Happy Strikesgiving | Bulletin

The rundown: Our General Meeting is coming up, and all the links you’ll need are below. The Electoral Committee has decided to refrain from voting on endorsements for State House races until redistricting is complete. 

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Our next General Meeting is Saturday, December 4 from 12-4! Philly DSA General Meetings are where the general membership comes together to consider and vote on resolutions. Be sure to RSVP as soon as possible, so you get the Zoom link the morning of the GM. This month, we’ll hear from candidates seeking electoral endorsement for 2022. 

As a reminder, the timeline for submitting resolutions has passed. Members in good standing may submit amendments to these resolutions by emailing the amendment text and the resolution to which it applies to [email protected] by Tuesday, November 30 at 9pm. View all the materials you’ll need to participate in the GM here!

After careful consideration of the candidates and their districts, the Electoral Committee has opted to delay voting on endorsement recommendation for State House candidates while we await the results of Pennsylvania’s redistricting process. Read more about this decision.

Finally, during the General Meeting, we will be voting on a new PHL DSA logo. All members of DSA interested in contributing a design to our logo design contest will be asked to submit a logo by December 1. You can submit them now through this form. The design does not need to be finalized or perfected in any way; a sketch or drawing are more than sufficient. Please tell your design-curious friends!

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

Member Engagement Committee Meeting, November 28 at 3pm
Join this regular committee meeting to help plan our holiday party!

Happy Hour for New Members, November 29 at 5pm at the 700
This special edition happy hour will be a great place for new members to come and learn more about the many ways to get involved!

Who Really Owns Philadelphia Gas Works? November 30 at 7pm
In conversation with other organizations that are working to transform the utility, we’ll explore how PGW operates, why it’s failing the people of Philadelphia, and what kind of reforms can ensure a future for PGW that is sustainable, equitable, and just.

Racial Justice Committee Open Meeting, December 1 at 6pm
Join us as we discuss our campaign to create commemoration for multi-racial union leader Ben Fletcher, how we are implementing and thinking about Racial Justice within our own organization, updates from the Defund Campaign, and more.

Night School: Mass Incarceration, December 1 at 7pm
What policies actually lead to high incarceration rates? What is the relationship between race, class, and incarceration? Join Philly DSA as we break down the politics and economics of mass incarceration in America.

Housing Committee Meeting, December 2 at 8pm
Discuss our ongoing projects, including our Stomp Out Slumlords tenant organizing campaign and the city-wide legislative campaign for rent control. 

Defund the Police Campaign Meeting, December 3 at 6pm
Join us as we discuss current events, give updates on the campaign's initiatives, and chat about the increase in police in universities and on campuses.

Socialism 101: The Paris Commune, December 3 at 7pm
Learn about the Paris Commune of 1871, Marx's Paris Commune Address of 1872, and the role of socialists in political movements.

View the full calendar

Updates from the branches

BuxMont DSA
Council Watch, November 28 at 4pm
The BuxMont DSA Council Watch is an organized affinity group that meets on the 4th Sunday each month to discuss what their mayors, municipal councils, school boards, and local government are up to.

Bucks Tenant Solidarity, December 1 at 6pm
Are you ready to get involved in the fight against oppressive landlords in Bucks county? Do you want to help keep our neighbors facing eviction in their homes this winter? Renters and non-renters alike are welcome. 

View all events

This week in unions

LABOR BRANCH - UPCOMING EVENTS

• Join the Medicare For All Subcommittee for a Virtual Text Bank Party with National Nurses United to build support for the national Medicare for All movement! We'll be texting voters in key Congressional districts to identify supporters of Medicare for All and turn up the pressure on our top priority representatives. RSVP Here:
  • Thursday, December 2, 7-9pm
  • Thursday, December 9, 7-9pm
  • Sunday, December 18, 11am-1pm
• Our Labor Branch has worked hard to put together a Troublemakers School with Labor Notes. If you’re a union member or workplace activist, register to sharpen your organizing skills.

OTHER LABOR BRANCH NEWS

• Last week, Philly DSA joined Baltimore DSA on the Kellogg's strike line. The union is in contract negotiations this week, and we’re rooting hard for workers. 
  • We’re proud to share that our chapter donated $400 to the Kellogg’s workers strike fund. Keep the funds coming!

• Wyndham Hotel workers from Unite Here held a one-day strike this Sunday fighting for better wages and a fair workload. Philly DSA members joined them on the picket line to fight against corporate greed.

UNIONS IN THE NEWS

• The Teamsters United Slate won the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters union election. Incoming President Sean O’Brien’s top priorities are “to unite the rank and file to take on employers, organize Amazon and other competitors in the union’s core industries, and withdraw support from politicians who don’t deliver on union demands.” Read more.
• John Deere workers ratified a new contract after five weeks on strike and two earlier contract offers. As our friend Jonah Furman at Labor Notes noted, “Deere strike ends with an immediate 10% raise & no new tiers, proving that you can, in fact, strike and win.” Read more.
• After a strike, Scranton teachers have a new contract!

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

• The Racial Justice Committee has submitted an application for a riverfront mural to commemorate the history of interracial labor organizing in Philadelphia. The mural would honor African American labor leader Ben Fletcher and Local 8, part of the Marine Transport Worker Industrial Union, the most powerful interracial and multiethnic union of the World War I era. Tell your City Councilmember to support this application today! 
• Reminder that In These Times is generously offering DSA members a free 12-month print subscription and special issue all about our organization, to anyone who signs up by December 15. 
• The Housing Committee is still collecting survey responses to help identify landlord and property management companies that DSA members have in common. Please fill it out to aid future tenant organizing. 🏡
• 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.

In solidarity,

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

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” - Audre Lorde