[Antiracism] [Workers' Rights] Calendar 7/21-8/3

[WMass Jobs With Justice]

Monday July 21
	ROLLING RALLY FOR FAIR CONTRACT AT VERIZON	
	6:30-7:30am, 95 Brookdale Dr, Springfield. The Verizon telephone
workers contract expires on Aug. 2. Throughout July, telephone workers and
supporters are holding rallies at Verizon garages in five cities for a union
contract that would ensure good wages, quality health care, and secure
pension benefits. Union members are also fighting for the jobs of the
future, as Verizon transitions from a traditional phone company to a high
tech provider of video, Internet, and wireless communications. Info: Kathy
Collins, IBEW 2324, 734-0863, kathycollinsibew2324 at verizon.net.

July 21-24
	LABOR-TO-LABOR WALKS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
	Evening walks - Union members talking with union brothers and
sisters about the 2008 elections. Info, to sign up: Mass AFL-CIO Organizing
and Mobilization Coordinator John Drinkwater, 781-324-8230.

Wednesday July 23
	ARE "GREEN JOBS" UNION & COMMUNITY JOBS?
	5:30-7:30pm, Pioneer Valley CLC, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield. "Green
Jobs" are all the rage now - for good reason, especially in Western Mass,
where retrofitting buildings could provide a lot of jobs and we have the
expertise. For a labor perspective, please read
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/14/sweeney-unions-investors-must-push-for-cle
an-environment-green-jobs/ and http://www.wed-works.org/info.html. But not
everyone is talking Green Jobs as Union Jobs and Local Community Jobs, and
the possibility of Scabby Green Jobs looms large here. The Western Mass.
Green Economy Working Group is discussing the issue. Info: Eduardo Suarez,
335-6224, echonyc at hotmail.com.

Thursday July 24 
	JUSTICE FOR JASON
	2pm, Pre-Trial Hearing for Jason Vassell, Hampshire Superior Court,
15 Gothic St, Northampton. Background: On Sunday, February 3, 2008, two
white men - not UMass students - appeared at the window of the dormitory
room of Jason Vassell, a twenty-three-year-old African American student at
UMass Amherst. The two men subjected Vassell to racial invective and threats
of violence. They kicked in Vassell's window and later gained access to an
outer vestibule of the dorm, where they attacked Vassell, breaking his nose
and causing a serious concussion. The injured Vassell, defending himself
with a small pocketknife, wounded his assailants. Vassell - an otherwise
decent, gentle, young black man and law-abiding citizen described by his
professors as a serious, respectful, and diligent student - finds himself in
a Kafkaesque nightmare. Removed from school, he faces two charges that
could, if the prosecution succeeds, subject him to 30 years in state prison.
	At the July 24 pre-trial hearing, the physical presence of friends,
family members, and other supporters is important - and will be greatly
appreciated! Info, to carpool: justiceforjason at gmail.com,
www.justiceforjason.org. Petition calling for the charges again Jason to be
reconsidered: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justiceforjason/. To
contribute to Jason's defense, you may write a check to Vassell's mother
Esmie James; mail checks to "Justice for Jason", PO Box 197, Amherst MA
01004. 

Wednesday July 30
	HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEDICARE!
	Healthcare-NOW's "Happy Birthday, Medicare" campaign will deliver
cakes and birthday cards to US Representatives' district offices and take
other actions for national health insurance based on Medicare, signed into
law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Info: Cindy Calley,
317-706-0650, ccalley at att.net, www.healthcare-now.org. 

Thursday July 31 
	PROTECT THE INCOME TAX PLANNING MEETING
	Noon-2pm, Pioneer Valley Project office building, Holy Family
Church, 235 Eastern Av, Springfield. Oppose the ballot initiative that would
end the income tax that pays for 40% of the state's budget. Can you or
representatives from your organization join a planning meeting hosted by
Pioneer Valley Project and Neighbor to Neighbor? Please invite anyone who
wants to help. Info, RSVP: Fred Rose, 827-0781, generalpvp at verizon.net. You
can also:
	Go to the website - www.VoteNoMA.com - and sign up on the email list
and take the pledge.
	Have your Webmaster grab a site badge/sticker to place on their
website. They are at: http://votenoma.com/stamps.html. If you do, and you
would like the campaign to track who signs up from your sticker, have your
webmaster call Alipes at 617-303-1045. Put the sticker on first and then
call.
	Send people to the website for information and talking points. Have
them watch the video. Ask them to ask their friends and family to go to the
site.
	Download "The Fact Sheet" at
http://votenoma.com/files.php?name=votenoma-facts.pdf. Print it and hand it
out at meetings, put it in mailers, etc.
	Info: Harris Gruman, Political Director, SEIU Massachusetts State
Council, 617-316-0443, harris.gruman at seiu.org.

Thursday July 31
	SPRINGFIELD HEALTH DISPARITIES PROJECT
	5pm, Holy Family Catholic Church, 235 Eastern Av, Springfield.
Partnering with the Disparities Action Network (DAN), a statewide coalition
fighting health disparities, SHDP is launching Conversations on Community
Health. What does health mean to you, and to your community? Why do some
communities suffer from health problems more than others? What can we do
about the causes of these problems? Info: Betty Agin, 627-4028,
bagin84735 at yahoo.com, or Jose Molina, 330-1628.

August 2 & 3
	ADP WORKER CENTER/CASA OBRERA HOSTS GUATEMALAN MOBILE CONSULATE
(rescheduled from July 19-20)
	130 Union Street, Springfield. Guatemalan citizens can get
information, documents, etc. Info: 739-7233.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send an email to wmjwj at wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Unsub
Workers' Rights".

[Workers' Rights] posts opportunities for you to learn about and show
solidarity with workplace and working class struggles. And these events are
opportunities for JwJ members to fulfill their pledge: "I'll be there for
workers' rights at least five times a year!" This is the core mission of
Jobs with Justice (www.jwj.org), affirming that workers' rights are human
rights. To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj at wmjwj.org with a Subject of
"Subscribe Worker's Rights".

Western Mass Jobs with Justice
640 Page Blvd #101
Springfield MA 01104
(413) 827-0301