[Antiracism] [Workers Rights] Big Y Leafleting 11/8; Safe Staffing Phonebank

[WMass Jobs With Justice]

Thursday November 8
	LEAFLET BIG Y RE-OPENING
	10:10am, gather in parking lot in advance of cake-cutting ceremony
at 10:30am, Big Y, 136 North King St (Rt 5) near Wal-Mart, Northampton. 
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=136+N+King+St,+Northampton,+MA+01060,+USA&sa=X
&oi=map&ct=title
	Poverty wages, brutal conditions, crippling injuries - 5,500 workers
in Tar Heel, North Carolina, face this every day at the world's largest hog
processing plant. They are trying to correct it by forming a union. 
	Their employer's response got it cited by Human Rights Watch for
violating international human rights standards and cited by the National
Labor Relations Board and US Court of Appeals for labor law violations.
Smithfield Foods has created an environment of intimidation, racial tension,
violence, and fear of deportation for workers who want a voice on the job.
	You can help them exercise their right to a union. (See
www.smithfieldjustice.com.) 
	The local Justice @ Smithfield committee is asking Big Y to stop
selling Tar Heel pork (USDA establishment codes: 18079 and [bacon] 79-C). 
	Stop & Shop and Atkins are on board. The Springfield City Council
and Mayor are on board and urging all area stores to join in. State Rep. Ben
Swan has personally appealed to Big Y. But when a delegation of religious,
community, labor, educational, and student leaders tried to see Big Y's
owners, they were kicked out of the Springfield headquarters. 
	Next step: leafleting Big Y stores, starting with the new
Northampton store. Join us! Info: 827-0301, mailto:wmjwj at wmjwj.org. 

***********************

Can't make the leafleting action?  How about Virtual Petitioning on
Thursday: 
Go to https://www.bigy.com/contact/index.php and tell Big Y to stop selling
Tar Heel pork (USDA establishment codes: 18079 and [bacon] 79-C). Thanks!

***********************

And please consider this need for phonebankers:

November 25 - December 6
	JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SAFE STAFFING - Understaffing of Registered
Nurses is Dangerous 
	Phonebanking shifts, 1-5pm & 5-8pm, Mondays-Thursdays, 640 Page
Blvd, Springfield. 
	We have a disturbing crisis in Massachusetts. Registered nurses are
being forced to care for too many hospital patients at once, and patients
are suffering the consequences in the form of preventable errors, avoidable
complications, increased lengths of stay, and readmissions.
	But you can help end understaffing!	Please join with the
Massachusetts Nurses Association Region 1 and participate in “Nurses Calling
Nurses for Safe Staffing”. On Mondays thru Thursdays during the weeks of
November 25 and December 2, Nurses and allies will be calling other
Registered Nurses in Western Massachusetts and asking them to support the
Patient Safety Act, currently pending in the Massachusetts legislature
(http://www.protectmasspatients.org/;
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht02pdf/ht02059.pdf). You can
help, even if you are not a Registered Nurse. After all - quality health
care is all of our concern.
	The phone bank will operate at the Pioneer Valley Central Labor
Council, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield. We will be calling Monday through
Thursday of each week, from 1 to 8pm.
	Please reserve your time now. Shifts are 1-5pm and 5-8pm. Contact
Tom Clarke at (413) 242-8848 or mailto:tom.clarke at sprint.blackberry.net.

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