Thursday, November 30, 2006

[olympiaworkers] IWW meeting next week

There will be a meeting on Wednesday December 6 (that's next week) at
5:00pm at BRAC (Bread and Roses Advocacy Center) 1009 4th Ave E. We will
talk about preperations we have to make to get ready for the IWW
(Industrial Workers of the World) workplace organizing training which will
be held the 3rd weekend of January. This meeting is open to wobblies, OWA
members, labor activists, workers... and really anyone interested.

Hope to see you there.

Brendan
360 943-5344

www.iww.org
www.olympiaworkers.org

Monday, November 13, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Poor. Peoples. Union. – Calling a General Strike on Homelessness!

reposted from http://olyblog.net/blog/rob-richards/poor-peoples-union-calling-a-general-strike-on-homelessnes

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 11/12/2006 - 3:22pm.

Well, we are officially 24 hours old right now and we are already Olympia's largest radical union organization. I'm not sure of the exact number but we have somewhere around 70-80 members that have paid dues so far.

Great turnout for the inaugural meeting, about 25, which is excellent for a first meeting. We voted the union into existence and approved the name 'Poor Peoples Union'. We also formed three committees and nominated chairs and co-chairs for those committees. The committees are: Steering Committee, which was tasked with researching union structures and reporting back to the membership with suggestions for the inernal structure and process of the PPU; Action Committee, which has been tasked with laying out a framework for action to be taken against poverty, it was the consensus of the membership that a general strike against h.o.m.e.l.e.s.s.n.e.s.s. begin as soon as possible, this committee will look at what our options are; Propaganda Committee, which will develop flyers, press releases, posters, etc., they will begin their work by creating a flyer to announce the PPU to the world.

I've left any names out so as not to violate the wishes of those involved. Chair and co-chair are rotating positions that hold no authority, and serve as facilitators and point persons while elected.

My take on the meeting: I'm very excited about all of this, it feels like we're really starting something good here. Empowerment is in the air. I urge anyone who is interested in being a part of the PPU to come to our meetings, which will be every other saturday from now on. Or, and even better, stop by BRAC (1009 4th Ave) and ask for Rob or Matt or Tim, or all three, at least one of us is usually there, and we'll be glad to talk to you about it.

PS - 1.) Any current labor union members out there who could help advise in regards to organizing and process, any help is welcome.
2.) Large and extra large jackets, camping gear, blankets, socks, underclothes are all items that are desperately needed. Donations will be tax deductible in the near future, but please, donate now. (and wash your skivvies before you bring them in this time, Norm)

There will be more updates as things happen!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Bay Area Movie Threater Workers ask for Solidarity

Fellow Workers,

We in the Bay Area are asking for your help in our ongoing campaign
at the Landmark Theatres in Berkeley.
Specifically, we are asking you do to a day of action on November
17th-19th at one of the Landmark Theatres were you live.
This does not have to be a huge 3 day action; but at least a two-hour
evening time slot; were we have people leafletting out in front of a
theatre.
We have a flyer that is ready to be used and we can get that you
quickly.
Friday evening is a good target because of possible new releases.
Saturday at 6pm is considered to be a high-point in attendance, and a
good target. Targeting should be done around movie start times.
We need to give Landmark a kick in the ass during negotiations, and
we need your support to do so.
Please let me know how involved you can be. And send a report on the
activities that do happen.
in solidarity,
Harjit Singh Gill
Bay Area IWW

Saturday, November 11, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity

Dear OWLS members and other labor activists,

This is an update on our next OWLS meeting, and announcement of a
victory for our immigrant rights campaign.

The next meeting of OWLS (Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity)
will be on Tuesday, November 14, 7pm, at the home of Bernadette
Logue, SEIU member, in the lovely workingclass district of
Georgetown! The address is 6726 Corson Ave. S., Seattle. It's off
the Corson/Michigan street exit on southbound I-5. If you need
directions call Bernadette at 206-762-7517. Or you can leave a
message on my cell at 854-1085.

One of the areas that OWLS is working on is to do education and
organizing around immigrant rights within the labor movement. We want
to push the labor leadership to defend and organize immigrant
workers. The resolution calls for taking a stand against
anti-immigrant raids, using our labor halls as a sanctuary for
immigrants, opposing CAFTA, NAFTA and other free trade agreements,
and other actions. To that end, OWLS has a resolution it is
promoting in different unions. Last week, Amalgamated Transit Union
587 adopted the resolution by an overwhelming margin. Equally
important, the discussion was thoughtful, and provocative.

