One Victory, and a Step Forward

After receiving notice of pending lay-offs^[1], the workers at the Serious Energy plant in Goose Island refused to leave the building last Thursday. The Serious Energy plant is the same plant that once housed the Republic Window and Door Factory. The sit-down strike began in the afternoon of February 23, 2012. By 8:30 PM the Strike was in full swing with approximately 65^[2] union workers occupying the factory floor, and an additional 70 supporters outside the plant. By 1:00 AM the strike was over as Serious Energy and Union agreed to “find a new owner if possible and explore all other options,” according to Serious Energy.^[3] As of this writing, the Serious Energy plant remains in operation. 

Remembering Hull House

As far as the Occupation Movement is concerned, I am an observer, and part time participant. I did march with Occupy Chicago last Sunday (February 19, 2012) at the small Jane Addams Hull House memorial. It was my personal pleasure to catch up with members of Occupy Chicago who I have not seen since Day 2 of the Occupation. Unlike most events, however, I chose to be a participant, and not an archivist. I find it very hard to collect the street scenes while focusing on the event as a member. 

It was a small, somber gathering with members of the Hull House staff and the local Union Representative. One thing that was revealed is that there is a movement afoot to shut down small, independent, social service organizations in favor of some massive entity using the Wall-Mart business model. The specifics of this were not forthcoming while standing in the cold, and dark in front of the Hull House Museum at 800 S. Halsted in Chicago.        

       

Big Rubber Stamp

We regret to inform you that the Chicago Board of Education rubber stamped Rahm plan to improve schools by shutting them down. After the Parents of Piccolo[4] Occupation brought the plight of neglected schools to national attention, Rahm’s plan was pushed through over the objection of parents and teachers alike. 

Almost no one in Chicago’s corporate media sided with the parents. There is speculative chatter on the net that the talking heads of Chi-Town’s news outlets are not living in the city, and do not have children in the neglected Chicago School System. The establishment’s propaganda machine continues to roll over the lives, and neighborhoods of the working hands of Chicago in a relentless push towards some still nebulous goal of improving education. How increased class sizes, fewer schools, longer school days, with less and less materials is an improvements is anyone’s guess at this point. There is no discussion whatsoever about the shift of the expense to the parents for improvements to the public school system. In the end it is just another abdication of social responsibility by the wealthy feudal lords of this era.

Transparency

A vote was taken Friday night (February 24, 2012) at Occupy Chicago’s General Assembly that has the Occupation Movement in a bit of a twitter (pun intended). To put it succinctly, certain sensitive discussions will not be live streamed out of Occupy Chicago’s loft. The Social Media committee is wholly against this direction, and certain members of Occupy Chicago’s General Assembly as in favor of it. Many say that this vote violates the generally accepted idea of absolute transparency which is part of the Occupation Movement’s ideals.

While not wanting to chime in on one side or the other on this specific vote, it is safe to say it is only an official Occupy Chicago General Assembly decision of what has been practiced thus far. Occupy Chicago has traditionally had a tendency towards keeping dirty laundry out of the public eye. 

When the debates get heated, and they become the quintessential Chicago street discussion (i.e. participates screaming at each other) the stream usually stops. While this is annoying to the remote viewers, it is also pretty much a Midwestern cultural trait. Passions will flair, we will scream, cuss, deride one another, but we do not want it broadcast all over the world. Essentially these are family squabbles, and it is uncouth to air ‘em in public. 

While there is no telling what will come of the scheduled review of the censorship policy, what was decided is nothing new for Occupy Chicago; it is not about secrecy, and is something they will have to work out on their own. 

Upcoming Events 

STOP the Suppression of the Occupy Movement! Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Check out the new Chicago Spring Website for updates on the ongoing struggle to make the citizens' voices heard over the money changers in politics.    

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[1] Quinnell, K. (2012, February 24). Serious Energy Workers Occupy Goose Island Factory. In Crooks and Liars. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://crooksandliars.com/kenneth-quinnell/serious-energy-workers-occupy-goo

[2] aaroncynic, . (2012, February 24). Déjà Vu: Workers Occupy Former Republic Window And Door Factory. In chicagoist. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://chicagoist.com/2012/02/24/workers_occupy_goose_island_factory.php

[3] Jenkins, V. (2012, February 24). Serious and United Electrical Workers Union Come to Agreement. In Serious Energy Blog: Get Serious About Our Buildings. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.seriousenergy.com/blog/press-release-serious-and-united-electrical-workers-union-come-to-agreement.html

[4] Not in Hibernation. (2012, February 19). In #Occupy: The Chicago Free Web Zone. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://occupythewhole.blogspot.com/2012/02/not-in-hibernation.html