Latest news with #IndustrialWorkersoftheWorld
Axios
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Why Salt Lake is protesting to the music of May Day
Protesters around Utah are joining in nationwide International Workers' Day rallies against President Trump's "war on working people." The big picture: Rallies against the Trump administration have built momentum as he faces sinking approval ratings and Americans increasingly witness the ramifications of his policies. Thousands of people gathered around Utah on April 5, and similar Saturday rallies have continued in Salt Lake and other cities. What they're saying: "This May Day we are fighting back," national protest organizers wrote on their website. "We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes —public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, prosperity over free market politics." By the numbers: More than 70,000 protesters are expected to rally at marches, town halls and other actions against the "billionaire takeover" of the federal government, organizers said. More than 1,100 protest events are scheduled in nearly 1,000 cities across all 50 states. Catch up quick: May Day is a labor celebration in much of the world, dating back to Chicago's Haymarket Affair in 1886. The days-long protest over working conditions ended in a deadly confrontation with police and a crackdown on demonstrators. Commemorations caught on worldwide and continue to this day. The latest: Demonstrators in Salt Lake are harnessing the city's major — but oft-forgotten — contributions to protest music. A May Day celebration in Millcreek's Canyon Rim Park will feature live music, a sing-along of protest and labor songs, and food trucks from 6 to 9:30pm. Song lyrics are online. The intrigue: One of the biggest contributors to American protest music was Joe Hill, the Salt Lake City labor organizer and troubadour who was executed by firing squad at the old Sugar House prison in 1915. Hill was a miner and organizer with the Industrial Workers of the World — aka the "Wobblies" — when police arrested him in 1914 after a grocery store shootout that left the owner dead. The circumstantial case against Hill was fairly strong, but there was some forensic evidence in his favor and signs of bias during his trial.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Don't whinge, millennials: it's your fault you can't afford to rent in London
'Come, all ye workers, from every land, come, join in the grand industrial band'. There is Power In a Union was originally written in 1913 for the Industrial Workers of the World, a union that focused its efforts on organising migrant workers in lumber and construction camps. Trying to unionise these workers made perfect sense to the socialist ideals of the IWW, who saw it as a way to preventing employers from using them to undercut native labour. Such were the foundations the unions of old were founded upon. But the self-interest of members can no longer be taken for granted as the raison d' être of modern 'unions'. Take the example of the hapless London Renters Union. In reply to shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp's assertion that 48 per cent of London's social housing is occupied by people who are foreign-born, suggesting that 'The UK cannot serve as the world's social housing provider', the union argued that only 75 per cent of London social renters hold UK passports. That 75 per cent of London social renters hold UK passports does not disprove that 48 per cent of London's social housing is occupied by people who are foreign-born, nor that they are proportionally more likely than private renters or owner occupiers to be economically inactive. Moreover, it is not a stunning victory for the London renter that 1 in 4 people enjoying massively subsidised housing does not have a UK passport. Surely we ought to be outraged that nearly half of the social housing in our nation's capital, some of the most expensive real estate in the world, is occupied by those who were born abroad. It will surprise no one that the London Renters Union places the blame for the UK housing system and the extortionate rates London renters pay squarely at the foot of the Government, banks, developers and landlords. Their point is that 'NOBODY should be forced to live at the whims of rip-off private landlords, NOBODY should be priced out of their communities. EVERYBODY should have access to public housing.' This is an interesting idea to explore. Public housing, despite the claims of the Left, does not come cost-free; it is sustained by taxpayers. Given that those being charged extraordinary rates by private landlords – and those supposedly represented by the LRU – are the ones most likely to be providing the tax base to fund it, one would expect the union to advocate for policies that actually reduce rents, like building more housing and reducing immigration. But by insisting on a universal and unrestricted right to social houses, regardless of tax contribution or national belonging, they are agitating against the interests of their own members; the more social housing is allocated to first-generation migrants who are net fiscal drains, the greater the tax burden on those London renters who have to shoulder the costs. Housing is a scarce resource: more demand with a static supply raises prices. When