The resolution can be viewed in its entirety on a website by Andy
Heyman, a UFCW activist. Go to
blackwhite.blog-city.working_is_not_a_crime.htm

The next OWLS meeting will be a great opportunity to discuss the
resolution, and how we can use it to get labor more involved in
defending immigrant rights, in concrete ways.

Hope to see you on Tuesday, November 14 at the OWLS meeting.
And feel free to forward this to all organized/unorganized workers who
would be interested.

In solidarity,
Linda Averill

[olympiaworkers] 14th Annual Regional Tacoma Leonard Peltier March Statement

Please Post Widely

From:
Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group
P.O. Box 5464
Tacoma, WA 98415-0464
bayou@blarg.net

STATEMENT FOR:
THE 14TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH LEONARD PELTIER
REGIONAL TACOMA MARCH AND RALLY: FEBRUARY 10, 2007

The shadow of totalitarianism is slowly creeping across the land. Our civil
liberties are under attack. Our government has our country fighting a war of
aggression that is not in the interest of the people of this land. If you
take a close look at all that is taking place you will be able to see direct
parallels to the case of Leonard Peltier and thus understand why all people
who believe in peace, justice and freedom should actively support Leonard.

The first connection can be found in whose interests the government is
acting in. There are few today that cannot see that the war in Iraq is about
oil and the interests of the multi-national energy corporations. Behind the
events that took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation were the interests of
the multi-national energy corporations wanting uranium that was found there.
In both cases armed force was used to seize control of those resources and
to suppress opposition.

In the pursuit of suppressing opposition, constitutional and human rights
were denied. Matter of fact, many things that the FBI did against AIM and
Leonard Peltier, which at the time were illegal, the government has made
legal by acts of congress. Though the government says that such denial of
human rights is justifiable for their war against "terrorism", the fact is
that the government has also targeted those who oppose its policies who are
clearly not terrorists. The case of Leonard Peltier clearly shows why such
power should never be given to the FBI and others in power. For it can be
seen clearly that Leonard's constitutional rights were denied him.

The reasons given by the government for the war in Iraq have been shown to
be fabrications to justify the war. Still the war continues. The evidence
that the government presented at Leonard's trial has all been disproved as
either fabricated evidence or intimidated witnesses, to the point that even
the courts have admitted it. Still Leonard is in prison and no new and fair
trial is granted.

The government has done all that it can to suppress the documents that it
has on both the war in Iraq and the case of Leonard Peltier. In Leonard's
case there are over 120,000 pages of documents that are still being withheld
for reasons of "national security." Whose national security is being
protected? In both cases the national security of the people is being
threaten by the withholding of the truth.

One year the police contacted us about our march and asked us if there will
be any anti-war people in our march. Our answer was, we don't believe that
there will be any pro-war people in the march. Even the police worried about
the connection between peace and justice.

For these reasons we are calling for all people who believe in peace,
justice and freedom to join us for the 14th Annual International Day in
Solidarity with Leonard Peltier Regional Tacoma March and Rally.
In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse
Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group
Susan Morales
Steve Hapy
Arthur J. Miller
As individual fingers we can easily be broken, but all together we make a
mighty fist.
-- Sitting Bull

14th ANNUAL NW REGIONAL
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR
LEONARD PELTIER
MARCH & RALLY FOR JUSTICE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 2007, TACOMA, WA.

12:00 NOON: MARCH FOR JUSTICE Portland Ave. Park (on Portland Ave. between
E. 35th & E. Fairbanks. Take Portland Ave. exit off I-5 and head east)

1:00 PM: RALLY FOR JUSTICE U.S. Federal Court House, 1717-Pacific Ave.

