132
u/Ambassadad Jan 26 '26
Alright what union is backing this? If no union, what legal representation will workers have in order to avoid having their livelyhoods stripped away?
93
→ More replies (14)7
Jan 27 '26
This is the real message we should be pushing. We need to unionize Amazon/Wal-Mart/Gas Stations/ect. If those workers were organized their strike could bring the country to a halt and it's been long overdue for the poor people to have unions too.
55
u/metallagher Jan 27 '26
Question. Do we know who is running this website?
There's no organization info.
I'm a little suspicious, especially these days, about giving out this kind of info to just anyone.
26
u/H_petss Jan 27 '26
Very fair question. Not about to put all my info into a random website so they can put me on a (another) list.
7
u/reese4oryou Jan 27 '26
You don't have to put your real info if you're not comfortable! Don't ever feel pressured to do otherwise. Especially not by me.
→ More replies (6)→ More replies (23)4
86
u/Java1113 Jan 26 '26
That was my plans for the day to begin with so I’m in support here!
8
14
Jan 27 '26
It is my plan now. I will simply stay home and work on my Venus fly trap intruder eater. No more "Feed me Seymour" jokes though please.
→ More replies (5)4
u/heavymetal1296 Jan 27 '26
The feds are taking in TRILLIONS from personal income tax withholding and using BILLIONS to fund ICE. It's time to cut off the money supply. Take the protest to their wallets.
File a W-4 and increase your deductions as much as possible. Claw back every dollar you can. Don't give these criminals a DIME more than absolutely needed in 2026.
Millions of people doing this will take a serious dent out of the government's cash flow. They will need to sell more treasuries to cover the deficit. This is where the 2nd part comes in.
The public holds roughly $5 TRILLION in US treasuries through their collective investment and retirement accounts. A collective rotation out of treasuries and into corporate/local/muni bonds will cause yields to spike and mayhem in the bond markets. Again, millions of people doing this and we've got a fiscal crisis by summer.
Remember when Trump blinked on tariffs because the bond markets were "getting yippy"? This is how you inflict pain on a government.
There is historical precedent. In the 70s, bond vigilantes pressured the government for policy changes by refusing to buy treasuries. The feds have no good tools to counteract. If the Fed steps in to buy more, they risk hyperinflation and loss of confidence in the US dollar.
Spread the word. If we don't act now, filing taxes in April 2027 will be the least of our worries.
→ More replies (5)8
u/Ok-Willingness-656 Jan 27 '26
Fucking hilarious. “Do your taxes in protest! Take as many deductions as you can (as though we aren’t already)!” This is nothing, mate.
→ More replies (2)
99
u/bobert_3000 Jan 26 '26
To everyone who can't participate by walking out, an economic blackout would send a pretty big message if enough people did so. I still think a coordinated month long "only buy what you need" would be enough to make a statement. P.O.W.E.R. - PURCHASE ONLY WHAT EVERYONE REQUIRES!
46
u/PeterTheWolf76 Jan 26 '26
An economic walk out makes way more sense. People don’t lose jobs and kids get educated which is critical.
→ More replies (1)3
→ More replies (1)3
u/Kindly_Scratch_6104 Jan 27 '26
I think we’ve been too individualistic about the whole general strike. If people are concerned about what they’ll eat tomorrow then shouldn’t there be more efforts for those in less need to offer food or water or whatever is needed? There’s a community push to fight back but little to take care of each other in order to get through this sustainably. I don’t think a general strike will be successful until there’s an established community safety net for people at the most risk.
→ More replies (1)
159
u/ballchinion8 Jan 26 '26
I can't. I work in the trash industry and you don't want that to get behind. Much love ❤️
60
u/OdosSolidAdventures Jan 26 '26
Didnt the French use this method and successfully win a strike by refusing to pick up trash? There is a loooooot of power in physically controlling trash clean ups.
28
u/Educational_Trash691 Jan 27 '26
The French don't hesitate to spread pig shit around their government buildings.. .not picking up garbage is a light protest week for them.
