#uaw

The Guardian | Working Americans are taking the streets for May Day. Will Democrats pay attention? | Claire Valdez by Claire Valdez AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. May Day on May 1, 2026 saw more than 3,000 protests across the United States as workers, students and families demanded a strike that halts school, work and shopping while ending billionaire rule. Claire Valdez, a New York assemblymember, union organizer and Democratic socialist running for Congress, argues that both the Republican and Democratic establishments have abandoned the working class—exemplified by policies that ignore the cost‑of‑living crisis, fund overseas conflicts, and deregulate labor protections. She links today’s struggle to the historic fight for the eight‑hour day, noting that modern oligarchs such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are undermining workers’ rights while private‑equity gutts hospitals and pensions. Valdez calls for organized action, quoting UAW president Shawn Fain that it is time to decide the world we want and what we are willing to do, and urges unions to set contracts to expire on May 1 2028 and prepare for a general strike and a progressive electoral surge. The piece frames May Day as both beautiful and devastating—a reminder of the high stakes and the power of collective action to secure dignified wages, benefits, housing, healthcare and a good life for ordinary Americans. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/01/may-day-protests-democrats-working-class #ClaireValdez #UAW #DemocraticParty #activism #usunions #ElonMusk #JeffBezos #ShawnFain #ZohranMamdani

Proud to announce that my upcoming #nonfiction #picturebook is This Is Your Fight! Genora Johnson and the Flint Sit-Down Strike, to be published by Harper Collins next year. And it's being illustrated by The Brave Union (artists Kevin and Kristen Howdeshell)! Yesterday marked the anniversary of the end of the 1936-37 strike- one of the most successful in American history. Workers occupied GM factories in Flint and persuaded the automaker to recognize the UAW. Photo shows Genora (second in from the right) with fellow members of the Women's Emergency Brigade- a group she organized to protect the striking men. #unions #UAW #laborhistory #labor #generalstrike #books