Stand in solidarity with your neighbors - in Philly and NNJ | Bulletin

Friend --

In this week’s bulletin, we’re highlighting two exciting Philly DSA initiatives: canvasses in North New Jersey with Joel Brooks and a survey to support our tenant organizing. 

Our neighbors in North New Jersey DSA are organizing to elect DSA member and labor organizer Joel Brooks to Jersey City Council. Joel is running an exciting class struggle campaign centered on the needs of working people and driven by our organized power. Philly DSA members are making two trips to Jersey City on Saturday, October 23 and Saturday, October 30 to canvass for Joel alongside NNJ DSA members. The canvasses will run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm each day, and we’ll be arranging carpools up to Jersey City. Sign up here to join on October 23 and here for October 30.

Additionally, our Housing Committee is asking that DSA members fill out this survey to help us identify landlords and property management companies that DSA members have in common. As you may know, Philadelphia is in the middle of a housing crisis - one that’s driven by landlords who have all the power, and felt by tenants who have none. Nobody should have to fight for decent housing on their own; responses from this survey will allow us to connect allies living under the same landlord so that we aren’t fighting alone. 

On the calendar
Unless otherwise specified, all events are held via Zoom. 

New Member Meeting, tonight at 6:30pm
An introduction to Philly DSA for new or curious members. Learn about your local DSA chapter and the many ways you can get involved! RSVP

Better Busses Canvasses, October 15 at 4pm
Join members of the Green New Deal Commission to canvass riders at the Frankford Transportation Center about their SEPTA bus experiences. RSVP

Member Engagement Committee Open Meeting, October 15 at 6pm
Come help plan social events and trainings to build community in the chapter. RSVP

Political Education Committee Meeting, October 17 at 5pm
Join to discuss ongoing events and plan upcoming ones. This is a great place to get involved with organizing specific events that interest you. RSVP

Education Justice Committee Meeting, October 17 at 3pm
Discuss the campaign for safe schools, assist parent organizers who are testing the adequacy of ventilation systems in their schools, and more. RSVP

Communications Committee Meeting, October 18 at 7pm
Discuss our bulletins, work on a new logo and merch, design our social media strategy, and more. RSVP

Racial Justice Committee Meeting, October 20 at 6pm
Join the work to promote multi-racial solidarity and build an anti-racist foundation in Philadelphia! RSVP

View the full calendar

Updates from the branches

Delco DSA
Reading Group, tonight at 7pm
Read and discuss an essay published in Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life. RSVP
View all events

BuxMont DSA
Ecosocialist Hike, October 17 at 10am at Neshaminy State Park
Enjoy the scenery, pick up trash, and eliminate invasive spotted lanternflies. RSVP
View all events

This week in unions

• Philly DSA members joined striking Kellogg's workers in Lancaster for a rally this past Saturday. Kellogg’s workers are still on strike and need our support -- pickets are 24/7 so DSA members are encouraged to head up anytime. 
  • If you’re not able to make it, you can donate to their strike fund.
    
• Nurses and techs at Eagleville Hospital in MontCo will be on strike from this Saturday at 7am (10/16) through Wednesday at 7am (10/20). Picket times are 6:45-11am, 11am-3pm, and 3-7pm.
  • PASNAP is also hosting two big rallies: on Saturday 10/16 and Tuesday 10/19, both at noon.
  • If you’re able to attend a picket or a rally, and can either give a ride or you need a ride, please fill out this form!
• Last night, more than 10,000 John Deere workers walked off the job. Their wages have stagnated while corporate profits have soared. Solidarity! Stay tuned for ways to support these workers from afar.
• Unless an agreement is reached, 60,000 IATSE members will begin a nationwide strike this Monday. Here's a social media toolkit, and our Labor Branch will share local solidarity actions as they arise.
• Striketober is very clearly on! Fill out our “I’ll Be There” pledge to support Philly workers who are negotiating their contracts and may take action -- next up is TWU Local 234 at SEPTA.

To Get Involved: If you’re interested in supporting workers who want to organize, organizing your workplace, supporting workers and unions taking collective action, or in building relationships with rank and file union members and leaders, email [email protected]. 

On the bulletin

• Join us on Slack: If you’re a Philly DSA member and you’d like to join our Slack workspace, please email [email protected].
• Harassment and Grievance Process: Read about the process to file a grievance here.
• Did you know? You can check out all of our past bulletins on our website.

What we’re reading

• Tenants Use New Technology to Combat Evictions | Bloomberg
• Who Really Controls Local Politics? | The New York Times 
• Opinion: To Combat Gun Violence, Clean Up the Neighborhood | The New York Times 
• Why Sally Rooney Was Right to Stand with Palestinians | Tribune Magazine

In solidarity,

Philly DSA
http://www.phillydsa.org/

All bourgeois movements end in compromise, and the bourgeois revolutionists of today become the conservatives of tomorrow - James Connolly