[Antiracism] Workers' Rights Calendar 6/28-7/10

Sun Jun 27 22:33:10 EDT 2010

Labor's Small Business Friends: "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other
outspoken foes of organized labor like to claim that small business owners
are as anti-union as the notoriously anti-union Chamber and its big business
members. But don't you believe it." Dick Meister, Truthout:
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Qh205JLmh3iuJ%2BD226X
E60BHNE7zDy3u> Read the Article.

Monday June 28

            URGE GOV. PATRICK TO SIGN HEALTH CARE WORKERS' SAFETY LAW

            Violence is a growing problem in hospitals and other health care
settings. On Thursday June 24, the Massachusetts legislature passed and sent
to Governor Deval Patrick HB 1696, An Act Relative to Assault and Battery on
Health Care Workers. This bill will increase the penalties for those who
assault nurses and other health care workers who are providing care. We have
only until Sunday July 4 to get the Governor to sign this bill. So, we need
as many people as possible to call the Governor's office this MONDAY and
TUESDAY and ask him to sign the bill. Please call the Governor's office on
MONDAY, and pass this email along to co-workers, family members, and others.
Info: Leo Maley, LMaley at mnarn.org.  

Monday June 28 (Fourth Monday)

SPRINGFIELD BRANCH OF THE NAACP

6:30pm, Christian Embassy, 30 Bowdoin St, Springfield. The NAACP
<http://www.naacp.org/>  strives to ensure the political, educational,
social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate
racial hatred and racial discrimination. Info: Van Johnson, (413) 426-3446.

Tuesday June 29 (every Tuesday) 

WEEKLY CALL-IN TO SUPPORT SMITH HOUSEKEEPING & DINING STAFF!

            Every Tuesday, please take two minutes to call Ruth Constantine,
Vice President of Finance and Administration, at (413) 585-2200, to show
your support for dining and housekeeping staff at Smith College, members of
Service Employees Local 211, who are in the midst of a crucial negotiation
period for their new contract (the current one expires on June 30). Please
let them know you called by emailing supportsmithwomenworkers at gmail.com. 

You can also show your support by emailing Constantine
<mailto:rconstan at smith.edu>  and Larry Hunt <mailto:lhunt at smith.edu> ,
Executive Director of Human Resources, and let them know that you support: 

.         a 2% raise on July 1, 2010 (the same as the majority of staff and
faculty on campus), 

.         a commitment from the college to not lay off any more housekeepers
and dining staff during the next 3 years (the expected term of the
contract), and 

.         an eight hour work day for all.

Click here
<mailto:lhunt at smith.edu;%20rconstan at smith.edu?subject=I%20Support%20Local%20
211>  to get started. Please copy supportsmithwomenworkers at gmail.com so they
can keep track of the letters.

Tuesday June 29 

PICKET UNION BUSTING

7:30-8:30am, Employers Association of the NorthEast, 67 Hunt
<http://maps.google.com/maps?q=67+Hunt+Street+Agawam+01001>  Street, Agawam.
Union Busting Is Disgusting! Our area's preeminent anti-union law firm,
Skoler, <http://www.skoler-abbott.com/>  Abbott & Presser, will be teaching
employers about the "New NLRB (National Labor Relations Board)" and Obama's
"particularly distressing" NLRB appointment of Craig Becker. More
information about law firms like Skoler, Abbott & Presser is at
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/the-anti-union-network/for-profit-union-
busters/for-profit-unionbusters.html. 

Are you coming? Please let us know! Please reply now by clicking here: I'll
<mailto:street_heat at pvaflcio.org;%20wmjwj at wmjwj.org?subject=I'll%20Be%20Ther
e%20June%2029&body=Name:%0aPhone:%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(Home?%
20Cell?%20Work?)%0a>  Be There, if you are definitely coming or your
organization will definitely be represented. Info: Pioneer Valley Street
Heat (AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Members agree to mobilize at least 1% of
their members for Street Heat actions), 732-7970, street_heat at pvaflcio.org;
or Western Mass. Jobs with Justice (Jobs with Justice Members pledge "I'll
be there at least five times a year for someone else's fight, as well as my
own. If enough of us are there, we'll all start winning."), 827-0301,
wmjwj at wmjwj.org.  

