DSA plots nationwide general strike to coincide with 2028 election and May Day
The Democratic Socialists of America announced plans for a country-wide general strike in May 2028, aiming to disrupt the economy ahead of the presidential election.
As the 2028 presidential campaign heats up, the Democratic Socialists of America are preparing a different kind of showdown: a coordinated general strike slated for May Day 2028. Co-chairs Megan Romer and Ashik Siddique detailed the plan in a recent newsletter, describing it as a way to halt work across several industries and pressure the political system. The DSA’s strategy treats unions as engines of socialist change, encouraging members to infiltrate strategic workplaces through “salting” and to push for union reform.
The concept traces back to a 2023 speech by United Auto Workers leader Shawn Fain, who suggested aligning a massive strike with the expiration of auto contracts on April 30, 2028. While the Taft-Hartley Act restricts large-scale sympathy strikes, the DSA hopes broader labor solidarity, including support from groups like the American Federation of Teachers and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, will overcome legal hurdles.
Conservative analyst Stu Smith highlighted the growing resonance of the idea within mainstream progressive circles such as the Sunrise Movement. Kentucky state House candidate Robert LeVertis Bell framed the strike as a democratic tool for empowering workers and advancing left-wing politics.
Why it matters
A nationwide strike could reshape labor power and influence the 2028 election, affecting the U.S. economy and political landscape.
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