On Saturday, April 26, some 400 activists and socialists gathered in Seattle to participate in the national “15 Now” conference. They came primarily from Seattle, but also from all over the country, […]
15 Now Conference Report
oaklandsocialist
The administrator of this blog site, I am a lifelong socialist and a retired carpenter and the former recording secretary and an expelled member of Carpenters Local 713. I was expelled for my leading role in the 1999 SF Bay Area carpenters wildcat strike as well as for his opposition to the union bureaucracy in general. I was one of the founding members of a small group called Labor Militant, which was the forerunner to Socialist Alternative. Along with a small group of others, I was expelled when that group started to adapt to the union bureaucracy. I have also visited the workers' movement internationally, including in Pakistan, Egypt (during the Arab Spring), Britain, Mexico and Chile (during the uprising there in 2020). Unless otherwise specified, I am the author of the articles that appear here. Although I am the main author, Oaklandsocialist welcomes articles on any issue that relates to the working class. Contact us at Oaklandsocialist@gmail.com.
How the Brain Works, school work and socialism
An article in today’s Wall St. Journal sheds some interesting light on how decisions are made. According to this article, as they say “doing less is more”. It explains that the best […]
Conversation in a Seattle Coffee Shop
A friend of mine and I were sitting in a coffee/tea shop in Seattle this morning when a pleasant young couple with a baby sat down next to us. After playing with […]
Support South African Miners
We have received the following appeal: An Injury to One is an Injury to All A living wage for mineworkers is a living wage for all Comrades, We humbly write these words […]
$15 per Hour Minimum Wage: The Class Struggle Heats Up
There is no doubt about it: Winning a $15 per hour minimum wage for Seattle workers would be a small but significant victory for the entire working class. It would increase the […]
Seattle Ballot Initiative Filed
15 Now in Seattle has filed a ballot initiative (more than one, actually, for legal reasons) to increase Seattle’s minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January, 2015. The increase would apply […]
“15 Now”: A Socialist Program and Strategy
The election of socialist Kshama Sawant to the Seattle City Council was an important step forward for the workers’ movement and for socialism. It raised the hopes of workers and it helped […]
The Minimum Wage, the Democrats, the Union Leadership and Kshama Sawant
The union leadership is tailing the Democrats once again, this time on the issue of the minimum wage. In keeping with tradition, the Democrats are pushing the issue in the hopes […]
Fred Phelps is dead; the truth is stranger than fiction
The infamous bigot, Fred Phelps, is dead. He and his church – the Westboro Baptist Church (composed mainly of his family members) were infamous for picketing funerals of gay people with signs […]
Interview with Mike LaPointe – 99%’er and candidate for congress
We interview Mike LaPointe, candidate for office from the State of Washington’s 2nd district, and activist in Occupy Everett. Mike is an example of what seems to be a new trend to […]