us potential for another outsized impact:

This lies in the fact that a general strike needs a wider scope. General Strike now needs to mean a global strike. Social medias make that possible.

The beautiful thing is that it need not be large enough to change everything overnight. A noteworthy number of people from a noteworthy number of countries will be a literal game changer; Any showing off global solidarity would be a new chapter- hell, a new book- in history and the struggle.

Am I wrong? Am I right?

(Not trying to step on toes just hoping for a more equal and healthy 🌍. )

https://redd.it/oimdcf
@Octoberstrike

People are asking what unions or other organizations are backing this movement. As of right now, this movement is grassroots, decentralized, and anonymous.

Many people are asking what unions or other organizations are backing this strike. As of right now, this movement is grassroots, decentralized, and anonymous.

If unions would like to join the movement, that would be great.

But I honestly don't expect them to. Western rugged individualism has completely taken over and I doubt unions will support this or any general strike. We would be asking them to stand in solidarity with the other 90% of workers who are not represented by a union.

Spread the word! Talk to your coworkers if it's safe. If you aren't able to strike, that's ok! Don't spend money on that day instead and spread the word as much as you can regardless.

This movement is all of us.

https://redd.it/oicqrh
@Octoberstrike

"Thousands of thoughtful and class-conscious workers in years past have looked to the General Strike for deliverance from wage slavery. "- Ralph Chaplin

I suggest we utilize this general strike in order to free ourselves from this system. Occupy the workplace and your living spaces. Stop paying rent and mortgage and taxes and organize and allocate resources as a free society based on need as first priority. No more being exploited by anyone. Take back your life, your time and your labor for good.

Ralph Chaplin wrote this famous piece in the general strike a d how it should be utilized properly: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/ralph-chaplin-the-general-strike

And here's a more recent piece by Kim Kelly:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/kim-kelly-everything-you-need-to-know-about-general-strikes

https://redd.it/oialcd
@Octoberstrike

What is this?

I am seeing people promote this "general strike" on social media, but there is apparently no organization behind this call to action and there isn't really much else about it. I haven't heard anything on the ground in my area, so is it just like some online promotion or something?

https://redd.it/oigbvi
@Octoberstrike

Millions of Workers Want a Union — EWOC Shows How to Help
https://workerorganizing.org/millions-of-workers-want-a-union-ewoc-shows-how-to-help-2382/

https://redd.it/ouka1o
@Octoberstrike