General Meeting: August 11, 2019

East Bay DSA General Meeting, August 11, 2019, 1–3 p.m.

This is a general meeting of the East Bay DSA membership. Abigail G.-G. chaired the meeting. Wes H. documented the minutes on behalf of the recording secretary.

The meeting was called to order at: 1:13 p.m.

Settle in and Welcome

Abigail G.-G. opened the meeting with welcoming statements.

Committee Reports

Following the opening statements, Abigail called forward committee representatives to present oral reports.

Katie H. reported on behalf of the PG&E Campaign
Matt S. reported on behalf of the 2020 Campaigns Committee
Meagan D. reported on behalf of the Political Education Committee
Hasan A. reported on behalf of the Racial Solidarity Committee
Emma G. reported on behalf of the Public Education Committee
Andrew R. reported on behalf of the Membership Engagement Committee
James D. reported on behalf of the Medicare for All Committee
Frances R. reported on behalf of the Communications Committee
Shane R. reported on behalf of the Labor Committee
Joey K. reported on behalf of the Meetings Committee

Convention Report Back

Abigail G.-.G opened a discussion on the recent DSA National Convention in Atlanta. Matt S. and Rex L. C. delivered a report outlining the experience and outcomes of the convention. The 2019 national convention took place in Atlanta, GA with 1,100 delegates from around the country and international representatives from around the world, making it the largest meeting of socialists in the US since the 1940s.

East Bay DSA sent 38 delegates to represent our chapter at the convention. The convention included debate and voting on resolutions, bylaws and constitution amendments, and the election of a new National Political Committee. The report back included an overview of notable resolutions that passed at the convention, with resolutions covering topics such as

The Medicare for All campaign
A Green New Deal campaign
Labor, including
Restructuring the DSLC
Rank-and-File strategy
Organizing the unorganized
Decriminalizing sex work
The fight for abortion access
Childcare
Electoral work, including
“Bernie or Bust”
A class struggle electoral strategy
Internationalism, including
Open borders
Cuban solidarity committee
Palestinian solidarity committee
Formation of a growth and development committee

Member Announcements

Abigail called up members to give announcements.

Joey K. announced the September 16 rally for AFT contract bargaining.
Claudette B. introduced Sonya K. to announce the UNITE HERE rally at the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville this Thursday from 4–6 p.m.
Matthew C. announced the Berkeley Tenants Union's free legal counseling session at August 29 and the first meeting of the Berkeley Social Housing Subcommitee.
Hasan A. announced the joint Communist Caucus and Red Star Caucus party at Tamarack, at 1501 Harrison St. in Oakland, at 8 p.m.
Daniel T. announced the TANC assembly on August 25 at Omni from 3–5 p.m.
Tim M. reported back on efforts in Sacramento to pass public education legislation and announced a rally to ask the governor and Buffy Wicks about the amendments to the legislation.
Karina S. announced that KPFA is holding board elections to save the Pacifica Network and asked for donations to KPFA.
Marissa S. announced the Socialist Feminist Caucus book club on August 14 and general meeting on August 28.
Eric V. announced the first self-defense class for the Socialist Feminist Caucus on August 11, open to all members.
Tori W. announced solidarity actions with Sunrise Movement to press for a Green New Deal on August 22–25.
Gerald S. announced his disapproval of national convention delegates not debating labor's role in abortion access and a movement to win school board seats in Oakland.

Resolutions

The following resolution was motivated by Rex L. C., Shane R., and Marcelino E.

[GM.2019.8] Resolution to Endorse Open Borders

Submitted by Rex L. C., Shane R., WY L., Marissa S., and Marcelino E.

Whereas the 2019 DSA National Convention passed Resolution 73: Support for Open Borders on the consent calendar, calling for the uninhibited transnational free movement of people, the demilitarization of the US-Mexico Border, the abolition of ICE and CBP without replacement, decriminalization of immigration, full amnesty for asylum seekers and a pathway to citizenship for all non-citizen residents.

Whereas East Bay DSA explicitly endorsed, on the 2019 priorities resolution, dispelling the notion that workers ought to be pitted against each other along lines of nationality. Furthermore, it is our chapter priority to coalesce a multi-racial working-class movement which coheres around socialist demands.

Whereas borders are multibillion dollar projects actively maintained through violence in order to divide and criminalize the international working class, as well as strip Indigenous nations of their sovereignty.

Whereas International Capitalists routinely move jobs across borders to undermine the rights, wages and political choices of workers with more limited mobility via capital flight.

Whereas the Trump administration has announced mass ICE immigration raids targeting millions of undocumented families around the country, and the San Francisco Bay Area has been explicitly named as one of the key areas that the so called “Family Operation” will take place.

