SEIU on May 1st Walkouts

SEIU: Opposing Change, Opposing (those who wish to) Win

Leave it to SEIU to throw a wet blanket on the fires of revolution. The vanguard of the so-called "Change To Win" faction is openly declaring its opposition to massive self-managed, directly democratic, direct action oriented organizing that is being carried out by the vast immigrant community in the United States. Consider the following quote:

***********
KPBS SAN DIEGO (2006-04-18) Many advocates for illegal immigrants are urging people not to participate in the worker and student boycott planned for May 1. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has details.

The Service Employees International Union represents about 12-thousand workers in San Diego County. Many are undocumented. And one of the union's goals is to support members' efforts to gain legal status.

On May first, thousands of people across the country are expected to skip work and school to demand just that for the 12-million illegal immigrants already in the country.

However, SEIU's San Diego spokesman, Matt O'Connor, says there's a better way.

O'Connor: "Really what's going to get the attention of those who don't realize undocumented workers contribute an enormous amount to the welfare of our community is certainly would come election day if we could register those who are eligible to vote and get them to the polls."

O'Connor says it's not as sexy as a walkout, but political participation has more significant impact in the long run. He's encouraging people to participate in an evening rally.

Los Angeles' Cardinal, who was a vocal leader of last month's marches, has also said he does not support the May boycott. Amy Isackson, KPBS News.

***********

This either proves that SEIU is dutifly serving its capitalist masters or they haven't a clue what is needed to fight the forces of capital. Electoral politics have thus far been a culdesac for progressive change.

O'Connor is cynically trying to coopt the immigrant solidarity movement and channel it into SEIU's primary function as auxiliary to the corporatist Democratic Party machine.

In all liklihood, most of the participants in the May Day demonstrations who're eligible to vote will vote Democrat anyway, so why quell far more revolutionary tactics, unless your goal is to sabotage activity that is actually revolutionary, i.e. direct action?

If you cannot fathom the answer, you haven't yet grasped that business unions function as agents of the capitalist class (whether willingly or unwillingly).

There is no substitute for direct action at the point of production, direct democracy, and revolutionary workers' self management. The IWW supports these goals. SEIU obviously doesn't. Their counterrevolutionary actions are frustrating, but not at all unexpected. SEIU is fighting change and opposing those who wish to win.