[Antiracism] [Workers' Rights] Calendar 4/27-5/6

[WMass Jobs with Justice]

Now

 <http://ufcwaction.org/ct/-1aTFV61bPCv/> THOUSANDS OF WALMART WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNITE TO CALL FOR A VOICE IN THE WORKPLACE      

Walmart Workers for Change is a new campaign of thousands of Walmart’s 1.3 million associates across the country who are standing up and demanding a voice in the workplace. They released a new video that highlights the sorts of anti-worker tactics they are facing from the world’s largest retailer.

 

Monday April 27

STOP THE BUDGET CUTS:  INVEST IN OUR FUTURE!  

            Noon-1pm, State House Room 437, Boston. The House Budget makes well over a billion dollars in cuts to essential services for our communities! We need to stop these cuts so we can invest in our schools, infrastructure, and social programs to rebuild our economy. The debate on the budget starts April 27. Be there to tell the House: “We need to raise new revenue to invest in our future and stop these cuts!” Info: Neighbor to Neighbor, 739-2951, lizw at n2nma.org; Harris Gruman, SEIU state Council, 617-316-0443, Harris.Gruman at seiu.org.

 

Tuesday April 28

JUSTICE FOR JASON VASSELL: PETITIONS TO BOSTON; PRE-TRIAL HEARING IN NORTHAMPTON

See www.justiceforjason.org.

9am, State House, Boston. Justice for Jason Organizers from Western Massachusetts and Boston will deliver information about Jason Vassell's case, over 2600 petition signatures, and several letters in support of Jason to Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Governor Deval Patrick. Organizers will also request a meeting with both Attorney General Coakley and Governor Patrick, asking them to recognize the grave injustice occurring in Western Massachusetts and to intervene in the case. Followed by a 10am press conference announcing statewide support and solidarity for Jason. 

2pm, Hampshire Superior Court, 15 Gothic St, Northampton. Jason’s next Pre-Trial Hearing on his defense's discovery motion. Arrive early to be inside the courtroom. Join the picketing outside. Contact Tristan.Brosnan at gmail.com to get in on the carpool leaving from the UMass Student Union at 1:15pm or the van leaving from Springfield. 

Most recently Jason's lawyers were granted access to the last 5 years of files from the Prosecutor's office for all cases involving similar charges in which the defendant and the "victim" are of different “racial backgrounds”. By contesting the Judge's decision to grant the Defense access to these files, the Prosecution would like to keep this history hidden. What does this say about justice in Hampshire County? In Massachusetts?

Updates and Discussion to follow at First Churches, 129 Main St, Northampton. Free food and coffee will be served. Info: justiceforjason at gmail.com.

 

Tuesday, April 28

            SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES DISCUSS PRO-WORKER ORDINANCES

            5pm, Mass Latino Chamber of Commerce, 1655 Main Street, Suite 201, Springfield. The Veterans, Administration and Human Services Committee and the Planning and Economic Development Committee of the City Council will jointly discuss ordinance amendments initiated by the Pioneer Valley Building & Construction Trades Council (734-7137, dandalma at gmail.com), entitled "Springfield Residents Construction Employment", "Living Wages", and "Responsible Employer Policy" (copies available by email from mail at pvaflcio.org). Info: City Council Aide Robert Arieti, 787-6170, rarieti at springfieldcityhall.com. 

 

Tuesday April 28 (Fourth Tuesday)

HAMPSHIRE/FRANKLIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL

7:30pm, Northampton Fire Station Community Room, 26 Carlon Drive at King St/Route 5, Northampton (587-1148). Community and labor activist guests are welcome, but RSVP to Pres. Fiore Grassetti, 877-725-0357, org7 at comcast.net.

 

Wednesday April 29

ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION LOBBY DAY

10am-1:30pm, State House, Boston. No previous lobbying experience necessary! Make your voice heard on critical civil rights and liberties issues in Massachusetts: Increase voting rights: Enable eligible voters to register to vote at certain polling locations on election day. Info: www.aclum.org/events. 

