Today brought an
incredible and historical victory for the janitors strike. Because of
the strike spreading to eight different cities the contractors were
forced to begin negotiations with the SEIU.The talks ended at around
2:30 PM and will continue Friday. Bus loads of striking janitors were
brought downtown to march up and down the streets drumming up support
for their cause.I would estimate around 800 strikers and their
supporters showed up.They marched with bullhorns,whistles,drums, and
chants.Then everyone went back to the starting point and decided to free
the strikers who were arrested yesterday.Seven were still being held in
the downtown jail while the others had been released. Well before you
knew it everyone got on the buses and headed to the downtown jail,soon
800 strikers were massed outside the steps of the jail chanting justice
now and libertad! You could see they were determined to stay as long as
it took. One hour later after 27 hours of incarceration all seven
strikers were released to the applause of the striking janitors. I have
never seen anything like this in Houston in all my years as an
activist.The freed SEIU members were as surprised as us as they came out
to freedom smiling with their arms up in the air. Tonight you could see
the class struggle in the starkest terms. The power of the Union,of the
people united winning a great victory,forcing the Houston police to
free the seven workers. You could see new strength,hope and confidence
in the faces of the men and women as they left to go home to rest so
they could come back out tomorrow and continue their just struggle.
-Mark Simpson-
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