The concept of using a strike to fight for workers’ rights when those in power are ignoring needs is certainly not a new one in Flint, arguably the birthplace of the modern labor movement.
Organizers of a new local chapter of General Strike U.S. (GSUS), a decentralized coalition of people worldwide built around the idea that individual and collective labor is the greatest strength people have to fight for their rights, are hoping to build on that history in the area.
“There is a super rich labor history here,” said Kim*, a Flint native and one of the organizers of Greater Flint GSUS. “One of the focuses of the group, I would say, is to build upon the solidarity that has existed here and still does exist here.”
* Editor’s note: To protect privacy, we’re just using Kim’s first name in this story.
Kim grew up in Flint and then Davison before attending Wayne State University and earning a degree in employment and labor relations. Her journey as an activist was sparked in part during the George Floyd protests in 2020 and Women’s Marches in 2017. She eventually got involved with General Strike U.S., which was founded in 2022, at the national level before helping launch the local chapter in Flint.
Greater Flint GSUS is still in its early stages, but the group is open to anyone interested in learning more about general strikes, how they work as a tool against an unresponsive government, and how people can participate in local or regional general strikes or related actions occurring nationally. For example, a general strike in Minnesota on January 23 helped increase awareness of federal law enforcement’s often brutal and chaotic immigration enforcement tactics and their heavy-handed and violent reaction to protestors in Minneapolis reacting to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement.
In that strike, thousands of people ranging from clergy to union workers to non-union workers to retirees participated in shutting down large swaths of the state’s economy for the day and engaging in various protests, prayer vigils, volunteer activities, or other forms of nonviolent, Constitutionally-protected activism. There is also currently a nationwide general strike planned for January 30 in response to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minneapolis.
Kim said that the attention and coverage of that general strike has definitely led to increased awareness and interest everywhere, including the Flint area.
“What’s going on in Minnesota has definitely brought more interest in general strikes,” Kim said. “Looking at our American labor history, we’ve had general strikes for hundreds of years. It’s not anything new. But I think one, it’s operating in a way that it’s bringing attention to this history that not everyone is aware of. And then number two, it definitely has brought attention to General Strike U.S. specifically. We had a teach-in on Sunday (January 25), which usually we have a couple dozen people at a (virtual) teach-in, which is basically an intro to General Strike U.S. And this last Sunday we actually filled the room, we met our peak of 250, which is what it cuts us off at. And by the end of the meeting we still had 200 people engaged, which, from 30 to 200 is quite a jump. We have seen a lot of people reaching out and asking how to help and what they can do, so we just need to keep building on that.”
A key difference between a general strike and the more typical strikes that are familiar in the Flint area – including the currently striking local nurses at Henry Ford Health who recently reached day 150 in their quest for fair staffing levels and other safety concerns in a new contract – is that general strikes include all or most of the workforce in a city, state, or even nationwide or globally. More traditional strikes are typically only one union, or workers from a specific company or industry striking. The first general strike is believed to have happened in Philadelphia in 1835, which resulted in workers there getting a 10-hour workday.
Kim hopes the deeply rooted knowledge in Flint that labor, solidarity, and collective action can force change creates an interest from more people in the community in learning about General Strike U.S. or participating in general strikes. General Strike U.S. is hoping to have 11 million people sign their strike card. That number represents about 3.5 percent of the population, which is based on research that shows that’s the approximate percentage of a population that needs to participate in order for a general strike to be successful.
“The economy has changed, our industries look different, not everyone is in a union, and we’re not all at the plant together,” Kim said. “But we do still have common interests, whether we’re working at a plant or McDonald’s or a school district or at the library. (For example), in Gaines Township, they’re trying to bring in a data center over there. We have a lot of specific issues coming into our communities, big businesses that want to use our resources, and those things impact each and every one of us. There are a lot of people now getting engaged and it’s really important to take that momentum and continue going with it to try to spread the word to others.”
Because General Strike U.S. is decentralized, there isn’t a specific leadership structure. The organization and its local chapters are supportive of other activist organizations and their missions. In Flint, Kim said that groups like Indivisible, FAIR Flint, Bridge Brigade, and People Powered Flint, are among the many organizations whose work aligns with Greater Flint GSUS’s goals.
Anyone interested in the local chapter of Greater Flint GSUS can find more information or contact them through their Instagram page. Their Linktree page has an interest form to fill out and links to other general strike information and resources. Kim said that, even for people who aren’t in a position to strike or miss work, there are still many ways to get involved and support.
“We definitely need volunteers,” Kim said. “Our chapter is very small currently, so we are looking for people to connect with us. We partner with different organizations. Our Flint chapter hasn’t done any partnering recently, but we do support our Genesee County Mutual Aid group as well as the FAIR coalition. Basically if people are interested in our mission, we want you to get involved.”
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