I’m really tired of this genre of viral internet post that’s like “DONT CROSS THE PICKET LINE! don’t order from Widget Burger Co on Tuesday because there’s a BIG STRIKE” and then you go to look at widget burger co on Tuesday and there’s nobody picketing and everyone is at work like normal. it totally devalues the idea of what a labor movement even is and makes you look gullible as hell for joining in. and this is self crit bc ive done it before
a real strike is something that shuts down or otherwise impacts production. a ‘virtual strike’ aims to moralize consumption via boycott, while leaving production unaffected
the Amazon union in Alabama with an open election retweeted this thread explicitly saying the internet activists calling for organization-free boycotts of Amazon are hurting their effort. but get your internet points 👍
@kate boycotts just don't work
@kate Oh HUH. We had no idea thanks!
I understand that people want a militant labor movement in this country badly and wish they could just order one online but it doesn’t work like that