Performances by:
The Aztec Dancers
United Nations: Native Rap Activists
Albert Combs
Speakers:
Matilaja: Yu'Pik/Yakama, Tacoma LPSG: M.C.
Robert Robideau: Co-Director of the LPDC and Co Defendant
Shelly Vendiola: Indigenous Women's Network, Network
Steve Hapy: Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group
Arthur J. Miller, Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group
Juan Jose Bocanegra: Every Worker's Movement
Frank Reynolds: Native American Coalition
Bill Bichsel: Catholic Worker, JWJ
Zoltan Grossman: Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace, Faculty Evergreen's
Native American Studies

CARAVANS/CAR POOLS

OLYMPIA: There will be a carpool leaving from the parking lot at Harrison
and Division at 10:30.
EUGENE: Drivers and people needing rides meet at the Grower's Market parking
lot (454 Willamette, by the Amtrak station) at 7:30 am. (The Eugene Caravan
will be meeting up with the Portland Caravan).
PORTLAND: Drivers and people needing rides, meet in the main parking lot
(entrance just north of Killingworth from Albina, parking lot entrance on
the right, behind the student services building) at PCC Cascade Campus at
9:30 am.

(If anyone can set up other caravans/car pools in other areas like the
Bellingham area please contact us at: bayou@blarg.net)

These are very important times for Leonard Peltier. A new lawsuit has been
filed to get all the documents the government has withheld. There are many
parallels between Leonard's case & the war in Iraq. Both were created upon
the foundation of lies. In time many of the fabrications were revealed. In
both cases the government resisted releasing documents that revealed the
truth. Behind both are the same reasons for what took place, the interests
of multi-national energy corporations. This year our call is for: PEACE
WITH JUSTICE & TRUTH! FREE THE DOCUMENTS!

We need help getting the word out for this event. Please forward this and
other messages we send out to web sites, blogs, e-mail lists, organizations
and friends. If you can help handout fliers or post fliers and posters
please send your mailing address to: bayou@blarg.net

WE NEED DONATIONS. We are a grassroots organization with no outside funding.
All our donations for our marches for the last 14 years have come from
supporters like you. Any amount helps. All money donated goes to printing
and mailing.

(Donations Needed! Please send to:)
Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group
P.O. BOX 5464
TACOMA, WA 98415-0464
bayou@blarg.net

For up-dates and notices on helping Leonard Peltier please sign up on the NW
Peltier Support e-mail list by sending an e-mail to:
nwpeltiersupport-subscribe@lists.riseup.net.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the real motivation behind both Wounded
Knee II and the Oglala firefight, and much of the turmoil throughout Indian
Country since the early 1970s, was-and is-the mining companies' desire to
muffle AIM and all traditional Indian people, who sought-and still seek-to
protect the land, water, and air from their thefts and depredations. In this
sad and tragic age we live in, to come to the defense of Mother Earth is to
be branded a criminal."
-- Leonard Peltier, Prison Writings --

"I'M STILL HERE. I am all at once saddened, exhilarated, angry, proud,
defiant, and puzzled by that fact. Here in prison, after 28 years (30 years
now) of unjust incarceration, I am a living example of the injustice,
racism, fear, and inequity that still exists in some parts of the United
States of America. This is particularly true when it comes to America's
views and actions towards Indian people. Residing in the best hopes of all
of us is the dream that America has moved away from the days of hostility
towards the Indigenous people of this land. And yet, we are shown with daily
regularity, a reality that defies this dream. A reality that American
Indians are incarcerated at a disproportionately high rate. A reality that
American Indians are denied decent health care, housing, and education. A
reality so dire, that the United States Civil Rights Commission has had to
address it, calling it "A Quiet Crisis."
Leonard Peltier


Leonard Peltier, a citizen of the Anishinabe and Lakota Nations, is a
father, a grandfather, an artist, a writer, and an Indigenous rights
activist. He has spent more than twenty-seven years in prison for a crime he
did not commit. Amnesty International considers him a "political prisoner"
who should be "immediately and unconditionally released."

The Case Of Leonard Peltier

After a conflict between the Lakota people and the U.S. government and
corporate interests a peace treaty was signed and the great Lakota
reservation was created in the late 19th century. That peace treaty meant
nothing to U.S. interests, for its terms were violated from almost the
moment it was signed. Those interests continued to steal more Lakota land
wherever they found gold and other minerals that they wanted. At the same
time, they sought to destroy the Lakota way of life. U.S. interests outlawed
Lakota religion and massacred the Lakota at Wounded Knee in an act of
religious suppression. U.S. interests kidnapped Lakota children and placed
them in internment, in schools where they were held for years away from
their families, while their language and traditions were being beaten out of
them. U.S. interests carried out a secret forced program of sterilization of
Lakota women. Then, in the 1920s, acting upon the interests of oil and
mineral companies, the U.S. forced a 'government' entity upon the Lakota
people, to be controlled by those corporate and U.S. interests.

