In the News June 23
Workers’ Mass Rallies
Tens of Thousands in Washington, DC Uphold the Dignity of Labour and Demand an End to Their Impoverishment
Tens of thousands of workers, many of them living in poverty, marched and rallied near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on June 18. The action brought together working people from many nationalities, united in their demand to end the violence of poverty. Seniors, women, essential health care, warehouse, and municipal workers and their unions were joined by undocumented workers from many sectors of the economy to give collective expression to their demands.
People and speakers from nearly every state participated, all denouncing the fact that in the United States some 140 million people live in poverty and demanding the government take immediate action. The structural racism and inequality inherent in the Constitution of the United States and those of the individual states and of governments at every level enforce a system which forces working people to live in poverty and others to have no jobs or work more than one job. Black, Brown and Indigenous peoples make up a disproportionate number of those who live in poverty. Many brought out that poverty is violence against the dignity, livelihoods, and humanity of all.
By coming together and giving a collective expression to their demands, demonstrators made clear they will not be silenced and will hold governments to account.
“Scarcity is a massive (government) lie!” one speaker said. “I’m here to say that if Congress can repeatedly afford to give corporate welfare to the rich, then Congress can afford universal health care for all so that people don’t go bankrupt or are not forced to use a GoFundMe to cover medical expenses.”
Government failures concerning COVID were also spoken to, exposing that poor workers living in impoverished cities and counties died from COVID at twice the rate of those in richer counties, and rates for oppressed nationalities were even greater.
Many signs declared: Everybody’s Got a Right to Live, showing that the issue of impoverishment is a basic human rights matter. “My children are survivors just by being alive. It is not enough to be resilient and survive, it is our human right to grow and thrive,” an Indigenous mother said.
The united action was spirited and determined, with people making their claims on society for what belongs to them by right — housing, health care, education and decent wages and safe working conditions.
Starbucks workers — including some of the fired Memphis 7 organizers from Tennessee — joined the march with their banner reading, “With Starbucks billions, Starbucks workers should not be poor.” The workers have waged a vigorous battle to ensure the Memphis 7 fired for organizing were reinstated and the Memphis store won its union election. Since December 9, 2021, more than 160 Starbucks stores across the country have voted to unionize, inspired by the unionization of the Buffalo, New York, workers.
Like Amazon workers who also joined the march, Starbucks workers are forming independent unions: Amazon Labor Union and Starbucks Workers United. They are relying on their own efforts and regularly participate in actions against government racism, for justice and accountability.
Political fights are also being waged across the south to end what are called “right to be a slave” laws. Such laws block unionization and keep wages low. Workers’ assemblies and various other organizations are mobilizing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama to demand an end to such laws and for the federal minimum wage – currently at $7.25 since 2009 – to be raised to $15 an hour. Given inflation, even that is barely above the poverty line, and many are now demanding $20 an hour. Workers at Amazon have called for a $35 an hour minimum.
People brought out that just a fraction of the Pentagon’s trillion dollar budget could have a significant impact on poverty. As well, the United Nations has challenged multi-billionaire Elon Musk to use just two per cent of the wealth he claims is his to avert famine worldwide. Hunger and homelessness remain growing problems in the U.S., while private oligarchs continue to abscond with untold riches.
During the day’s rally, many spoke against the criminal justice system, the racist immigration system and its rampant theft of the wages of migrant workers and the need to protect Mother Earth. Workers and their children are not expendable was the sentiment of many who rejected government claims that it has no money to alleviate the plight of the poor living in misery.
Those present and their organizations pledged to carry forward the fight for rights, including raising their demands during the upcoming November elections. Overall, the action showed the rejection of the current reality where a small minority of rich get richer and the poor are forced into ever deeper depths of despair. Together they said No! Enough!
(VOR, Starbucks Workers United)
Workers’ Forum, posted June 23, 2022.
![]() |
![]() |