The blog of the Ithaca, NY Local of Democratic Socialists of America.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Teachers Organize
David Foote interviews lifelong labor organizer Ellen David Friedman focusing on teachers’ struggles. A decade ago in Chicago the teachers’ union, led by the rank and file caucus, instead of just bargaining about salaries and working conditions turned to addressing social justice issues as well. The movement has spread around the country. In New York City the rank and file caucus has led the drive to keep schools closed while COVID-19 presents a danger to teachers, staff and pupils and their families alike. Ellen has also been working with workers locally, who are trying to organize in many sectors. Recorded September 2, 2020.
Ithaca DSA members produce a half-hour radio program on WRFI Community Radio called The Inquiring Socialist. The program airs at 10:00AM on alternate Fridays.
Ithaca DSA has a weekly cable access television program "Ithaca DSA Presents", a half-hour talk show covering local, national and international politics, economics and labor. It airs Tuesdays at 7:00 pm and several more times each week on Spectrum Cable Channel 13 in Tompkins County; DVDs of the program can be borrowed from the Alternatives Library in Anabel Taylor Hall on the Cornell Campus.
We will also be working on making Cornell pay for better and free TCAT, putting socialists in City government, supporting labor unions and affordable housing, and opposing police militarization and jail expansion in this community.
What We Believe
Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.
We are dedicated first of all to democracy, and to bringing democracy into the economic sphere. We are not a political party that runs candidates. Rather, we are a political organization that engages in many activities as needed: electoral politics, issue politics, organizing, protest, and education.
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