 

Wednesday April 29

RALLY AT BANK OF AMERICA ~ PART OF NATIONWIDE DAYS OF ACTION MONDAY & TUESDAY

Noon, 1 Monarch Place, at Boland Way & Main St, Springfield. Tell Bank of America:  FIRE KEN LEWIS! Stop Fighting the Employee Free Choice Act! Stop Intimidating Your Workers! Stop Foreclosing on our Communities. Stop Consumer Abuses. Provide Quality Health Care for all of your employees and their families! Commit to Real Financial Reform and Regulation. 

Bank of America has received $45 billion in federal bailouts. That makes the government and us taxpayers BoA’s largest single shareholder. CEO Ken Lewis is the poster boy for the CEO and corporate excess that crashed the economy and continue to drain working families’ finances. It’s time for Ken Lewis to go. And if we really want to create an economy that works for everyone again, we need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure that all workers have a voice on the job to protect consumers. April 29 is BoA’s Annual Shareholders Meeting in Charlotte NC, and we will be rallying here to support rallies there and stockholders demanding justice from Bank of America. Info: Chris Patterson, 508-791-1670,  <mailto:cpatterson at seiu615.org> cpatterson at seiu615.org. 

If you would prefer to rally at your local BoA, we’ll get you the materials and publicize your event. Simply contact Jon at WMJwJ, 827-0301,  <mailto:wmjwj at wmjwj.org> wmjwj at wmjwj.org.  

 

Wednesday April 29

ANTI-BULLYING COMMUNITY FORUM & VIGIL

6:30-8:30pm, American International College Griswold Theatre, 1000 State St, Springfield (http://www.aic.edu/visitors/directions). In the wake of the recent tragedy that took the life of young Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, a forum is being held to create an opportunity for the community to address the issues affecting all the youth of our city, and build solutions together. This event brings together a broad array of perspectives on bullying to highlight its severe impacts, as well as solutions to ending this epidemic in our city, state, and country. At this special event, the community will have the opportunity to voice their thoughts, ask questions, and offer solutions. This event will culminate with a candlelight vigil remembering all those who have been affected by bullying. Special Guest: Sirdeaner L. Walker, mother of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover. Musical Performances: Holyoke High School Madrigal Singers; Shakira L. Hanley. Opening Speaker: Rev. Irene Monroe, Coordinator of the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS) at the Pacific School of Religion, and a religion columnist. Panelist(s): Jacob Smith Yang, Commission Chair, Massachusetts Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth Commission; Jossie Valentin, Senior Bilingual Academic Counselor, Holyoke Community College and Parent; OutNow member and public school student. Info: Amaad Rivera, 617-840-1592, amaadr at gmail.com.

 

Wednesday April 29

FREE FILM: STIMULUS ROADBLOCK?

7pm, Amherst Community Television, 246 College St, Amherst. Part of "Empowering Ourselves: Think Globally - Act Locally" film series screening timely eco conscious films: Stimulus Roadblock? <http://Stimulus%20Roadblock?>  Info: 256-6005, www.actvamherst.com. 

 

Thursday April 30 

WARD REPRESENTATION HAS ARRIVED IN SPRINGFIELD!  WANT TO RUN?

5:30pm-8pm, Central Labor Council, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield (732-7970). Refreshments. Want to run for elected office in Springfield? Want to help somebody else run? Arise for Social Justice with Avi Green from MassVOTE present “Pathways to Elected Office”. What’s a platform? How do you build a campaign? Recruit volunteers? Raise money? And more. Info: 734-4948.

 

April 30 & May 1

AMERIVILLE by UNIVERSES

8pm, Bowker Auditorium, UMass Amherst. Universes, the acclaimed Bronx-based quartet, bring their unique brand of high-energy, hip-hop-based performance looking at the US post-9/11 through the prism of post-Katrina New Orleans. Info, tickets: http://www.newworldtheater.org.