Wednesday June 30

PICKET UNION BUSTING

8:30-9:30am, Delaney House, 1 Country
<http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1+Country+Club+Rd+Holyoke+01040>  Club Rd,
Holyoke. Union Busting Is Disgusting! Our area's preeminent anti-union law
firm, Skoler, <http://www.skoler-abbott.com/>  Abbott & Presser will be
teaching "Employment Law 101" to Human Service Forum members.  These
non-profit organizations benefit from government subsidies and contracts.
Skoler, Abbott & Presser say they represent "only the interests of
management and employers." 

Are you coming? Please let us know! Please reply now by clicking here: I'll
<mailto:street_heat at pvaflcio.org;%20wmjwj at wmjwj.org?subject=I'll%20Be%20Ther
e%20June%2030&body=Name:%0aPhone:%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(Home?%
20Cell?%20Work?)%0a>  Be There, if you are definitely coming or your
organization will definitely be represented. Info: Pioneer Valley Street
Heat (AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Members agree to mobilize at least 1% of
their members for Street Heat actions), 732-7970, street_heat at pvaflcio.org;
or Western Mass. Jobs with Justice (Jobs with Justice Members pledge "I'll
be there at least five times a year for someone else's fight, as well as my
own. If enough of us are there, we'll all start winning."), 827-0301,
wmjwj at wmjwj.org.

Wednesday June 30

CORI INDEPENDENCE DAY 

10am-6pm, Blunt Park, 2460 Roosevelt Avenue, Springfield. Informative and
festive event for community members to know more about the state's newly
changed Criminal Offender Records laws (CORI) and to manage CORI concerns
like sealing records, getting housing, and securing employment. See also:
http://springfieldinstitute.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/cori-reform-roundtable-
cori-independence-day-june-30th/. Info: Betty Agin, 

Universal Community Voices Eliminating Disparities, 413-654-2888,
bagin84735 at yahoo.com. 

Wednesday June 30

"THE MEANING OF THE FOURTH OF JULY FOR THE NEGRO"

Noon-1:30pm, Court Square Park, Court & Main Streets, Springfield. Reading
Frederick Douglass during the Presidency of Barack Obama. Discussion in Old
First Church (adjacent to the Park). In case of rain, both the reading and
the discussion will be held at the Old First Church. Join Springfield in a
communal reading of Frederick Douglass's fiery 1852 Fourth of July speech,
called "abolition's rhetorical masterpiece," to mark this year as the 150th
anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War - the beginning of a slow road
to facing the consequences of slavery, a road we are still traveling today.
A collaboration of Mass Humanities, the City of Springfield, Springfield
Museums, the Springfield Public Schools, and other organizations. Info:
pbouricius at masshumanities.org, www.masshumanities.org/?p=douglass_events. 

Wednesday June 30

            PETITION FOR SINGLE-PAYER BALLOT QUESTION 

2pm, meet at the Central Labor Council building, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield,
and deploy to Chicopee after a brief orientation. To RSVP, click here: I
<mailto:wmjwj at wmjwj.org?subject=I'll%20Be%20There%206/30&body=Name:%0aAddres
s:%0aCity%20or%20Town:%0aPhone:%20%20%20%20(Home?%20Cell?%20Work?)> 'll Be
There! To volunteer for another time, click here: I
<mailto:wmjwj at wmjwj.org?subject=I%20volunteer%20to%20petition&body=Name:%0aA
ddress:%0aCity%20or%20Town:%0aPhone:%20%20%20%20(Home?%20Cell?%20Work?)>
Volunteer!

Over the past year we have all fought hard to establish health care as a
human right, but we fell far short of what we know Americans deserve. We
continue to see the health care crisis all around us in the form of Shaw's
workers striking to keep their health benefits, municipalities dumping
public services and closing libraries to pay for their rising health bill,
documented immigrants being dumped from public health plans, and rising
co-payments and deductibles for just about everyone. Health care continues
to be unaffordable for most working families. You can get "insurance" but
not care. 

