Atlanta labor activists share their take on the midterm elections – Atlanta Civic Circle

Atlanta Civic Circle requested three native labor rights activists how a lot influence the midterm election outcomes may have for employees’ rights in Georgia and nationally. Whereas Democrats managed to carry the Senate within the nationwide elections, shocking pundits who predicted a Republican takeover of Congress, Georgia remained within the palms of the Republicans for all statewide constitutional workplaces. 

Kelsea Bond is the co-chair of the Atlanta chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, which has been supporting native Starbucks employees on unionization campaigns. Starbucks employee Amanda Rivera is a lead union organizer for the Ansley Mall Starbucks retailer, which unionized in June, and Amazon worker Thometra Robinson is a lead union organizer on the ATL2 Amazon warehouse in Stone Mountain, which not too long ago staged a one-day walkout to protest pay and dealing situations.

They addressed employees’ rights, the abortion challenge–and why well-funded Democratic gubernatorial challenger Stacey Abrams misplaced to Gov. Brian Kemp.

All three labor activists mentioned they had been disillusioned on the lack of debate and protection of employees’ rights from each candidates and the media on this election cycle, notably at a time when the labor motion is extra lively than in years.

“Labor points aren’t being mentioned in any respect. Statewide, there was a rally on labor day and I feel that’s nice, but it surely’s only a speaking level,” Rivera mentioned. “Union is a buzzword to lots of people in politics. I don’t really feel as if it’s taken severely.” 

The Democratic Celebration is traditionally the celebration that helps labor, however all three labor activists mentioned they didn’t see a lot help from both celebration for the working class within the midterms. Even so, all of them mentioned they nonetheless voted – and for Democratic candidates. 

“I felt it was personally vital for me to vote as a result of I’m an organizer,” Robinson mentioned. 

Rivera joined a gaggle of voters who biked to the Excessive Museum of Artwork early voting place in Midtown, and Bond inspired her fellow DSA members to vote early. 

The labor activists had been unanimous in pondering widespread help for abortion rights performed a serious position within the nationwide outcomes, serving to Democrats to carry onto seats. “Cry all you need, however on the similar time, you shoot your self within the foot by going into individuals’s bedrooms,” Robinson mentioned.

Feedback have been edited for size and readability.

 How’d you are feeling concerning the election outcomes–each in Georgia, the place Republicans received all the statewide workplaces (with a Senate race nonetheless in play), and nationally, the place the “Republican wave” didn’t occur? 

Kelsea Bond (Atlanta DSA): I predicted that [Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey] Abrams would lose, and that [incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael] Warnock had an opportunity at a runoff. I feel Abrams successful would’ve put the left in a greater place, however lots of people really feel that she hasn’t actually been current within the state for the final 4 years. Her platform didn’t resonate with what was on the thoughts of working-class Georgians.

Nationwide, Dems didn’t do as dangerous as individuals anticipated. I feel abortion performed a task, and perhaps Biden’s Pupil Debt reduction did too. I feel lots of people are voting much less for the Dems and extra in opposition to Republicans. 

Amanda Rivera (Starbucks): I believed Warnock would win, and he did – however not by sufficient [to avoid a runoff]. I used to be reticent about Stacey as a result of individuals in Georgia really feel that Kemp has finished one thing. I received’t say it’s one thing optimistic, however positively one thing. 

Nationally, I used to be happy to see [John] Fetterman (D) get elected [as a senator for Pennsylvania]. He was capable of create a dialogue with individuals whom the Democratic celebration has ignored for a very long time – working class, not school educated, and historically extra conservative-leaning individuals. 

Thometra Robinson (Amazon): For Georgia, I didn’t comply with the campaigning actually, actually carefully, however I voted in opposition to the suppression of reproductive and voting rights. 

Somebody advised me that Stacey didn’t speak a lot about employees’ rights, as a result of it’s not what her donors need. That might be a motive she didn’t do effectively. I’m hoping Warnock hits issues like employees’ rights and the PRO Act arduous within the runoff. [The Protecting the Right to Organize Act expands employees’ collective bargaining rights and strengthens penalties on companies that violate workers’ rights.]

What had been an important points to you going into the election? 

Bond: There was some speak concerning the Atlanta Medical Heart closure and enlargement of Medicaid – which is sweet – however the financial points weren’t mentioned as a lot as they need to have been. Stacey doubled down on abortion, which was an enormous challenge for younger individuals. 

Rivera: I spent a whole lot of time speaking to coworkers about abortion and labor points. I would like higher reproductive rights as a lady, so I could make decisions for myself – and I need to be valued for the work that I do. 

Robinson: Voting rights had been massive for me. My mom is a recovering addict and felon. She fought to get her voting rights again. I voted for individuals who would shield them. 

What had been some points that you simply assume candidates ought to have mentioned extra? 

Bond: I don’t bear in mind minimal wage, proper to work, or public sector bargaining being talked about a lot, and I adopted the campaigns fairly carefully. I discovered Stacey’s candidacy uninspiring. She didn’t communicate to employees who’re struggling. 

Rivera: I really feel as if we don’t have sturdy help within the labor motion, and the narrative wants to alter. It must be extra about the truth that all of us have lots in frequent. Most of us aren’t the one p.c. 

Robinson: Labor organizers haven’t any political help within the South. The place are the politicians? The group that gave the election to Dems [nationally] is identical workforce try to be advocating for. It’s the younger ones who’re getting snubbed by the Democratic celebration – and that’s unhappy. 

In Georgia, if you’d like the votes, it’s worthwhile to be there. You could be seen. 

How’d you are feeling main as much as the election?

Bond: The DSA shouldn’t be aligned with company democrats and now we have criticisms of their platform however extra Dems within the senate would make it simpler to cross laws just like the PRO Act and voting rights protections. I felt prefer it was my private obligation to vote, however we all know the combat takes place exterior of elections with office organizing and canvassing.

Rivera: Voting for progressive [Democratic] candidates is the one selection now we have as a result of the opposite aspect – conservative candidates – don’t have an issue with company greed. We’re essentially at a time the place that must be addressed. 

The ultimate day to vote within the U.S. Senate runoff election between Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Herschel Walker (R) is Dec. 6. Click on right here to search out the early voting location nearest to you.