 

May 1-2

CO-OP POWER’S ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUMMIT

Campus Center, UMass Amherst. More at www.cooppower.coop. (If you register, please answer “WMJwJ” at “How did you find out about the Summit?”) Lynn Benander promotes the Summit at http://springfieldinstitute.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/who-puts-the-social-justice-in-sustainable-energy-lynn-does/.

Friday evening, after the May Day celebration (below) in the Campus Center Auditorium at 7pm, there’s a dance with a great band from South America, MarKamusic. Saturday has 2 plenary sessions and over 50 workshops, including: "Creating Win-Win Solutions for Building Community/Union Sustainable Energy Partnerships" – led by Joe Alvarez, leadership and organization development consultant and former AFL-CIO Northeast Region Director; “What are Good Green Jobs?” – led by the Green Justice <http://massclu.org/green_justice_coalition>  Coalition. And “Labor and the Green Economy” – led by Ragini Kapadia, Program/Economic Analyst, AFL-CIO Center <http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/02/05/afl-cio-announces-center-for-green-jobs/>  for Green Jobs, and Jon Weissman, Coordinator, Western Mass. Jobs with Justice <http://www.jwj.org/> . 

 

Friday May 1

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY & THE MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GREEN JOBS

7-9pm {doors open 6:30}, Campus Center Auditorium, UMass Amherst (note room change from original announcement) (maps & free parking info at http://parking.umass.edu). Join your hosts: Western Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, Co-op Power, WMUA 91.1FM, UMass Labor Relations & Research Center, UMass Labor/Management Workplace Education, UMass Graduate Student Senate, UMass Student Government Association, University Staff Association / Massachusetts Teachers Association, AFSCME Local 1776, Massachusetts Society of Professors / MTA, and American Friends Service Committee, in a May Day celebration and fundraiser for Western Massachusetts Jobs with Justice. 

Music by The Raging Grannies * Verne McArthur * José Ayerve <http://www.joseayerve.com/>  * Tom Neilson <http://tomneilsonmusic.com/>  & Kat Allen * Red Valley Fog <http://www.myspace.com/redvalleyfog>  * Jay Mankita <http://www.jaymankita.com/> .

Rousing speech by long-time community and labor organizer Stewart <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-qzEsGJoKM&feature=related>  Acuff, Special Assistant to the President of the AFL-CIO <http://www.aflcio.org/> ; National Jobs with Justice <http://www.jwj.org/>  Board Member. 

            Donation Requested but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. $5 for School Age, Seniors, Low Income. $10 for Everyone Else (or more if you can afford it). At the door or by mail to Jobs with Justice, PO Box 296, Granby MA 01033. Free for Co-op Power’s annual Sustainable Energy Summit Summit-goers. Register at www.cooppower.coop. Please answer “WMJwJ” at “How did you find out about the Summit?” 

            Sponsor a Stanza: $100 includes listing next to one of the songs in the program book (if received by Noon on April 28) and two seats.

            Reserve a seat by email:  wmjwj at wmjwj.org. Donations are to the Warren J. Plaut Charitable Trust Jobs with Justice Fund and are tax deductible.

 

Wednesday May 6 (First Wednesday) (new schedule)

            FRANKLIN COUNTY WORKERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE

7-8:30pm, Traprock Center for Peace and Justice, 24 Miles St, Greenfield (773-7427). Organizing local solidarity for Franklin County workers and unions; nurses and other workers at Franklin Medical Center; Greenfield municipal employees; and statewide and national workers' rights campaigns, including People's Bail-Out and Employee Free Choice Act. At this meeting, singer-songwriter Tom Neilson <http://tomneilsonmusic.com/>  will do a musical presentation about “Why We Still Need Unions!” Info: 827-0301, wmjwj at wmjwj.org. 

 

 

More events at http://www.westernmassafsc.org/calendar/calendar.html & http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/SustEvents.htm.

A NOTE ABOUT PUBLIC MEETINGS & CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES:  Men and women are requested to avoid wearing scented personal products when attending public meetings. Scents trigger adverse responses in those with chemical sensitivities, allergies, and asthma. Note that many workers develop chemical sensitivities on the job. 

 

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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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