 Volunteers across the state have begun collecting signatures to put this
question on local ballots: "Shall the representative from this district be
instructed to support legislation that would establish health care as a
human right regardless of age, state of health, or employment status, by
creating a single payer health insurance system like Medicare that is
comprehensive, cost effective, and publicly provided to all residents of
Massachusetts?" Info: wmspn at wmjwj.org. See also the Massachusetts Health
Care <http://masscare.org/ma-single-payer-bill/>  Trust Bill. 

Thursday July 1 (every Thursday)

ISO MEETING

7:30pm, Campus Center, room TBD, UMass Amherst. Regular meeting of local
chapter of International Socialist Organization. Info: Gary Lapon,
glapon at gmail.com. 

Sunday July 4

INDEPENDENCE DAY PITCH-IN PICNIC

4-8pm, Rain or Shine, 3 McClelland Farm Rd, Deerfield (home of Fred & Lynn
Rose, 413-774-6540). Can you come (with a folding chair or two, and your own
utensils)?  Can you join a committee? Pick one: Set-up; Cooking; Singing;
Clean-up.  What kind of food (at least 10 servings) can you bring?  Pick a
category: beverages in ice in coolers; appetizer; main dish for the grill;
other main dish; salad/side dish; dessert. Can you bring a small donation to
help with costs? RSVP ASAP to joanjon at gogtt.net.

Wednesday July 7 (First Wednesday)

FRANKLIN COUNTY WORKERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE

7-8:30pm, Traprock Center for Peace and Justice, 24 Miles St, Greenfield
((413) 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.
Info: (413) 827-0301, wmjwj at wmjwj.org. 

Thursday July 8 (changed from First Thursday this month)(note new time)

NORTHAMPTON LIVING WAGE COALITION 

6-7:30pm, Western Mass Legal Services office, 20 Hampton Av #100,
Northampton (enter near Pleasant St, south of/right angle to Sylvester's).
The Northampton Living Wage Coalition was founded out of concern for those
working in our community who cannot afford to live here and meet their basic
needs (for a decent home, healthy food, appropriate clothing, and health
care when needed.) On Nov. 19, the Northampton City Council voted for a
living wage resolution updating its 1998 Living Wage resolution. Using data
from the Crittenton Women's Union <http://www.liveworkthrive.org/>  and the
Northampton Housing Authority to calculate a basic needs budget for a single
person without children, the 2010 Northampton living wage is at least $11.90
per hour. The NLWC will adjust it annually, publicize it, and honor those
employers who pay a Living Wage or make a genuine attempt to do so. Info:
Kitty Callaghan, (413) 584-4034, kcallaghan at wmls.org.

We now have a good mix of living-wage employers listed, non-profit and for
profit, new and well-established businesses. There are many more businesses
paying a living wage that we want to encourage to step forward to be
recognized. Contact Kitty with suggestions.  

Friday July 9 (Second Friday) 

STREET HEAT - THE AFL-CIO MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE

9:30-11am, AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Blvd, near corner of Osborne Ter, across
the street from the old Westinghouse, Springfield. On the agenda: Shaw's
Strike; Sodexo organizing; EFCA; Mass Mutual Center workers; Safe Hospital
staffing; Green Jobs; Immigration Reform; Postal job loss; Servicenet; Your
Organizing! Community and labor activists are urged to attend. Info, send
agenda items to: Jon Weissman, 732-7970, street_heat at pvaflcio.org.

Saturday July 10 (Second Saturday)

HEALTH EQUITY ROUNDTABLE

9:30-11:30am, Tapestry Health, 365 Bay St, Springfield. Addressing existing
disparities in health care and outcomes, and the underlying racism, poverty,
and homelessness. This Springfield Health Disparities Project roundtable
provides a forum to engage community people in dialogue with folks working
on community health initiatives, keeping the community abreast of what is
happening, and getting people involved in working with others to improve
community health. Info: Betty Agin, 747-0321, ucved at verizon.net. 

