Are we witnessing a ‘General Strike’ in our own time?
W.E.B. Du Bois defined the shift from slavery to freedom as a “general strike” — and there are parallels to today
By Nelson Lichtenstein
Some call it “The Great Resignation,” others a “strike wave.” It’s hard to know what to make of the enormous churn now taking place in the American workplace. There have been a few high-profile strikes, but these are overshadowed by the 4.4 million workers who quit their jobs in September, the latest month for which we have data. That’s the highest number in more than 20 years. Restaurants and stores are understaffed, while employers put out help-wanted posters and jack up wages.