PHILADELPHIA, PA — We are at a time in our lives that humanity can make a decision to ensure that every man, woman, and child, plus future generations, can have the necessities to thrive on the planet, not just barely survive. With today’s technology, it is possible.
Since the 1950s to the early 1970s, with the introduction of computers and robotics into society, human labor has been slowly replaced with machines that store and retain information longer than people, and that help humans work in a more rapid, precise, and efficient way. This allows companies to use less labor, and get to where jobs are eliminated altogether, which has been happening.
The American people were taught that you provide for your family by getting a good-paying job, or two jobs if needed or wanted. This would allow you to pay for food, clothing, housing, healthcare, education, rest and relaxation.
This pandemic has allowed both bosses and workers to see what it is like when workers don’t have to come to work. The boss gets their chance to cut workers and see if they lose or gain profits. But from an organizing lens, that workers are not needed creates an opportunity to get them involved in a new kind of class struggle. The elimination of jobs has pushed millions of people without a way to provide the things needed to thrive. The pandemic is allowing the ability to speed up robotics, computer programs, and permanent replacement of workers. Yet this same technology could provide all of us with abundance.
We are at a crucial moment where working and poor people can unite to transition to a better way of living. It’s a similar time to the 1880s when the union movement arose to fight for the 8-hour day and weekends. Around May 1, 1886, in Chicago there was a battle between police and striking workers, in which police died and the state blamed and executed eight anarchists as scapegoats. This sparked the creation of May Day, an International Workers’ holiday celebrated all over the world.
Similar to that time, we are calling for the poor, unemployed, newly-unemployed and all working people to join us for the #LivesOverLuxury March on the DNC and RNC, whenever those conventions happen. We need to unite as a class, take power, and create a world fit for all people.