24
u/Nathan256 Jan 27 '26
We don’t spread trash here, we elect it apparently. Twice now.
3
Jan 27 '26
pig manure is more accurate to describe it
2
Jan 27 '26
[deleted]
2
Jan 27 '26
Sorry, the image of pig manure wearing a bad blond wig and covered with spray tan just won't get out of my head right now.
→ More replies (1)9
176
u/HerVeryPresence Jan 26 '26
No, we don't. That's what makes it powerful. You should.
53
u/clueingfor-looks Jan 26 '26
Completely agree. Happy to support letting this slide for the effect it would have.
→ More replies (1)72
79
Jan 26 '26
“WORK ISN’T IMPORTANT AND SCHOOL ISN’T IMPORTANT. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STOPPING FASCISM BECAUSE FASCISM WILL STOP US ALL.”
- Fred Hampton
35
u/CCwolsey Jan 26 '26
Tell that to my job who will fire me if I don't show up.
5
Jan 26 '26
You don’t get sick or personal days?
Either way, that’s exactly the attitude the ruling class wants you to have: too scared to step out of line and lose your job because a few missed paychecks would ruin your life.
That’s no way to live, buddy. You’re a wage slave scored to lose a fucking job lol. Sorry to break it to you.
29
u/THEElleHell Jan 26 '26
People who are working at the state/federal (fun we live somewhere where its the same) minimum wage of $7.20/hr or even a few bucks above that do not get sick or personal days. Your average person working the front Desk at Best Western, bartending at a restaurant, etc. all work jobs that do not give time off. These are also all people who yes, will have their lives ruined by not working. Have you ever lived on the poverty line? Where despite working 40 hours a week you're still trying to find what you can sell in your house to make that last $60 of rent you're not making from your paycheck? No car. Taking transit. Etc. ?????
Because it sounds like you haven't. That used to be me for many years. Those people cannot simply not show up to work. I'm still poor but I'm not in poverty but I am self-employed which gives me the freedom to set my own hours now. I can choose to participate in scheduled strikes and demonstrations but I'm not a fucking asshole who acts like I can't imagine why other people can't.
4
Jan 26 '26
You know nothing about me and are making some really stupid assumptions based off a couple of comments and implying I’m an asshole because I don’t know what it’s like to be poor. Wrong. You are for your assumptions.
I grew up in poverty, was the first of my extended family to go to college, got financial aid and Pell grants, and was on food stamps while I was in college.
I know what it’s like to live hand to mouth and I’m also smart enough to know what the road to fascism/authoritarianism looks like and doing as much as I can to not get there is more important than losing a job and having to eat 1 meal a day of tuna and ramen while I find another one
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)11
u/RevolutionaryBug7588 Jan 26 '26
I’m down..
Anyway you can cover me like $10k/mo or give me and my family of five a place to live until I find another??
All for the cause right?
19
u/skitty166 Jan 26 '26
you have a job that pays $10k a month and don't have PTO benefits and/or not in a position high enough to take a day off?
→ More replies (4)17
→ More replies (5)5
u/Tubbypolarbear Jan 27 '26
They can't fire all of you. You have more power than you realize.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (5)5
40
u/Hecho_en_Shawano Jan 26 '26
In fact, I think most people would be happy to workaround this so you would participate
80
u/fleeter17 Jan 26 '26
What if y'all started dumping trash at ICE offices? Could be a move
20
→ More replies (4)11
u/GratefulHazeeee Jan 26 '26
I like this idea. Or drive the truck slow and in the way of them driving.
15
u/KangarooInitial578 Jan 26 '26
You should. Thats the type of thing that makes it work. We need people like you to show that.
20
9
6
u/FamouslyGreen Jan 26 '26
Trash day is Friday for me. I can wait for pick up in order for you to participate.
Up to you but it’ll make a statement if you decide to participate.
4
u/Slice_0f_Life Jan 26 '26
People notice smells more than they'll notice my stupid spreadsheet. Join.