Whereas the concentration camp crisis of the moment is just the tip of a global detention and surveillance iceberg, where millions of immigrants and oppressed minorities are held against their will and are kept in legal limbo for asserting their basic right to freedom of movement.

Whereas the refugee crisis is rooted in the US military and financial intervention in the Global South to preserve the pact between International Capitalists against the masses of workers.

Whereas the intensification of climate change will displace millions of people, draw climate refugees to the United States, and embolden the far right to further militarize the border and halt migration.

Whereas many of the corporations profiting from immigrant criminalization and surveillance such as Peter Thiel’s Palantir and Jeff Bezos’s Amazon have headquarters in the broader Bay Area.

Therefore be it resolved that East Bay DSA endorses the demand for Open Borders, including but not limited to participating in the movement to shut down immigrant concentration camps, abolish ICE and enfranchise all people regardless of nationality.

Be it further resolved that the Racial Solidarity Committee in conjunction with the national Immigrant Rights Working Group and the national International Committee will develop a socialist platform for open borders to guide future campaigns, and counter liberal “comprehensive” immigration platforms.

Be it further resolved that the Racial Solidarity Committee will lead and structure campaigns working towards this demand and identify potential campaign targets such as government officials and corporations profiting from the imprisonment, deportation and surveillance of immigrant communities on a local, state, national and international level.

Be it further resolved that the Racial Solidarity Committee in collaboration with the Political Education committee whenever possible, will develop political educational resources and events to deepen the understanding of the demand for open borders and how to fight for it.

Be it further resolved that the Racial Solidarity Committee, in conjunction with the Labor Committee, will push for, where possible, a militant, rank-and-file labor strategy in industries that provide material support to ICE and other immigrant detention agencies.

Be it further resolved that the Racial Solidarity Committee will reach out to strategic coalition partners such as other local and national DSA chapters, OEA, and other labor groups such as APALA, and that we will partner with immigrant justice organizations for long term collaboration, pending approval of the Steering Committee.

Be it further resolved that the Racial Solidarity Committee will establish clear leadership development pathways for new members and event attendees.

Be it further resolved that the chapter will help publicize campaign events and resources through its mailing list, newsletter, social media accounts and website.

Be it further resolved that the chapter will authorize an initial sum of $500 to rent meeting spaces and other expenses such as food, printing and art supplies.

After motivation, the resolution PASSED.

The following resolution was motivated by Shane R. and James D.

[GM.2019.9] Resolution to Support SEIU-UHW Bargaining Campaign

Co-sponsored by Shane R. (Labor Committee co-chair, SEIU-UHW), Ashley P. (Labor Committee, SEIU 1021), Marie G. (CNA, Kaiser Richmond), Zane D. (Labor Committee, SEIU 1000), Zach M. (Labor Committee, Teamsters), Keane C. (Racial Solidarity Committee, 2020 Committee), James D. (Medicare-for-All co-chair), Graham D. (Public Education Committee, Housing Committee), Tyler Dupuis (Public Education Committee co-chair, OEA)

Whereas, the strike constitutes the single most powerful tool for raising class consciousness among working people,

Whereas, SEIU-UHW, a union representing 55,000 California Kaiser workers, will vote to authorize a strike by mid-August,

Whereas, a strike of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Union (CKPU) would constitute an 85,000 worker stoppage, including 12 local unions across 6 states, the biggest strike in the United States since the 1997 UPS strike,

Whereas, Kaiser Permanente poses one of the greatest obstacles to Medicare-for-All, marshalling $32 billion in cash reserves and drawing broad political support from both of the major US political parties,

Whereas, a strike at Kaiser Permanente would constitute an effective end to the largest “Labor-Management Partnership” in the country,

Whereas, a strike of this magnitude, in an essential sector like healthcare, will build the strike wave begun by teachers across the United States,

Therefore be it resolved, East Bay DSA will endeavor to develop strong relationships with SEIU-UHW healthcare workers and families, and to support the SEIU-UHW contract fight—including any potential strike activity—with material resources, organizing assistance, publicity, and political education as needed,

Be it further resolved, the Labor Committee will form a group for democratic socialist healthcare workers, comprised of nurses, techs, and support staff. This group will work to support SEIU-UHW’s contract campaign and rally public support behind Bay Area healthcare workers. Moreover, it will work to highlight the role of class politics in the healthcare struggle for a fair contract, and create spaces for militant healthcare workers who are interested in democratic socialism to convene within East Bay DSA.

Be it further resolved, the Labor Committee will educate the membership of East Bay DSA about the campaign and mobilize members to support Bay Area healthcare workers.

Following motivation, the resolution PASSED.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 2:46 p.m.