In the late 1960s uranium was found in the northwest section of the Pine
Ridge Lakota Reservation. The U.S. interests wanted that uranium for their
weapons of mass destruction and nuclear power plants.

The U.S. interests knew that the Lakota people would not give up any more of
their land willingly: they had already refused to take payment for the Black
Hills, stolen from them for its gold. U.S. interests then set out to
suppress all possible resistance to further theft. That led the resisters'
to request the help of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Upon a request by
Lakota Elders, a stand was taken at Wounded Knee, on the Pine Ridge
reservation of the Lakota people.

In the two and a half years after what became known as Wounded Knee II there
was a 'Reign of Terror' the resisters on Pine Ridge was forced to suffer.
Whole villages were shot up, people were run off the road, many Native
people were wounded and over 67 of them were murdered. The Lakota people
again asked AIM for help and an AIM encampment was set up. Most of the
people in that encampment were from Northwest AIM. And Leonard Peltier was
one of them.

The AIM people were under considerable oppression and lived there daily in
danger from the death squad (they called themselves the Goon Squad). One day
two cars came speeding onto the land of their encampment, in the same manner
that earlier drive-by shootings by the death squad had taken place on Pine
Ridge. The AIM members there that day defended themselves from what they
saw as another murderous attack. In the firefight that took place two FBI
agents and one AIM member died.

Norman Zigrossi, head of the local FBI office at the time, defended the
illegal actions, saying, "Indians are a conquered nation and the FBI is
merely acting as a colonial police force." He went on, "When you're
conquered, the people you're conquered by dictate your future."

It is clear that the attack upon the AIM encampment was planned to start a
conflict to draw away resistance to the illegal signing away of Lakota land
that had taken place in Washington, D.C. at that time. Before the
firefight, hundreds of U.S. Government agents were brought on to Pine Ridge
reservation, the roads leading to the AIM encampment were blocked before the
firefight and local hospitals were given notice to expect casualties.

In the first trial of two AIM members, who had been in the firefight at
their encampment, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty by reason
of self-defense.

The U.S. interests then put all their efforts into convicting Leonard
Peltier. They fabricated evidence, intimidated witnesses and illegally
changed judges, settling on one who would not allow Leonard's lawyers to
present his case of self-defense.

Through appeals, Leonard's lawyers have been able to disprove the case
against him to the point that the U.S. Government prosecutors have stated
that they don't know what role Leonard played in the firefight -- he was
just there that day and thus by default aided and abetted in the deaths of
the agents. It can be reasoned that since the first two AIM members were
found not guilty by reason of self-defense, then Leonard has been in prison
all these years for aiding and abetting an act of self-defense!

Much of our focus should be on FBI political repression, COINTELPRO, and how
they are connected to Leonard's case, for the FBI has been and continues to
be used as the U.S. Government's and corporate interests' Political Police
Force.

As you read this, Leonard's lawyers struggle to get all the documents that
the FBI has withheld in his case. The FBI claims it needs to withhold those
documents to protect national security. We need to ask, "Whose national
security needs to be protected from the truth?" Given that documents already
received by the defense team have exposed the U.S. Government's frame-up of
Leonard to the point that the government's lawyers have had to admit that
there is no evidence connecting him directly to the deaths of the FBI
agents, and have shown that the FBI took illegal, aggressive actions to
suppress the right of Native people to organize to air their grievances,
there is no doubt that documents still withheld will show further evidence
of FBI illegal actions.

Even the courts have recognized the repressive nature of the government
actions against AIM and Leonard. Judge Heaney stated, "The United States
Government overreacted at Wounded Knee. Instead of carefully considering the
legitimate grievances of the Native Americans, the response was essentially
a military one, which culminated in the deadly firefight on June 26, 1975."

And in 2003 the Tenth Circuit Court found that, "Much of the government's
behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and in its prosecution of Mr. Peltier
is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated
witnesses. These facts are not disputed."

