The Buffalo DSA Labor Committee invites you to our reading group on US history (from the 1840s through 2000s) told through the story of labor. Over five sessions we will be discussing and analyzing US labor history; each meeting will be anchored by readings from Erik Loomis’ book “A History of America in Ten Strikes”. The book is divided into 10 stories, each recounting ten critical worker strikes in US Labor history. Each session will be facilitated by one of the reading group organizers along with a co-facilitator.
If you’re new to labor organizing, curious about labor history, or interested in gaining a firmer grasp on how the struggles of the past continue to be tied to the present moment and labor struggles, this book and/or reading group will be a great fit for you.
This book is available at the Buffalo Public Library. We also have a few physical copies of the book available for members. In your RSVP please note if you would like a physical copy of the book (please note that copies may run out).
Reading Group Schedule
Session 1: The Rise of American Capitalism and the Early Labor Movement.
Date: July 20, 6:30-8pm
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Chapter 1: Lowell Mill Girls and the Development of American Capitalism
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Chapter 2: Slaves on Strike
Session 2: Labor Struggles and the Capitalist State in the Late 19th Century
Date: August 17, 6:30-8pm
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Chapter 3: The Eight-Hour Day Strikes
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Chapter 4: The Anthracite Strike and the Progressive State
Session 3: Radicalism, Repression, and the Rise of the CIO
Date: September 21, 6:30-8pm
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Chapter 5: The Bread and Roses Strike
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Chapter 6: The Flint Sit-Down Strike and the New Deal
Session 4: Rank-and-File Rebellion
Date: October 19, 6:30-8pm
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Chapter 7: The Oakland General Strike and Cold War America
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Chapter 8: Lordstown and Workers in a Rebellious Age
Session 5: The neoliberal assault on labor, and new unionism
Date: November 16, 6:30-8pm
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Chapter 9: Air Traffic Controllers and the New Assault on Unions
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Chapter 10: Justice for Janitors and Immigrant Unionism
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Conclusion: Take Back Power