If international solidarity is what workers around the world have long needed, this opportunity is about as conveniently packaged as it gets:
For a long time, capital has been free to cherry-pick the globe for the cheapest and most desperate workers. Labor unions have not had nearly the same success. Not even close.
The UAW, for instance, has not even been able to follow capital into the our own country's southern states. The result, as always, has been exploitation of unprotected workers here and around the world.
We tend to forget – or deny – the fact that labor is a market too. And that in the spirit of true free-market philosophy, labor unions should be as unfettered in their international organizing efforts as capitalists are in their international labor exploitation efforts (–somewherea Libertarian's head just exploded).
If international worker solidarity is what workers around the world have long needed, this opportunity is about as conveniently packaged as it gets. The headlines:
Windsor Auto Workers Seize Shuttered Plant
Workers Occupy Aradco PlantWindsor is a short ride and affordable toll for many in Detroit, Toledo, Flint, even Cleveland and beyond. Just tell the Department of Homeland Security you're going to play some '5-pin bowling.'
As the UE (United Electrical union) leaders at Republic Windows & Doors in Chicago have stated, a lot of the credit for their success goes to the other workers, activists and community members who came, rallied and coordinated activities on the outside.
Here again is video of UE Organizer Bob Kingsley describing the value of the outside support they received (note the intro is by the UAW's very own Rory Gamble):
Who's up for a trip to Windsor? Rory?
NOTE: It's helpful to remember that Solidarity works best in the moment, in the here and now – not as a tribute, song, homage or memorial. Now.
UPDATE (3/19/09, 9:02 p.m. EST):
Deal struck in Aradco, Aramco dispute