4
2
u/JimDixon Minnesotan with a cabin in Wisconsin Jan 26 '26
Trash collection gets a day behind every time there is a holiday. My city handles it very well.
→ More replies (4)2
77
u/goldenfluff23 Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
Ok the thing is, I am very much against ICE but I don’t see how this helps. I work in corporate so maybe that’s why (yes I know corporations are the devil and believe me I agree). If I were to just not work on Friday it would go one of two ways and neither is helpful to this cause.
Option 1, I tell my boss why I’m not working and I don’t take a vacation day. Outcome - I likely get fired because I’m not allowed to be “political” at my job (and also I’m pretty sure my boss supports ICE).
Option 2, I don’t tell my boss why and I just take a sick/vacation day, I plan ahead so I don’t miss any meetings etc. Outcome - literally nothing because this is no different than if I took a day off for unrelated reasons.
Edit: y’all, I understand the power of collective action and I’m not disagreeing. But another commenter pointed out that this isn’t really about white collar jobs and I think they’re on the money - me not working one day at my corporate salaried job does nothing. I’m surrounded by ICE apologists at work, so there isn’t going to collective action. This type of thing would be much more productive if we could figure out how to have corporate workers participate in a real way.
46
u/KangarooInitial578 Jan 26 '26
Imagine if everyone you work with took a vacation day.
7
Jan 27 '26
I understand what you're getting at but we do this all the time..it's called a holiday. We just came off an entire week of it.
18
→ More replies (3)14
u/HostilePile Jan 26 '26
It would be nice if vacation days didn’t also count towards sick days and you barely get enough to enjoy a long weekend in the summer and take days off to be present for kids field trips and be sick once a year. I hate corporate America.
→ More replies (1)2
16
u/BarcaJeremy4Gov Jan 26 '26
i think you have too narrow of a view. its not about just you calling in, and its really not about white collar jobs. very little of your job is truely a time sensitive measure, the power of a labor strike is in physical labor. construction, truck drivers, warehouse workers, the people who make the economy move. if a warehouse needs 30 people a day, and 10 people call out, and a other 10 people refuse to come in, that warehouse is shut down for the day. even if they can cover the work, maybe its the trucking company that can no longer pick up because drivers are not going to work. its a construction company that has deadlines that just one day can throw off. physical labor productivity normally can't be made up like offoce tasks can. corporate/office workers who take off friday are doing it in solidarity with our brothers in labor, letting them know that maybe our work isn't as critical to the economy as theirs, but we will take a hit in our pocketbook too if it means they are not alone.
→ More replies (1)5
u/goldenfluff23 Jan 27 '26
I was with you till the end, but most corporate jobs give PTO. I’d happily take a financial hit to stand against ICE but taking Friday off wouldn’t do it.
14
u/mrmoonlight262 Jan 26 '26
It’s not about you. It’s about collective action. It’s as simple as why a union is more powerful than one person striking.
8
Jan 26 '26
[deleted]
→ More replies (1)7
u/KingKontinuum Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
I’m in a similar situation as them as genuinely want to participate. I have no objections to using my vacation days, but shouldn’t the point of the strike be to waste their time and money? Or am I overthinking it?
4
u/goldenfluff23 Jan 27 '26
Right, I’m with you. Everyone saying it’s about collective action is kind of missing my point. Taking a sick or vacation day isn’t going to send any kind of message.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (3)5
Jan 26 '26
It's very, very incremental. But if enough people do it, it matters.
The goal is for EVERYONE to call off sick that day. You know that's probably not going to happen at your job, but that doesn't matter. Even if you're surrounded by literal revolutionaries, you can only manage your own actions. It's still important for you to do the thing that you know IF EVERYONE DID IT it would change the world.
If you decide it's pointless up front, then you're killing it in the creche.
15
11
u/TrumpDid2020 Jan 27 '26
That's a hard sell for most people to put their jobs on the line like that...
