Philly DSA’s new Steering Committee will be convening its first meeting on October 16, where, among other things, they will be voting on the composition of our new permanent committees (Communications, PolEd, Member Engagement, and Electoral) and charting the course for how the local will undertake the Platform Priorities we voted on at our 2019 Convention (Building a Green New Deal, Electing Bernie and Socialist Legislators, Recommitting to Medicare for All, and Labor For Bernie and Organizing in Our Unions). We here at the Bulletin would like to wish the incoming SC the best of luck over the next two years and give a fond farewell to our outgoing Steering Committee, whose guidance and leadership has helped us build the Local we have today. Onward!
The GM strike continues well into its third week after representatives from the United Auto Workers rejected GM’s latest offer over, among other issues, concerns that the company’s proposal wouldn’t solve the problems faced by “temp” workers at plants and facilities across the U.S.
It’s already been a long fight for workers across the country, many of whom trace this strike all the way back to the federal auto industry bailouts of 2008 (at which point, let’s not forget, Obama nationalized one of the largest American manufacturers and then gave it back to private shareholders at a loss; the company has, of course, made plenty of money for those shareholders since). But a lot has changed over the past ten years, and now, with their communities behind them, UAW members are more motivated than ever, according to Philly DSA members who’ve been on the picket lines in Langhorne this week, to stay on strike until they win.
The GM Langhorne parts distribution center (about half an hour outside the city on I-95) employs over 70 of the 50,000 UAW members on strike nationally. Members who spoke to Philly DSA’s Labor Branch on the line cited GM’s tiered wage structure and reliance on temporary workers as major contract issues yet to be resolved. “Temporary” here is, as it’s become in many industries, a misnomer; some GM temps have been at their jobs for as long as six years, doing the same work as permanent employees for half the pay with no job security. “The temp workers are part of UAW, and everyone on the picket line wants to see their jobs improve,” wrote Katie Rader after yesterday’s rally. “I have found this wildly inspiring. Dividing workers into different tiers is a tactic management tries to use to create divisions and destroy worker solidarity. But it isn’t working; they are all on the line to help those who are most precarious.”
As long as the strike’s on in Langhorne, Philly DSA will be there in solidarity. Fill out this form and sign up for a shift on the line; eternal thanks to Mindy Isser (who’s been, according to one UAW member, “amazing” in organizing rallies and delivering groceries since the strike began) and Paul Prescod for the work they’ve put in over the past few weeks. Solidarity with the UAW!
Bernie Take My Heart
Bernie Sanders, “the most on-message person who has ever lived,” had two stents inserted yesterday to clear blocked arteries in his heart. He is FINE, the campaign says, and is recovering well from this routine procedure; he’ll be back on the trail as soon as his doctor allows it. Of course, he used it as an opportunity to argue for Medicare for All -- if your heart skipped a beat when you first read the news, come canvass with us on Saturday, October 19. We have a primary to win.
Steering Committee Transition
If your union does something cool between Bulletins, let us know on Facebook or Twitter! Also, if you’re a union member and a member of Philly DSA interested in getting involved with our Labor for Bernie work, please fill out this form.
Delco DSA Tabling at Haverford Township Day
Saturday, October 5 | 11:00 - 4:00 pm | Darby and Brookline Rds, Havertown
Marxism and Politics Reading Group: The Grundrisse
Wednesday, October 9 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | Chapterhouse Cafe | 620 S 9th Street
Marxism and Politics Lecture Series: Adaner Usmani on Mass Incarceration
Thursday, October 10 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | Golkin Room, Houston Hall | 3417 Spruce Street
Philly DSA Night School: The Russian Revolution
Monday, October 14 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | G7, Irvine Auditorium | 3401 Spruce Street
Weeknight Bernie 2020 Canvass and Data Entry in South Philly
Tuesday, October 15 | 6:00 - 8:30 pm | 1843 S 15th St | Please bring a laptop and a charged phone
Northeast Philly Bernie 2020 Canvass
Saturday, October 19 | 12:00 - 4:00 pm | Russo Park | 7300 Torresdale Ave and Beligh Ave | Make sure your phone is charged if you have one!
BuxMont Eco-Socialist Hike/Lanternfly Hunt: Evansburg State Park
Saturday, October 19 | 12:00 - 4:00 pm | Evansburg State Park Nature Center | 851 May Hall Road, Collegeville, PA
OCOS Book Launch
Saturday, October 19 | 11:00 - 1:00 pm | Making Worlds Bookstore | 210 S 45th Street
BuxMont DSA October General Meeting
Sunday, October 20 | 3:00 - 5:00 pm | Reformed Church of the Ascension, United Church of Christ | 1700 W Main St, Jeffersonville, PA
BuxMont DSA October Socialist Social
Thursday, October 24 | 7:00 - 10:00 pm | Pop Inn | 4 North Main Street, Chalfont, PA
Harassment and Grievance Process
In accordance with Article XIII of our Bylaws, a commission has been formed to process grievances. The purpose of the Philly DSA Grievance Commission is to receive and review all filed grievance claims in order to determine if they are credible, not credible, or not substantiated and to make recommendations on possible disciplinary action. To read more about the process or to file a grievance you can do so here.
The Policy Committee Needs Your Help!
Do you have a socialist policy idea? Something to start a campaign in the chapter or support our ongoing work? Something that we need to put on Bernie Sanders's desk? At our November 2018 General Meeting, the local established a Policy Committee to research policy and present Philly DSA members with the opportunity to engage in discussions about the kinds of policies that we would like to see pursued at all levels of government. The Committee now has a form for members to submit these ideas and work with the Committee on a project. We will help you produce a pamphlet, white paper, or even model legislation!
Get involved in Philly DSA’s Communications Committee
The Philly DSA Communications Committee is looking for writers, artists, programmers, photographers, and anybody else who’s interested in promoting our local’s amazing work. If you’d like to get involved, please email [email protected].
Host a Canvass!
The Philly DSA Canvassing Committee will be running smaller, shorter weeknight and weekend canvasses out of members' homes and in order to do this, we need people to volunteer their houses and apartments as launch locations! Please email Vicki at [email protected] with any questions. If you're interested in hosting, please fill out the form below:
Host a Canvass
Member Surveys: Childcare
At our November 2018 General Meeting, the local established a childcare committee in order to implement more consistent childcare practices for the organization. The committee has prepared an initial survey to assess member needs and interests in order to guide their work. Please take a moment to fill out the survey.
Committee & Branch Meetings
Steering // Communications // Member Engagement // Pol Ed // Electoral // Canvassing // Policy // Labor // OCOS // Childcare // Diversity & Engagement // DelCo // BuxMont
Support 👏 Philly 👏 DSA 👏!
Local Dues - support our campaign work and cover everyday operating costs like meeting space // Contribute to Philly DSA PAC - help fund our independent electoral campaigns // Accommodations, Accessibility, Childcare - let us know what you need to stay involved // Moved away from Philly? - update your address on the DSA national database.
In Solidarity,
Your Philly DSA Bulletin Team,
Ben and Jeremy
Inquiries | Website
Isn’t it time to do something? Get involved with the Local.