Even with this acknowledgment Leonard has been in prison for over 28 years.
Leonard is not in prison based upon the laws of this land, for the courts
have stated over and over again that the U.S. government has violated those
laws in Leonard's case. Leonard Peltier is in prison for one reason and one
reason alone, and that is because it is in the interests of the few to keep
him locked up: because he represents the essence of this land, the wrong
upon which the United States was established, a simple truth which has to be
recognized before the country can ever be sound. Leonard suffers under the
same interests that hung Chief Leschi, the same interests that massacred the
Lakota at Wounded Knee, the same interests that are behind many of the wars
around the world, the same interest behind the WTO, the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund, the same interests that strips our schools of
basic funds, that strip you of your unemployment benefits and overtime pay,
and the same interests that we all find ourselves struggling against in our
common pursuit of peace and well-being. Justice for Leonard and the end to
political repression by the FBI will only come from the organized spirit of
solidarity of all people struggling in their true interests.

Illegal actions by the FBI should be the concern of all American people who
believe in social justice, because Leonard was not and will not be the only
victim of political repression. Among those that were targeted by the FBI's
COINTELPRO were: Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists
and organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) and Jesse Jackson (note that the FBI also carried out
intimidation of Jackson supporters in the south when he ran for U.S.
president), Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers (UFW), the National
Lawyer's Guild, antinuclear weapons campaigns (SANE-Freeze), the National
Council of Churches, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), antiwar
organizations, the alternative press, student organizations including the
National Students Association (TNSA) and Students for a Democratic Society
(SDS), environmental, anti-racism and feminist organizations, GI
organizations, socialist and communist parties, the Industrial
Workers of the World, organizations of self-determination for people of
color such as the Black Panthers, the Young Lords, the Brown Berets, and
Native organizations such as the American Indian Movement (AIM).

The political repression carried out by the FBI has never ended. It was seen
this year with the FBI's intimidation of antiwar protesters who planned to
protest at the national conventions of the two major political parties.
Though the FBI claimed it needed more power, money and agents to deal with
the threat of terrorism after 9-11, the agency still had the time, money,
and forces to harass people who questioned
the war in Iraq.

The same drive to acquire enormous profits that keep this country in Iraq
over the opposition of its own people is also what led to the U.S.
Government's suppression of traditional indigenous people, AIM and in its
frame-up of Leonard Peltier.

And as to making connections, the infliction of war on Iraq was justified by
using false documents, lies about weapons of mass destruction and sham
connections to terrorists. That is the same tactic the U.S. Government used
in its suppression of AIM and in its frame-up of Leonard Peltier. The
government used the war in Iraq in the interest of bringing global U.S.
company's huge profits, and on the Pine Ridge reservation that same
government carried out its repression in the interest of U.S. energy
corporations.

The Oglala People are unconquered -- We will not, and Leonard Peltier will
not give up the fight for justice.

Our annual focus for 14 years has been to hold a peaceful march in
solidarity with Leonard Peltier's struggle. We will not stop marching, we
will not be intimidated and we maintain the right to come out in public in
support of Leonard Peltier without persecution.

We call on you as sisters and brothers to join us at our Annual Regional
Tacoma March and Rally in Solidarity with Leonard Peltier, as we send the
message: We will not give up! We will not surrender! We will continue to
stand for justice for Leonard Peltier and for justice for all that he
represents for as long as it takes to set him free! Our strength is building
and time is on our side, the sweep of justice is moving throughout the world
and we are a part of that great wave of truth and justice. Please join with
us on Feb.4, 2006 for a tremendous show of solidarity, a march and rally in
Unified Solidarity for Justice for Leonard Peltier. All of us working
together will free Leonard Peltier.

In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse
Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group
Susan Morales
Steve Hapy
Arthur J. Miller
>

Friday, November 10, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Houston Janitors update

Hundreds of members of ``Justice for Janitors''
rallied in front of Houston police headquarters
tonight.

They gathered to protest the arrest of a striking
janitor earlier in the day.

Sgt. G. Batcheler said the protest began at about 8
p.m., although striking janitors had been protesting
in different locations in downtown since earlier this
morning.

``It has been peaceful. We've not been having any
problems,'' Batcheler said.

He estimated that approximately 500 janitors involved
in the strike gathered in front of the building at
1200 Travis.

Although patrol cars were circling the block and three
school buses were parked in the 1100 block of Travis,
Batcheler said the noisy protesters remained calm.

Another group of janitors held a similar protest in
front of the southeast substation where two janitors
who had been arrested earlier were being held in city
jail.

Men, women, and young children gathered and chanted
``Up with the protest'' and ``Arriba, revolution.''

