Occupation of ITOCHU in SF in Support of Longview ILWU

Modern School has been reporting on the ILWU's battle in Longview, WA for some time now. The most recent development has been the deployment of the U.S. military to protect the interests of private capital (EGT) and the threat of using the War on Terror against union members.

Last week, activists in San Francisco occupied ITOCHU in support of the ILWU in Longview.

Check out the following video from the Labor Video Project:

Textile Workers Win Strike--Today in Labor History

March 14, 1912 - Textile manufacturers caved in and conceded most of the demands made by workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The “Bread and Roses” strike was one of the most important labor struggles of the last century as it demonstrated the power of skilled and unskilled workers fighting together.

(From Workday Minnesota)

Close the Budget Gap--Abolish High School Exit Exam (and NCLB and CCS)

Stephen Krashin may not be able to close the entire $28 billion California budget deficit, but his suggestion that we do away with CAHSEE is an excellent start. You can read his complete editorial to SF Examiner by clicking on the link. I’ve included an excerpt below:

“Here’s how we can save another half-billion: Eliminate the high school exit examination. Analyst Jo Ann Behm has estimated that the combined state and local costs of California’s test exceed $500 million per year.The most recent review of research on exit exams, done by researchers at the University of Texas, concluded that high school exit exams do not lead to more college attendance, increased student learning or higher employment. In fact, researchers have yet to discover any benefits of having a high school exit exam.”

Here Are Some Other Quick Fixes for California's Budget Woes:

• $1.6 billion could be saved by not implementing the Common Core Standards
• $1 billion could be saved over 5 years by replacing the death penalty with life in prison without parole
• $112 million could be saved yearly by a releasing 3600 of the nonviolent offenders currently imprisoned under the 3 Strikes law
• $1 billion could be raised annually by taxing marijuana
• Nearly $1 billion could be raised yearly from a 6% oil severance tax
• Billions more could be raised by increasing the marginal tax rate on the richest residents and increasing the corporate tax rate
• Billions more could be raised by every state if NCLB were abolished.