February 20th witnessed support actions across the country in support of the efforts of Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama to be represented by the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Workers Union. In total, there were 23 across the South and be
tween 50 – 55 nationally. The broad support for this organizing is encouraging and an indication of how much people across the country understand the need for unions and are willing to get involved.
Organizations representing and advocating for oppressed communities have historically taken a stand in support of the right to organize understanding the importance of organization for all workers in general and Black workers in particular. Black civil rights and Black Liberation organizations have always engaged in or supported efforts to build the power of workers on the job and in the community
The December 12th Movement, a Black Human Rights Organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y. exhibited this understanding last week. In regard to the impact on Black people D12’s Vinson Verdree shared with Our Times Press: “What drew us to join the struggle is that the efforts to block unionization are a continuation of the denial of the basic human rights of Black people to have jobs that pay livable wages and fair labor conditions, affordable and accessible healthcare, education, housing and all human rights.”
In terms of the broad implications of the campaign, Omowale Clay, also of D-12 said “As Amazon just this past week opened another of its huge fulfillment centers in East New York, Brooklyn, the December 12th Movement in conjunction with the Southern Workers’ Assembly held a support rally at that site. A yes vote for the union will be a mighty blow against Amazon who have prided themselves from their inception to deny workers their right to unionize. A win in Bessemer will be a shot in the arm to organized labor which will be heard around the world.”
Win or lose, the primarily Black workforce has taken a major step that may represent a new moment in the decades long struggle to Organize the South. It is a strong indicator that there is a need for a South wide rank and file workers movement with Workers Assemblies created to support and even initiate organizing and building power in the workplaces. The Southern Workers Assembly (SWA) is helping to organize these critical instruments of struggle.
