IRL Labor Action Tracker

This is the code for https://striketracker.ilr.cornell.edu/.

It is primarily a single page app hosted on Github Pages, but the data is stored in a Grist database. There is a build script that transforms the data in the database into a JSON file that is deployed to Pages.

Overview

• Data is added and edited in a Grist database.
• A build script, run with Github Actions, generates a static copy of this site with the database data in labor_actions.json and publishes it to Github Pages.
  • The scheduled workflow may be disabled if there is no repo activity for 60 days. See https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/usage-limits-billing-and-administration#disabling-and-enabling-workflows

Deployment Configuration

• GRIST_API_TOKEN must be set in the Secrets and variables settings (settings/secrets/actions) in the Github project.

Local setup

• Copy .env.example to .env and set the GRIST_API_TOKEN.
• Run npm install.

Testing

1. Run npm run build to create the labor_actions.json file.
2. Open index.html in a web browser.

Static web server container

A simple Docker container build file is included for testing purposes. It will run the node.js build script and can serve the site with a basic static web server:

docker build -t ilrweb/striketracker:latest .

The resulting image can be pushed to Docker hub, where the ILR web team has an account:

docker push ilrweb/striketracker:latest

The image can be run with a command like the following:

docker run -it --rm --init -p 3000:3000 ilrweb/striketracker:latest

What's new in 2.0?

• Site loading is much faster. This was done by:
  • Rewriting the javascript
  • Initially limiting the first page load to the labor actions of the last 12 months
• The filter form has been simplified and now includes Employer
• New non-google map with custom markers
• Moved data from Google Sheets to self-hosted Grist instance
  • No more Google Form for adding/editing existing labor actions
  • Relational storage for locations and sources
  • Built-in geocoder that doesn't rely on a paid Google project
• Report a Labor Action form moved to Grist with results next to existing data
  • This could be improved by changing the form and dropping the reports into the main data table