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<p class=MsoNormal><a name=Amherst></a><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Wednesday
December 10<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
<b>HUMAN RIGHTS DAY VIGIL<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>4-6pm,
downtown Amherst. Sponsored by Amnesty International. Info: Mohamed Ibrahim,
215-870-7809, <a href="mailto:mohamedelgadi@yahoo.com">mohamedelgadi@yahoo.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.AI-Amherst.blogspot.com">www.AI-Amherst.blogspot.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Wednesday
December 10<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><a name=YWCA><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PICKET YWCA </span></b></a><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>HOLIDAY PARTY !!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>5:30pm,
Shakago’s, 23 Hampden St, downtown Springfield (<a
href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=23+Hampden+St,+Springfield+MA+01103&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title">map</a>).
Due to the continued refusal of the YWCA management to recognize and reward the
contributions its members make to the success of the YWCA, the UAW Local 2322
Contract Bargaining Committee has decided to picket the YWCA Holiday Party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>YWCA
workers have been in contract negotiations since May, and the YWCA has said
they “cannot afford” any raise at all for the workers who perform
the vital services the organization is known for and Exec Dir Mary Johnson
loves to brag about. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>However,
the UAW’s review of YWCA financial records shows the YWCA had $593,000 in
unrestricted funds as of March 31, 2008. And Johnson has claimed in her annual
report that the YWCA has operated at a surplus for the last 24 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>There
has been enough money so that she and other members of the YWCA upper
management have received substantial raises annually. In fact Johnson received
a 19% raise in fiscal year ending (FYE) 2006 and a 7.8% in FYE 2007 bringing
her total salary to $129,303. That does not include her “benefits”
package of $8,669 for FYE 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Additionally,
the YWCA has spent in excess of $200,000 over the last several years in
lawyer’s fees to a known antiunion law firm to fight their workers’
rights to a union. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Even
past wage raises have not come from the YWCA! Annually in the 2-2.5% range,
these meager raises are provided by the Massachusetts Legislature through the
“Salary Reserve” for social services. And while the YWCA has
provided those same increases to a handful of workers who do not qualify for
the Salary Reserve, they also used that as an excuse to give raises to the
management of the YWCA, using “unrestricted” funds which they
refuse to use to fund raises to direct care staff. Those management increases
often far exceed the meager 2-2.5% direct care workers have received from the
Salary Reserve. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a
href="mailto:mrj@ywworks.org;%20info@ywworks.org;%20clbennett@springfieldpolice.net?subject=YWCA%20WORKERS%20DESERVE%20A%20RAISE!">TELL<span
style='font-weight:normal'> </span>YWCA</a>: WORKERS DESERVE A RAISE!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please
support United Auto Workers Local 2322 members employed at the YWCA of Western
Massachusetts by joining their picket line Dec 10 and contacting the Executive
Director and Board President and telling them to give their workers a raise.
Exec Dir Mary Johnson is at (413) 732-3121 x101 and <a
href="mailto:mrj@ywworks.org">mrj@ywworks.org</a>, also <a
href="mailto:info@ywworks.org">info@ywworks.org</a>. President of the Board of
Directors Lt. C. Lee Bennett is at <a
href="mailto:clbennett@springfieldpolice.net">clbennett@springfieldpolice.net</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Info</span></b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>: Ron Patenaude, President, UAW 2322,
534-7600, <a href="mailto:uaw2322@uaw2322.org">uaw2322@uaw2322.org</a>, <a
href="http://www.somethingaboutmaryjohnson.com">www.somethingaboutmaryjohnson.com</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About
5 minutes straight northeast to next event: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Wednesday
December 10<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FREE
FILM: <i>MADE IN L.A.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>6:30-8:30pm,
250 Albany St, Springfield (<a
href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=250+Albany+Street,+Springfield,+MA+01101&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.013085,60.644531&ie=UTF8&ll=42.120429,-72.575984&spn=0.007083,0.014806&z=16&g=250+Albany+Street,+Springfield,+MA+01101&iwloc=addr">map</a>).
<i>Made in L.A.</i> is an Emmy-award winning documentary that follows the
remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment
sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor
protections from a mega-trendy clothing retailer. In intimate verité style, <i>Made
in L.A.</i> reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as
they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply
human, <i>Made in L.A.</i> is a story about immigration, the power of unity,
and the courage it takes to find your voice. Presented in commemoration of
Human Rights Day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Free
refreshments. We will invite donations to support SweatFree Communities'
advocacy for the human rights of sweatshop workers. Sponsored by CSR Wire,
Gasoline Alley Foundation, and SweatFree Communities. Info: Liana Foxvog,
586-0974, <a href="mailto:liana@sweatfree.org">liana@sweatfree.org</a>, <a
href="http://www.sweatfree.org">www.sweatfree.org</a>, <a
href="http://www.madeinla.com">www.madeinla.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><u><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>AND
ADD TO THE WEEK OF ACTION CALENDAR:<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thursday December
11<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <b>HANDBILLING
IN FRONT OF 2 WAL-MART STORES<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> 4-5pm,
1105 Boston Rd, Springfield, & 591 Memorial Drive, Chicopee. Families, grassroots
activists, and all allies: Please tell Tyrone Housey, 732-6209 x17, <a
href="mailto:thousey@ufcw1459.com">thousey@ufcw1459.com</a>, which store you
plan to target. See <a href="http://www.wakeupwalmart.com">www.wakeupwalmart.com</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>TO
UNSUBSCRIBE, send an email to <a href="mailto:wmjwj@wmjwj.org">wmjwj@wmjwj.org</a>
with a Subject of "Unsub Workers' Rights".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>[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: <a href="http://www.jwj.org/pledge.html"><span
style='text-decoration:none'>"</span>I'll be there for workers' rights at
least five times a year!<span style='text-decoration:none'>"</span></a>
This is the core mission of Jobs with Justice (<a href="http://www.jwj.org/">www.jwj.org</a>),
affirming that workers' rights are human rights. To subscribe, send an email to
<a href="mailto:wmjwj@wmjwj.org">wmjwj@wmjwj.org</a> with a Subject of
"Subscribe Workers' Rights".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Western Mass
Jobs with Justice<br>
640 Page Blvd #101<br>
Springfield MA 01104<br>
(413) 827-0301 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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