Saturday July 10 (Second Saturday)

            WALKING TOUR OF FLORENCE ABOLITION ERA SITES

            10am, meet at the Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue, Park & Pine
Sts, Florence. Visit the homes of Sojourner Truth, Samuel Hill, and fugitive
slave Basil Dorsey. See the Mill River dam where David Lee and Lydia Maria
Child processed sugar beets as an alternative to slave-grown sugar cane.
Stand in the Pine Grove where William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips
spoke before members of the Northampton Association "utopian" community.
Hear about David Ruggles's Water Cure and the visits of Frederick Douglass.
Donations benefit the David Ruggles Center. These tours are offered the
second Saturday of the month from June through November. Info:
info at davidrugglescenter.org, http://www.davidrugglescenter.org/. 

More events on the Western Massachusetts American Friends Service Committee
calendar: http://www.westernmassafsc.org/calendar/calendar.html.

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

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

Founded in 1987,  <http://www.jwj.org/> Jobs with Justice's mission is to
improve working people's standard of living, fight for job security, and
protect workers' right to organize. We believe workers' rights are human
rights and to be successful, we have to be part of a larger campaign for
economic and social justice. 

To that end, "J with J" has created a national coalition and a network of
local coalitions that connect labor, community, student, and faith-based
organizations and activists on workplace and community social justice
campaigns.  Western Mass JwJ - founded June 5, 1993 - is now a coalition of
almost 70 organizations. 

Our mailing lists:

[Workers' Rights] The Western Mass. Jobs with Justice Workers' Rights list
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  <http://www.jwj.org/> Jobs with Justice, affirming that
workers' rights are human rights.

                To subscribe, send a blank email to
<mailto:workersrights-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com>
workersrights-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com or go to
<http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/workersrights>
http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/workersrights. 

[Health Care Action] posts events and information that support the large and
vibrant Western Mass. movement for health care justice. Nationwide,
<http://www.jwj.org/> Jobs with Justice has prioritized Health Care as a
basic human right. 

                To subscribe, send a blank email to
<mailto:healthcareaction-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com>
healthcareaction-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com or go to
<http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/healthcareaction>
http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/healthcareaction.

[People's History] posts events and other information related to a people's
history of Western Mass, inspired by  <http://howardzinn.org/> Howard Zinn.

                To subscribe, send a blank email to
<mailto:peopleshistory-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com>
peopleshistory-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com or go to
<http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/peopleshistory>
http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/peopleshistory. 

[Solidarity Calendar] posts other events of interest to the broader Western
Mass. movement.  

                To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj at wmjwj.org with a
Subject of "Subscribe Solidarity Calendar".

WMJwJ sponsors [WMSLAP], the Western Mass. Student Labor Action Project
mailing list.   <http://www.jwj.org/projects/slap.html> SLAP engages student
organizations in economic justice campaigns.

                To subscribe, send a blank email to
<mailto:wmassslap-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com>
wmassslap-subscribe at lists.prometheuslabor.com or go to
<http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/wmassslap>
http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/wmassslap. 

WMJwJ co-sponsors [GreenWork], the mailing list of the Western Mass. Green
Economy Working Group of advocates of a Green Economy which serves local
communities; guarantees workers' rights to organize; and promotes
community-owned sustainable projects. 

                To subscribe, send a blank email to
<mailto:greenwork-subscribe at lists.gaiahost.coop>
greenwork-subscribe at lists.gaiahost.coop or go to
<http://lists.gaiahost.coop/mailman/listinfo/greenwork>
http://lists.gaiahost.coop/mailman/listinfo/greenwork.

WMJwJ is a founding member of the Western Mass Coalition for Immigrant &
Worker Rights, organizations and community members who advocate, educate,
organize, and mobilize to protect the Human, Civil, and Constitutional
Rights of all workers and residents in our communities. 

                To subscribe to its mailing list, send a blank email to
wmciwr-subscribe at lists.riseup.net or go to
https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/wmciwr.

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