Break Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Caterpillar was quite important because that was the first manufacturing industry that used Reaganite strike-breaking techniques. They illegally called in scabs to break a major strike. It was reported pretty well in the Chicago Tribune, who pointed out something very interesting. They said that the workers got very little support in Peoria when scabs illegally broke the strike, and that was particularly striking because that whole community had been built up by the union - it was a union-based community.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Chicago Tribune, 1970s (report on Caterpillar strike)
The quote highlights how Caterpillar employed aggressive anti‑union tactics, using replacement workers to undermine a strike, even in a community heavily built by the union.
In simple terms: Caterpillar used scabs to break a union strike in a union‑built town.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist anti‑union tactics.
Themes
labor rights
union power
industrial relations
community solidarity
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- union organizing
- community advocacy
- policy reform
- media scrutiny
Key Concepts
strikebreaking
unionism
economic coercion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can communities protect themselves from anti‑union strategies?
- What role should media play in exposing labor abuses?
A Different Perspective
Such tactics can deepen worker mistrust and erode community cohesion.
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