Houston police mounted officers also were called in to
ensure that the striking workers stayed on the
sidewalk downtown.

Many in the crowd who were drinking bottled water and
eating snacks neatly deposited empty containers in a
box brought in by the striking janitorial workers.

``Their active efforts to clean up after themselves
may have been a result of incidents earlier in the
week where a few janitors dumped trash into some
buildings downtown,'' Batcheler said.

``Those incidents are still under investigation by
Houston police because they are considered illegal
dumping, a class B misdemeanor.''
Earlier today, two union protesters posing as luncheon
guests disrupted a speech by Shell Oil Co.'s
president.

The protesters, both with the Service Employees
International Union, jumped up during John
Hofmeister's speech and lectured him on the low wages
janitors are paid to clean Shell's office buildings.

Hofmeister gave the speech after accepting the 2006
International Executive of the Year Award from the
Greater Houston Partnership and Kiwanis International.

"What are you doing about the janitors who clean your
buildings for $5.15 an hour?" Peter Hanrahan,
president of SEIU Local 3 of Cleveland, shouted. "You
spend more money on lunch than they earn all year."

Many in the audience of 330 that included members of
Houston's consular corps groaned and shouted back,
"No, No," as Hanrahan hustled out of the room.

A few minutes later, another protester, Joseph
McLaughlin, lead researcher for SEIU Local 5 in
Houston, was also quickly removed when he shouted:
"Can you have some respect for the janitors who clean
your buildings?"

Neither protester was arrested.

SEIU represents 5,300 janitors, many of whom are
striking the city's five biggest cleaning companies
over wages and a lack of health benefits.

After the first outbreak, Hofmeister said, "Houston
has to solve" this issue and encouraged those on both
sides of the strike to get together and talk.

Jeff Moseley, president and CEO of the Greater Houston
Partnership, said after the speech that the union's
efforts may be misguided.

"It would be well for SEIU to realize who their
friends are before they exercise their right to free
speech," said Moseley. "No leader is more
understanding in the business community than John
Hofmeister. ... There are people in the business
community who are willing to listen, willing to hear
and willing to assist but they're less likely when
they see things like this."

But Lynda Tran, a spokeswoman for SEIU, had a
different opinion of the business community's response
to the strike.

"To date, the business and the real estate community
in particular have failed to step up and take
responsibility to the fact janitors are continuing to
live in poverty without health care," Tran said. "They
will continue to hear from janitors and janitors'
supporters who will urge them to step in and settle
the strike."

In a statement issued later in the day, Shell said it
hopes the issues between the janitorial service
companies and the union will be resolved as soon as
possible through the normal collective bargaining
process.

However, Shell pointed out that it's not involved in
the bargaining process and is not a party to any
eventual agreement.

lm.sixel@chron.com

anne.kilday@chron.com

"the work of the theater is the liberation of dreams, the transformation
of ideas into working acts" Julian Beck

Monday, November 06, 2006

Learn about 6 Different Activist Movements at either 1 of the below meetings (or print the booklet)

#1.

A World Beyond Capitalism 2007 Conference
The Third Annual International Multiracial Alliance Building Peace
Conference
The Common Unity Peace Conference

Un Mundo Más Allá del Capitalismo
Una Conferencia Anual de Paz Para Crear Uniones Internacionales y
Multirraciales

Main Home Page: http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org
or
Main Home Page:
http://www.CommonUnityPeaceConference.org<http://www.commonunitypeaceconference.org/>


#2.
'Radical Caring'
The People's Empowerment Publication: Dedicated to Encouraging, Inspiring,
Networking, Celebrating and Remembering Activists and Communities Worldwide
http://www.RadicalCaring.org <http://www.radicalcaring.org/>


#3.
'S.U.R.G.E.!'
S.U.R.G.E. = Social Uprising, Resistance and Grassroots Encouragement
The Third Annual International Activist Film Festival
and Film Festival Network
http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/surge.html


#4.