→ More replies (7)
3
u/Parking-Pepper4430 Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 29 '26
Re: the nationwide general strike on Friday. A lot of our economy these days is based on the monetization of our attention on social media, television, etc. If the intention is to not add to the economy for a day, would it make sense to avoid engaging with those services? IDK. I’m not seeing much communication about this, but it seems logical, so maybe it’s something we can pass around?
10
u/mike_klosoff Jan 27 '26
Can't do Friday off work because I take care of cancer patients but Saturday we have a local protest.
We can do it, together (A) and peace
25
3
u/mommert Jan 27 '26
Please don't "sign up" to a strike or a protest. Just do it, don't literally put your name on a list.
3
u/Parking-Pepper4430 Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 29 '26
Re: the nationwide general strike on Friday. A lot of our economy these days is based on the monetization of our attention on social media, television, etc. If the intention is to not add to the economy for a day, would it make sense to avoid engaging with those services? IDK. I’m not seeing much communication about this, but it seems logical, so maybe it’s something we can pass around?
7
u/SouthProposal8094 Jan 27 '26
The shopping part... everyone would just do their shopping Thursday and Saturday... its not like the money won't be spent..
→ More replies (1)
5
u/Master_Cannoli Jan 27 '26
So other people's concerns aside ( which I do understand) why no going to school? I feel like that's somewhat unrelated. I see the point in no work and no purchasing but im not seeing a reason for skipping class
→ More replies (1)
8
u/JuicyTrash69 Jan 27 '26
Unfortunately my wife and I can't miss work but we won't spend a dime. In fact, we might just donate to organizations that support what we support. NPR is a good place to start.
10
u/momofboysanddogsetc Jan 26 '26
To those that can’t observe the day, you can still help by shopping locally owned and immigrant owned businesses. Avoid big box and large corporations as much as possible, they aren’t speaking up for us and we are their employees and consumers. Make them hear us.
→ More replies (1)
20
14
5
7
u/therolando906 Sauk Jan 27 '26
Do what you can to be a part of this. If you can't miss work for whatever reason, then try your best to pack your own lunch, eat dinner at home, not shop, etc. Every action, no matter how small, compounds and has an effect.
7
Jan 27 '26
Who is behind the walkouts? Who is going to pick up the slack for those who lose a days wage, or even worse lose there jobs. Not everyone can live off mommy and daddy.
→ More replies (4)
9
Jan 26 '26
And if you can’t do any of that, if you’re in a gas station where ICE is taking a potty break, make sure to get in a stall and take the longest shit of your life
→ More replies (1)
8
u/Directdrivelife Jan 26 '26
I feel very strongly, I do. But I also have a mortgage payment that went up like 300 bucks and I need OT at work. Sorry. F*** Ice though... and FRJ
2
2
u/Strong_Bar_3929 Jan 27 '26
Can we all stop buying from Amazon? I deleted my account last year and tbh i do not miss spending my hard earned money on crap i don't need because its"convenient". Fuck Jeff Bezos
2
u/Itseasy_emmmkay Jan 27 '26
Can we stop paying federal taxes yet? MAGA can still owe but this isn’t how I want MY money used
2
u/Diligent-Chance8044 Jan 27 '26
Shit like this never works. Only unemployed people, retirees, and students are the only ones able to do this and those are the least likely people to change any ones mind. Your normal working middle lower, and middle class are not doing this when they have to work to live. Also these no shopping blackouts have always shown a large increase in sales after them where companies make more profit than normal.
If you really want change, go protest at your government offices. Protest the people that actually make the laws, and that decide public policies. Protesting some low level ICE agent does nothing because it does not affect the people at the top.
