40 Years After MLK's Assassination: Still Striking for Justice

Forty years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life organizing sanitation workers in Memphis, workers around the world are still fighting for basic justice on the job.

Today in rallies across California, security officers who protect Kaiser Permanente facilities are striking against their employer—Inter-Con Security Systems. Those of you familiar with union-busting tactics have probably heard this story before: despite the workers’ courageous attempts, every union organizing effort has been met by fierce opposition, jobsite harassment, and continued intimidation and coercion.

As a result, these security officers—among the only staff at Kaiser facilities who don’t have a union—have no other option than to take to the streets to make their voices heard. On the anniversary of MLK’s assassination, they are picketing around the Bay area, and fellow security officers are joining them in support rallies in Los Angeles and Oakland.

SEIU wants to make sure that Martin Luther King, Jr.’s struggle for the dignity and human rights of workers is remembered not just today but every day. We have not made nearly the gains we should have in the past 40 years and today is a great day to recommit ourselves.

Here’s a short list of things people can read or do to honor Dr. King and the workers that he stood with in Memphis today. Your additions are encouraged:

• Support the Inter-Con security officers striking in California today. Today, security officers who protect Kaiser Permanente facilities in California are striking against their employer-Inter-Con Security Systems--which has met every union organizing effort with fierce opposition, jobsite harassment, and continued intimidation and coercion. Read Rochelle Duran’s story and drop her a note of solidarity.

• Download economists Dr. Stephen Pitts and Dr. William Spriggs' report released this week, Beyond the Mountaintop: King's Prescription for Poverty [PDF]. Find out how you can help make their action agenda to improve outcomes for black workers a reality.

• Tell US Bancorp to make sure that Securitas reinstates the suspended workers that were arrested in the Twin Cities last week at a non-violent civil disobedience to win health care for more than 800 security officers.

• Learn about the recent HOPE victory of public workers in Houston, and take hope that the South can be organized.

• Read how unions can help us make Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream a reality for workers.