WOBBLES

Edition No.17

"Wobbles" was the name of an IWW column in the 1920‑30s of reports on smaller unreported industrial actions. The column was influencial enough that the term “Wobble” became workplace slang – especially in the North American Building Trade Unions – meaning an unsanctioned or illegal industrial action or a wildcat.

Los Angeles, California, USA: Workers at a McDonalds went on strike against sexual harrasment by management (Sept 25, 2019).

Detroit, Michigan, USA: Members of the International Brotherhood of Electricians refused to cross GM Autoworker picket lines despite it being against their contract. One Electrician told “organizing.work” website: “The jobs were specifically at the GM Tech Center [a GM office complex] – that’s what this whole situation was regarding. They are construction and maintenance jobs. The main concern of GM was there was an office building that was being renovated, and they wanted that office building done so that they could bring their employees there. That’s why this job site had more pressure than other jobs sites, because they really wanted these buildings done so that they didn’t have to lease another building for their employees” (Oct 18, 2019).

Portland, Oregon, USA: 100 Workers at 4 Burgerville Fast Food Restaurants went on a 4 day strike winning better pay and benefits (Oct. 23, 2019).

Dedham, Massachusetts, US: Teachers are on an illegal strike after voting 248‑2 (out of 280 members) over health insurance costs more out of class work at the same pay as well as real enforcement of sexual harassment policies.. The school district caved after a one day strike (Oct 25, 2019).

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada: 600 Teachers are refusing work in support of 500 School Support Workers – Education Assistants, Clerical, Library Techs, Youth and Family Counsellors, Custodial, Grounds, Maintenance, Transportation, Trades, and District Support workers. At writing the strike is in its third day in the school district of 7000 students and 14 schools (Oct 30, 2019).

Little Rock, Arkansas, USA: 607 of 1800 teachers went on strike to defend organizating rights and against school privitazation (Nov 14, 2019).

Indiana, USA: 15, 000 teachers called in sick for a one day strike for higher wages (Nov 19, 2019).

San Francisco, California, USA: Several hundred subcontracted catering workers struck/blockaded American Airlines check in counters (Nov 26, 2019)

Ontario, Canada: 15,000 teachers went on a day long strike across the Province (Dec 4, 2019).

Sacramento, California, USA: 36 of 100 “last mile” workers walked off the job to demand that Amazon give all Amazon workers paid time off. In addition to walking out a petition with over 4000 signatures from Amazon customers and workers was presented to management (Dec 23, 2019).