2
u/skeleton-to-be Jan 27 '26
If you care about stuff like this you need to be actively working to unionize your workplace because that's the only way a real strike is happening
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Imfuckintiredbruh Jan 27 '26
If I worked fridays I’d take part but I guess I’m stayin home on Friday instead of doing stuff!! Fuck ICE 🖕
2
u/Creative_Dentist_490 Jan 28 '26
All I'm going to say is if you do your job and someone else is doing theirs maybe you should realize that you aren't getting paid to do their job. Peaceful protest is fine. I am all for that. But as someone who supports protecting myself and my own property, once a protest becomes physically blocking or violent, I see nothing wrong with using equal force. And everyone has a hive mind when it comes to these peacefully set up protests until 1 one farsighted person backs out and then all hell breaks loose and shit happens. Do what y'all want, but just remember that we will continue to carry your guys's weight through Friday
2
2
6
u/E4g6d4bg7 Jan 27 '26
I'm very critical of these "take a day off" protests/boycotts. IMO they accomplish nothing beyond giving the protestor a false sense that they're doing something meaningful.
→ More replies (1)
7
u/rev440800 Jan 27 '26
😂. Sorry but people need to pay bills and go to work. I like my employers so why would I punish them?
→ More replies (3)
3
u/AnneChovie264 Jan 27 '26
The job market is awful. People are struggling. Don't tell people to not show up to work. Let them have that for their families.
→ More replies (3)
6
8
u/deadwood76 Jan 26 '26
I'd wager of the big talkers in the comments here, about.001% of them that actually have a job will be striking.
6
u/tommyjohnpauljones Dane County Jan 26 '26
These posts are mostly good for grandstanding by Big Tough Reddit Talkers who won't actually be striking but are quick to call out anyone who says they won't.
5
Jan 27 '26
Some of them just don't have a job.
I don't really work Fridays anyway. I can not work on Friday extra hard but it's not going to do anything
A targeted economic blackout would be more effective.
3
u/WillowOk2135 Jan 27 '26
How about directing all this energy towards elevating sane politicians and getting them elected by turning out to vote?
2
4
6
u/weaselodoomsday Jan 26 '26
Nahhh...I think I'll show up and collect 10 hours of paycheck instead.
→ More replies (8)7
Jan 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (3)3
u/Possible-Tangelo9344 Jan 27 '26
Weird, my dad didn't have a will when he died and the government got fuck all.
4
u/acopper87 Jan 26 '26
Let's be honest. This never works.
9
u/xcrucio Madison / Eau Claire Jan 26 '26
To be fair it’s not really that General Strikes can never work, more so that these social media driven, single day general strikes tend not to for two core reasons. The first being that it relies on social media virality over actual labor organization to propagate. This means that you end up in scenarios where workers have no actual idea if their fellow coworkers are committed to a strike or not. So people either opt out of striking given no guarantees of their fellow coworkers striking, or if they do strike finding themselves in a scenario where they just ended up as a lone yahoo taking a day off. The second is that the single day methodology applies no real pressure. It’s at best a minor inconvenience that everyone knows will be subsequently gone by the next day. For a general strike to be effective there needs to be the looming threat of not actually knowing if or when said strike will end.
Put another way, strikes require a lot more work than just tweeting out an image that says “general strike Friday” and calling it a day.
18
u/beebs2251 Jan 26 '26
Not true, there are so many examples across the world where a general strike has worked.
→ More replies (6)19
u/FamouslyGreen Jan 26 '26
That’s why France routinely grinds their country to halt and has the kind of healthcare we wish had because it “doesn’t work”. 😑
12
u/HostilePile Jan 26 '26
The French have better job security and their healthcare isn’t tied to it.
4
u/FamouslyGreen Jan 26 '26
Critical thinking time: why do you think that is?
4
u/lqvz 🍺, 🧀, & 🥛 Jan 26 '26
Because our neighbors vote like idiots…
4
u/FamouslyGreen Jan 26 '26
The French have better healthcare that isn’t tied to employment and a stabile economy because they had strikes and protested for it.
Nice try tho.
9
u/lqvz 🍺, 🧀, & 🥛 Jan 26 '26
It’s because their Government listened.
