[Antiracism] [Workers Rights] Springfield City Council 10/1

[WMass Jobs With Justice]

You are invited to come and support progressive resolutions before the
Springfield City Council on Monday October 1.  The Smithfield Resolution,
below, was submitted by the Justice @ Smithfield Committee of Western Mass.
Jobs with Justice (827-0301, HYPERLINK
"mailto:wmjwj at wmjwj.org"wmjwj at wmjwj.org).  The Affordable Housing
Resolution, also below, is by Mass. Senior Action Council (543-2334,
HYPERLINK
"mailto:mbewsee at masssenioraction.org"mbewsee at masssenioraction.org).  There
is also a resolution Urging the Federal Reserve to Protect Consumers from
Predatory Lending, submitted by ACORN (737-0169, HYPERLINK
"mailto:maacornsp at acorn.org"maacornsp at acorn.org).

 

The Springfield City Council meets at 7:30pm in its third floor chambers in
City Hall, 36 Court Street, across from Court Square.  Public Speak-out time
is at 6:45pm.

 

Smithfield Resolution

 

1. Whereas, the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, is committed to the
right of all workers to have dignity in their lives, safe conditions at
work, a living wage, and health benefits, and supports responsible employers
who follow the law and treat their workers fairly; and

 

2. Whereas, Smithfield Foods, Inc., is the largest pork producer and
processor in the world, and the Smithfield plant in Tar Heel, North
Carolina, is the largest pork processing facility in the world, employing
more than 5,000 workers and slaughtering more than 32,000 hogs a day; and

 

3. Whereas, Human Rights Watch documented in Blood, Sweat and Fear (2004)
that Smithfield Foods has violated internationally recognized human rights
standards by using intimidation, threats, and violence against workers and
still continues to do so; and

 

4. Whereas, Human Rights Watch in the same document reported evidence
showing that Smithfield Foods discourages workers from reporting workplace
injuries and seeking medical care from their family physician; and

 

5. Whereas, evidence shows that Smithfield Foods has a history of
intimidating, threatening, and harassing workers who engage in organized
activity to defend their rights, to improve their working conditions, and to
ensure their well-being in the workplace; and

 

6. Whereas, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found Smithfield Foods
guilty of violating workers rights to organize a union and ordered
Smithfield to obey the law and allow workers to exercise their legal rights
without fear of retaliation or threats; and

 

7. Whereas, Smithfield Foods has repeatedly delayed and denied justice for
Smithfield workers; and

 

8. Whereas, Smithfield Foods, Inc., and Smithfield sub-contractor QSI, Inc.,
were found guilty of using the Company Police to physically assault workers,
cause the false arrest of a worker, and threaten bodily harm in retaliation
for legal activities to protest working conditions, in violation of federal
labor law; and

 

9. Whereas, the efforts of consumers, community organizations, faith-based
organizations, labor organizations, and government officials will be
critical to bringing Justice to Smithfield;

 

Therefore be it ordered that the City Council of Springfield, Massachusetts,
supports justice for workers at Smithfield Foods, and, as this campaign
continues, National and Local actions to bring justice to Smithfield; and

 

Be it further ordered that the City of Springfield review its purchasing of
any Smithfield Foods products from Tar Heel, North Carolina, and suspend
these purchases until the company ends all form of abuse, intimidation, and
violence against its workers; and

 

Be it further ordered that the City Council of Springfield, Massachusetts,
encourages local supermarkets to consider suspending their purchase of any
such Smithfield products; and 

 

Be it further ordered that the City Clerk forward a suitably engrossed copy
of this resolution to Chairman Joseph Luter and CEO Larry Pope, Smithfield
Foods, Inc., and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
on behalf of the entire City Council.

Affordable Housing Resolution

 

Whereas:  Massachusetts continues to face an affordable housing crisis and
the need for affordable housing for seniors is growing rapidly.  In the
United States there are at least nine seniors waiting for every occupied
unit of affordable elderly housing. 

Whereas:  More than 83,000 units of affordable housing in Massachusetts are
at risk of "expiring" and becoming market rate.  Over 27,000, including more
than 1,600 in Springfield, will be at-risk during the next three years. 

Whereas:  The majority of households in these developments are elderly
households (50%) or non-elderly households with disabilities (35%).

Whereas:  Over 2,300 Massachusetts elders including nearly one hundred from
Springfield are sleeping in shelters every night and are the fastest growing
group of shelter users in the state.  From 1999 to 2002 elder homelessness
in Massachusetts increased by over 60%.  At the current rate, without
intervention, by 2025 the elderly homeless population could fill Gillette
stadium. 

Whereas:  There are currently programs available through the federal
government that would enable owners to renew their Section 8 subsidies and
maintain affordable units.

Whereas:  The Massachusetts Legislature is currently considering legislation
endorsed by the Massachusetts Senior Action Council which would give
municipalities the tools necessary to prevent the loss of currently
affordable housing. 

Therefore be it

Resolved:  That the Springfield City Council supports the efforts of MSAC to
win passage of strong state legislation to preserve affordable housing.

Resolved:  That the City Council urge all state legislators representing
Springfield to vote for legislation which will accomplish this goal,
including Senate BillS782 (An Act to Preserve Publicly Funded Housing) and
House Bill H1284 (the Statewide Enabling Act to Save Affordable Housing). 

Resolved:  That every possible step be taken to ensure that seniors in
Springfield can find affordable housing and not be forced to live in
shelters or on the streets.


 



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