immigrants first arrived in large numbers into London during the 1960s, they often lacked the local connections necessary to secure a spot on the housing list, leaving them in low-quality private rentals. Many saw this as unjust and advocated for reform, leading to the current needs-based system. Under the new rules, a large Bangladeshi family living in substandard conditions could accumulate enough points to be prioritised over young local white residents, who may have been waiting for years. This may explain why boroughs like Tower Hamlets have a massive over-representation of those with migrant heritage compared to the native population. The London Renters Union, in defending a housing model that prioritises those who are more likely to be economically inactive rather than workers struggling under to pay private rents, serves capital rather than its members. It was once said that mass migration meant you had to compete with the world's richest on the housing market and the world's poorest on the labour market: the LRU is proving that renters have to fight their own 'union' too. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Don't whinge, millennials: it's your fault you can't afford to rent in London
'Come, all ye workers, from every land, come, join in the grand industrial band'. There is Power In a Union was originally written in 1913 for the Industrial Workers of the World, a union that focused its efforts on organising migrant workers in lumber and construction camps. Trying to unionise these workers made perfect sense to the socialist ideals of the IWW, who saw it as a way to preventing employers from using them to undercut native labour. Such were the foundations the unions of old were founded upon. But the self-interest of members can no longer be taken for granted as the raison d' être of modern 'unions'. Take the example of the hapless London Renters Union. In reply to shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp's assertion that 48 per cent of London's social housing is occupied by people who are foreign-born, suggesting that 'The UK cannot serve as the world's social housing provider', the union argued that only 75 per cent of London social renters hold UK passports. That 75 per cent of London social renters hold UK passports does not disprove that 48 per cent of London's social housing is occupied by people who are foreign-born, nor that they are proportionally more likely than private renters or owner occupiers to be economically inactive. Moreover, it is not a stunning victory for the London renter that 1 in 4 people enjoying massively subsidised housing does not have a UK passport. Surely we ought to be outraged that nearly half of the social housing in our nation's capital, some of the most expensive real estate in the world, is occupied by those who were born abroad. It will surprise no one that the London Renters Union places the blame for the UK housing system and the extortionate rates London renters pay squarely at the foot of the Government, banks, developers and landlords. Their point is that 'NOBODY should be forced to live at the whims of rip-off private landlords, NOBODY should be priced out of their communities. EVERYBODY should have access to public housing.' This is an interesting idea to explore. Public housing, despite the claims of the Left, does not come cost-free; it is sustained by taxpayers. Given that those being charged extraordinary rates by private landlords – and those supposedly represented by the LRU – are the ones most likely to be providing the tax base to fund it, one would expect the union to advocate for policies that actually reduce rents, like building more housing and reducing immigration. But by insisting on a universal and unrestricted right to social houses, regardless of tax contribution or national belonging, they are agitating against the interests of their own members; the more social housing is allocated to first-generation migrants who are net fiscal drains, the greater the tax burden on those London renters who have to shoulder the costs. Housing is a scarce resource: more demand with a static supply raises prices. When immigrants first arrived in large numbers into London during the 1960s, they often lacked the local connections necessary to secure a spot on the housing list, leaving them in low-quality private rentals. Many saw this as unjust and advocated for reform, leading to the current needs-based system. Under the new rules, a large Bangladeshi family living in substandard conditions could accumulate enough points to be prioritised over young local white residents, who may have been waiting for years. This may explain why boroughs like Tower Hamlets have a massive over-representation of those with migrant heritage compared to the native population. The London Renters Union, in defending a housing model that prioritises those who are more likely to be economically inactive rather than workers struggling under to pay private rents, serves capital rather than its members. It was once said that mass migration meant you had to compete with the world's richest on the housing market and the world's poorest on the labour market: the LRU is proving that renters have to fight their own 'union' too.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's crossword, "Totally Saw That Coming!"
