An orange cat called Jorts has become an internet sensation and has turned out to be sort of a mascot for America's labour movement. It all started with a story about workplace cats, which was posted by an anonymous writer on Reddit in December last year. "One of the cats (Jean) is a tortoiseshell cat we have had for years. The other cat (Jorts) is a large orange cat and a recent addition. Jorts is just… kind of a simple guy. For example, Jorts can’t open a door even when it’s ajar— he shoves it whether he is going in or out, so often he closes the door he is trying to go through," the post said. The story ends with the anonymous writer's friend Pam pointing out that the author was “perpetuating ethnic stereotypes by saying orange cats are dumb”. As the story grabbed attention online, groups supporting Jorts and Jean emerged and the orange cat even got a personal Twitter account. @JortsTheCat, the Twitter account with a bio saying "Jorts the cat. Jean helps me”, now has a whopping 1,42,500 followers. As the cat gained popularity, posts with pro-labour stance came up on the account and Jorts emerged as an advocate for labour rights, fighting against inequality and capitalism. From funny cat memes to suggestions on how to form a union, the Twitter account has become an online hub for labour movement supporters. A paw mark represents Jorts' signature while inspirational letters for workers circulate on Twitter. US Senator Elizabeth Warren was one of the users to comment. Warren wrote on Twitter, "Bailey stands with Jorts (on all four of his feet), and I stand with the working people of America who are making their voices heard and building their power. Unions built the middle class, and unions will rebuild the middle class. WOW https://t.co/ibzJ7mxq5l— Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) February 20, 2022 The labour movement has gained momentum once again in America as unionisation efforts and strikes were organised. After a union won the right to represent US Starbucks workers in December last year, according to a CNN report, Jorts dropped off a few letters to the workers in appreciation. A significant portion of the reason why I am trying so hard to join/form a union is because I want Jorts the Cat to be proud of me. *sigh* someday. (If anyone has any tips on forming a librarian union, please let me know.) https://t.co/CNUuRfGjoW— Bleeding Heart Librarian, MLIS (@spookysharkbear) February 10, 2022 Look at this cat in her harness going through the Starbucks drive through with her little sign that says Solidarity (with workers) Furever WHAT A STAR WOW https://t.co/UDQGWoxNtW— Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) February 19, 2022 Fez was taking a well-deserved nap but wanted to make sure you knew that Starbucks fired seven workers in Memphis yesterday for organizing a union. He also wanted to remind you that firing workers for organizing violates federal law, even if the company makes up a dumb excuse. pic.twitter.com/G3VOcTQNGo— Dave Wagner (@Dbwagner104) February 9, 2022 Raise a paw for the brave @coffee_comrades workers in Detroit just trying to level the playing field! (I’ll try to have a friend deliver this in person too, don’t worry) pic.twitter.com/PJmpUfUnpq— Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) February 18, 2022 A thread Jorts' account talks about how to form a union in one's workplace, urges people to talk to co-workers who already agree, get advice from local unions or organisers, work together to build support, show that support through election or "card check". The thread came in the backdrop of Amazon workers' struggle to form a union in Alabama, reported CNN. It’s so exciting that so many workers are asking about how to form a union where you work! Jean helped me make a thread of basic advice that applies to most workers in the USA pic.twitter.com/z18qtBHadL— Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) February 8, 2022 Depraved https://t.co/I94p5uSVso— Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) February 6, 2022 @JortsTheCat turned me on to this FINE song which gave me a 1970s flashback! Thanks Jorts! Thanks @MariahforAthens 💜! https://t.co/vPG39RqPpw— Carol Queen (@carolqueen) February 6, 2022 Jorts is right, farm workers are up against huge odds. We don’t have many choices in how we form a union. Even in CA, one of the few states where we have any union rights. pic.twitter.com/0CB50Pka7s— United Farm Workers (@UFWupdates) February 8, 2022 CNN Business quoted the user behind the Twitter account as saying that both Jorts and Jean live full-time at a 24X7 workplace. "If a cat is sick they will come home with someone.They live at work but there is always someone on site," the person said. Commenting about the cat's cognisance of their online popularity, the person said, "I almost swear Jean knows. She has gotten extra elusive about spending time anywhere she can be photographed." The person added that the explosion of fan art and memes was entertaining and really touching.
