North Cook News

Marxist University of Illinois Chicago history professor Jeff Schuhrke says passage of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's tax hike amendment would be a win in what he calls "the class war" between rich and poor in the state.

"The Illinois (tax hike) amendment is a chance to win a tangible victory in the class war," Schuhrke tweeted. "More of rich (people's) wealth would be expropriated and used for public good."

"All we gotta do is mark YES on a ballot. Totally doable, so please let's do it."

Schuhrke's tweet in support of the tax hike.

Schuhrke, 38, of suburban Morton Grove, is also studying labor history at UIC. He serves as co-president of the UIC Graduate Employees Organization, which went on strike last spring demanding a 23 percent raise.

Recently, Schuhrke has called for a general strike of all American workers by the AFL-CIO for what he says are "myriad miseries." 

"While often talked about in the United States as though it were a utopian fantasy, the general strike is a weapon used fairly frequently by workers in other parts of the world," he wrote last month in Jacobin Magazine.

While often talked about in the United States as though it were a utopian fantasy, the general strike is a weapon used fairly frequently by workers in other parts of the world.

Social Services Workers United-Chicago retweeted Schuhrke's remarks calling for "class war," adding that Illinois needs a "strong public sector." SSWUC represents social service workers and social work students.

Schuhrke is a 1999 graduate of Niles West High School in Morton Grove.

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Schuhrke still lives with his parents in Morton Grove, where he was raised.