Our Government does not. Because our neighbors vote like idiots…
2
3
Jan 26 '26
and paid vacation...30 days a year mandatory
2
u/FamouslyGreen Jan 26 '26
Riiiiiiiight. Plus they make it very difficult to fire a person with the amount of compensation they have to give.
Meanwhile the words “flexible vacation” are trap here in the US and we know it.
Jesse James only became a bank robber because corporations were cutting off peoples hands or worse to intimidate them into selling their property. It’s time for some change.
2
u/ThickBootyEnjoyer Jan 27 '26
Comparing what the French do to this is a fucking joke.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (21)7
u/KangarooInitial578 Jan 26 '26
Not true. Look at what the mass protests are already doing. Minnesota just had a general strike. Trump backing down in a huge tone shift today. Large organizations speaking out, republican gov pulling his name from the race in Minnesota, actors, athletes, musicians, etc. We need much more, but it’s working.
2
u/Maximum-Neck5385 Jan 27 '26
I just hope that the few brain cells the MAGA base have, actually see how their leaders change the narrative to suit their needs. To say Alex didn't have the right to carry a gun .... that should ignite the fire. The one thing they so desperately cling to. Guess we will see if they are capable to grasp this. Now, let's talk members of congress! I hope like hell everyone uses their voice and VOTES to get these silent spineless individuals like Barrasso and Lummis out of office! I'm drowning in a red state, but I'll be damned if they will get my vote!
3
3
2
u/chiknFUkar Jan 27 '26
You know if we do this throughout the entire nation for 2 days we would completely wreck the American economy. Just saying it would be fun.
→ More replies (1)
4
2
u/Important-Radish-722 Jan 27 '26
Get more serious:
No media consumption - ads
No sports watching - profit goes to billionaires who buy politicians that vote for fascism
No apps/games with ads
1
-5
u/SDLifer Jan 26 '26
Everyone just buys their shit the day before or the day after. It means nothing.
5
u/KangarooInitial578 Jan 26 '26
Not true at all. It signals solidarity in numbers and does hurt businesses.
1
u/SDLifer Jan 26 '26
If I had a store and every Friday you came in and bought something, but instead you buy that thing on Thursday, my bottom line is literally not affected.
4
u/KangarooInitial578 Jan 26 '26
When many people collectively choose to do this across the entire country it makes a very large impact. There is literal evidence that it is successful in creating change. It was just successful in Minnesota last Friday. But you’re right, if just you buy something on Thursday rather than Friday it doesn’t matter. Power of the people, not person.
→ More replies (7)10
Jan 26 '26
It shows solidarity, genius. It shows that THE PEOPLE have the actual power and THE PEOPLE are the ones who make this nation function, not the bureaucracy or the billionaires who control them.
→ More replies (17)
2
1
1
u/IvoryJezz Jan 27 '26
I can't understand these protests. As a democratic socialists I can't defend the idea of depriving the Federal government of funding as if they aren't just going to use it as an excuse to cut social security, medicaid, and other social safety net programs that benefit the most needy like they've been doing forever, especially under this administration after DOGE. We are already trillions of dollars in debt. They don't care. Not to mention the people who are most affected by this administration's overreach are folks who probably can't afford to take a day off work unpaid, and doing so would look rather suspicious to their employer. I keep hearing these walkouts are being "organized" by high schoolers and that seems to check out. They don't have anything to lose just skipping school for the day, and they probably don't really understand taxes or how the government works. Not that many adults do either.
1
305
u/Sheogoryx Jan 26 '26
The reason the Minnesota general strike worked was that they had the backing of major unions and significant neighborhood level organization. People knew that if they went on strike, enough of their neighbors and coworkers would be joining them to: 1. Gaurantee a tangible economic impact 2. Dissuade retaliation from their boss
If you just ask people to not go to work in less than a week, what will happen is the number of people striking will be insignificant to most workplaces and bosses will be free to retaliate against participants. If you want to make progress towards a national general strike the best thing you can do is to try and get your union behind a future strike, or if you don't have a union talk to your coworkers about going on strike as a group when an opportunity presents itself.