[Antiracism] [Workers' Rights] News & Notes

[WMass Jobs With Justice]

Has your community organization signed on to support the Employee Free
Choice Act?  

You can sign it up  <http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/rdzCzo71xuKb/> here.

 

New Legal Resource & Advocacy Center

            The Legal Resource and Advocacy Center, Inc. (LRAC), is a new,
grassroots, non-profit, legal services organization serving the Pioneer
Valley.  It provides free legal representation and advocacy to people whose
incomes make them ineligible for government-funded legal aid, but who cannot
afford to hire a private attorney.* LRAC also provides free legal seminars
and "Know Your Rights!" workshops as a means to educate and empower people
to make changes in their lives and communities through the promotion of
social justice. LRAC provides legal services in the following fields: 

.           Employment Law (Unemployment Compensation; Wage & Hour Issues) 

.           Domestic Relations (Divorce; Custody/Child Support/Visitation) 

.           Housing (Landlord-Tenant; Foreclosures) 

.           Mental Health (Guardianship;  Civil Commitment Hearings) 

.           Small Business Development (Empowerment through
Entrepreneurialship) 

.           Financial Advocacy (Medical and Consumer Debt Issues)

*Free services to those earning between 126%-300% of the Federal poverty
level, which is as follows:

Family of One:         $13,650-$32,490

Family of Two:         $18,340-$43,710

Family of Three:      $23,070-$54,930

Family of Four:        $27,780-$66,150

Family of Five:         $32,500-$77,370. 

A sliding fee scale is set for those earning above 300% of the federal
poverty level. LRAC does not turn anyone away for inability to pay. In turn
for free services, recipients will be given the opportunity to volunteer
their time at a local non-profit. Info: Jessica Levy, 210-0652,
jlevy at lracsite.org. 

 

New LifeLine for Jobless

If you lost your job today, would you know where to turn for help? The new
online Unemployment <http://www.unemploymentlifeline.com/>  LifeLine from
Working America and the AFL-CIO is a one-stop resource center to guide
jobless workers to local services and advice from others coping with
unemployment.

 

Check out Bill Moyers' Public Television shows on Jobs with Justice and on
the Financial Crisis:

            http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/03272009/watch.html 

            http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04032009/watch.html 

 

ECONOMIC STIMULUS 101: Can we spend our way out of a bad economy? Explore
the costs, benefits and impacts.

            Check out Valley economists and others at
http://www.amherstwire.com/features/economic-stimulus-101. 

 

Tell AT&T to Do What's Right

            In contract negotiations with the Communications Workers of
America, the company keeps pushing for cuts in quality jobs, health care
benefits, and cost-of-living increases. AT&T claims that these cuts are
necessary because of the economy. They've even had the nerve to compare
telecom to the auto industry, even though telecom continues to expand and
remain profitable. Just last year, AT&T made $12.9 billion in profits --
almost a billion more than the previous year. Jobs with Justice is helping
to collect signatures on a petition of support this week to show AT&T that
the country is united behind the workers. Sign the
<http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/att_right/>  petition.

 

What If You Were Fired for Your Haircut?

            Imagine you were fired for the color of your shirt, your
haircut, the way your voice sounded, or the way you walk. Unfair, right? The
truth is that this happens in workplaces across the state everyday to people
who are transgendered. Transgendered people struggle their whole lives to
feel comfortable in their own body. Those who are able to transition into
their true gender face discrimination and intimidation in their workplace,
as well as in their community. The Massachusetts Transgender Bill of Rights
would protect transgendered workers from workplace discrimination. This is
an important step for human rights in the workplace. Click here
<http://www.masstpc.org/?p=330>  to see a video on the issue. Click here
<http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/transbillofrights/>  to send a message
to your state representative and senator.

 

Calendar of Peace & Justice Events in our Area

http://www.westernmassafsc.org/calendar/calendar.html. Not only is this a
useful place to look for events of interest, but in addition it could be
used by event planners to minimize conflicts between events.  Of course such
planning can happen best if those scheduling events will post them to the
calendar well in advance, where other planners can find them. It is easy to
post events - just email the notice to Roger Conant, conant at ecs.umass.edu.

 

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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:
<http://www.jwj.org/pledge.html> "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 <http://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 Workers' Rights".



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

 

 

 

 

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