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Totally Saw That Coming! (Freestyle) Constructor: Kyra Goudsmit Editor: Jared Goudsmit Kyra: This is my first-ever puzzle, and I'm so excited to see it run! I was particularly happy to highlight 20-Across, who was a professor at Berkeley, where I currently study English. Another personal clue for me is [___ Marquette State Park] at 25-Across, where my family vacationed when I was a kid. Jared was a great editor to work with (and I'm not just saying that because he's my brother). I hope you like the puzzle! PERE (25A: ___ Marquette State Park) PERE Marquette State Park is located in western Illinois, near the junction of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The park is named for a Jesuit priest, PÈRE (Father) Jacques Marquette (1637-1675). CLASS (31D: "While there is a lower ___, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am for it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free" (Eugene V. Debs quote)) Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926) was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), an international labor union founded in Chicago in 1905. Eugene V. Debs ran for President of the United States five times, as a candidate of the Socialist Party of America (of which he was also a founding member). The quote in the clue is part of a statement Eugene V. Debs made to the court when he was convicted of violating the sedition act for making a speech denouncing U.S. participation in World War I: "Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower CLASS, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free." TONAL (5A: Like the Yoruba language) In TONAL languages, various tones are used to distinguish the meaning of words. A single word may be said with different tones, and each tone will change the meaning of the word. The Yoruba language is spoken in West Africa, particularly in southwestern and central Nigeria. CHE (10A: ___ Diaz (character in "And Just Like That...")) And Just Like That... is the revival and sequel of Sex and the City (1998-2004). CHE Diaz, portrayed by Sara Ramirez, was a character in the first two seasons of And Just Like That. CHE Diaz, a non-binary comedian who hosts a sex and relationship podcast, was introduced as a new character in And Just Like That. SEA ANEMONE (13A: Marine invertebrate with a foot) SEA ANEMONEs are colorful marine invertebrates that attach themselves to a base (rocks, coral, shells, concrete) with their foot. As invertebrates, SEA ANEMONES lack skeletons. SEA ANEMONES also lack brains. Fun fact: A SEA ANEMONE's mouth also functions as its anus. ODE (18A: "___ to the Midwest" (Kevin Young poem)) Kevin Young is a poet and the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. You can read Kevin Young's poem, "ODE to the Midwest" on the Poetry Foundation website. If you have any Midwest connection, I recommend taking a moment to read it; I certainly found myself relating to some of Kevin Young's words. SUN RA (20A: Afrofuturist jazz composer who claimed he was from Saturn) SUN RA (1914-1993) was a jazz composer and bandleader known for his experimental and avant-garde music and theatrical performances. SUN RA led the Arkestra, an ensemble with an ever-changing line-up, which gave performances sometimes featuring dancers and musicians in elaborate, futuristic costumes. SUN RA claimed to be an alien from Saturn, with a mission on Earth to promote peace. In 1974, he released an Afrofuturist sci-fi film titled Space is the Place, in which he landed a spaceship in Oakland, California and recruited Black youth to move to a new planet. As Kara mentioned in her constructor's note, SUN RA spent time at the University of California, Berkeley in 1971 as artist-in-residence. MAE (27A: The Perks of Being a Wallflower" actress Whitman) MAE Whitman plays the role of Mary Elizabeth in the 2021 coming-of-age movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The movie is based on Stephen Chbosky's 1999 book of the same name. GLEN (32A: "Anyone but You" actor Powell) Anyone but You is a 2023 rom-com loosely based on William Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing. Sydney Sweeney and GLEN Powell star as two people whose interactions are plagued with misunderstandings. OMEGA (6D: Greek letter after psi) Psi is the penultimate letter of the Greek alphabet, which means it's followed by the 24-letter alphabet's final letter, OMEGA. ETNA (12D: Sicilian volcano) Mount ETNA (also referred to simply as ETNA) is an active volcano on the island of Sicily, Italy. ETNA featured in the theme of the puzzle two days ago. HULLABALOO (23D: Commotion) HULLABALOO is a fun word! EAST (26D: Namibia-to-Botswana direction) Namibia and Botswana are countries in southern Africa. Namibia is located on the west coast of Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Located EAST of Namibia, Botswana is a landlocked country. The capital of Namibia is Windhoek, and the capital of Botswana is Gaborone. "TOTALLY SAW THAT COMING!" (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to NO SURPRISE THERE (7D: "That was predictable." I enjoyed the long conversational phrases in today's puzzle. "NO SURPRISE THERE," is a great grid-spanner hinted at by the title. I also enjoyed "THE THING IS..." (51A: "About that..."), "SURE ENOUGH..." (54A: "Just as I thought..."), and "COUNT ME OUT!" (10D: "I'm not gonna be a part of this!"). Congratulations to Kyra Goudsmit, making a USA TODAY crossword debut, as well as her overall crossword debut! In the process of corresponding about this puzzle, editor Jared Goudsmit and I discovered we both have sisters named Kyra – what a fun coincidence. Thank you, Kyra, for this delightful puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for February 7, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