The 'Free of Kings' Project
This is project to create a radical, co-op (member-owned) free speech
alternative to social networking websites. A project to create a website
better than mypsace, wikipedia, indymedia, youtube and match.com...
combined! Many of the largest social networking websites are owned by
right-wing groups, multinational corporations, or a small clique of
volunteers which puts censorship into the hands of a few power-tripping
individuals. Many of these social networking websites also are using people
who sign up for their services like a tool because they use oppressive
corporate advertisements to fund their 'free' services. Many of these
websites also are censoring activists and deleting the accounts or news
articles of activists simply because they are in positions of power. Social
networking websites are a form of media which continues to expand, yet
multinational corporations are trying place themselves in the positions of
Kings of such a valuable media resource. Only in a dictatorship, or a
monarchy run by a King, are such powerful media resources controlled by so
few people. If such resources were not-for-profit and opensource people
could free themselves of these self-empowered Kings.
The Free of Kings' Project.
http://www.freeofkings.org


There are two other projects ( a DIY activist speakers bureau and a
community-land coalition project known as Imagine Seven) as well which are
featured in the Radical Updates publication. Issue #1 is able to be printed
frrom their website. People can subscribe to their publication
free-of-charge on their website found here:
http://www.RadicalUpdates.org <http://www.radicalupdates.org/>

Sunday, November 05, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Defend fired bus driver

Dear Defenders of free speech, labor activists, and fellow bus drivers:

Yesterday's PI had a front page story about the Issaquah School District
bus driver
who was fired for flipping the bird at Bush while he was driving
through town last Summer in his motorcade.
If the school district gets away with this driver's termination
it will set a terrible precedent for all of us. We don't give away
our free speech rights when we punch into the time clock.
The school district is saying they would have fired her no
matter who she flipped off. Will they fire us for honking support
to striking workers as well?
Below is the contact info for the union that is representing her.
Please let them know you support this driver and want to help
in whatever way needed. As soon as I get the school district's
info I'll forward it along. Feel free to write letters to the newspaper
as well.
Let free speech live!
In solidarity Linda Averill

>
>Council 2 Contact Information
>Everett Office:
>Street Address: 3305 Oakes Ave. Everett, WA 98201
>Mailing Address: PO Box 750, Everett, WA 98206-0750
>Telephones: (425) 303-8818 1-800-775-6418 Fax (425) 303-8906 Fax
1-800-891-6548
>President/Executive Director: Chris Dugovich
>Deputy Director: J. Pat Thompson
>Counsel: Audrey Eide, General Counsel; David M. Kanigel, Legal Counsel
>Director of Organizing: Bill Keenan
>Director of Research: Bill Dennis
>Staff Representatives: Rob Sprague; Clem Edwards; James Trefry; Diana
Prenguber
>Business Manager: Barbara Corcoran
>Administrative Assistant: Pam Cason
>Support Staff: Cori Goehner, Secretary; Jayme Graham, Secretary; Stacy
Hulse, Secretary; Inna Levchenko, Secretary
>Everett Office e-mail (c2everett@council2.com)

Saturday, November 04, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Re: Evergreen Faculty go Union!!

Congratulations TESC faculty! This is great news, and very timely as
teachers in Oaxaca battle to maintain their ability to bargain
collectively.
Good job. Is it a closed shop?

khaos

Friday, November 03, 2006

[olympiaworkers] Evergreen Faculty go Union!!

This article was originally published in the Cooper Point Journal.

Unionization of Evergreen faculty

By Ian Humphrey

A small gathering was held in Red Square this Tuesday announcing the
unionization of our school's faculty. The union is called the United
Faculty of Evergreen (UFE), and is a branch of the United Faculty of
Washington State. Approximately twenty five people, two of whom looked
younger then thirty, watched as the announcement was made while costumed
students paraded past.
Laurie Meeker, a faculty organizer and film professor announced that,
"with an 82% attendance rate, the vote to unionize had won with a 55% to
45% majority." They promised to "form a faculty union to protect our
best traditions of collaborative governance and to strengthen their
ability, as faculty, to have a voice in the future of public higher
education in our state." They spoke, as well, about "addressing real
issues and problems."
In an interview, Nancy Allen, a humanities professor, said that this is
not the first time that a teacher's union has existed on campus. She
recalled serving one year as president of this union, the AFT. However,
because they did not have the ability to bargain with the
administration, the AFT "petered out after 10 years." Allen said that
"it was little more then a teacher's group."
What makes the UFE different is that in 2002 the state of Washington
passed a bill allowing employees to bargain collectively. This meant
that the teachers, if they chose to unionize, could make decisions
rather then recommendations when dealing with the administration.
Unionization was first officially by the Faculty Governance DTF in two
meetings held in spring of 2006. Two follow up meetings were held over
orientation week leading up to the vote on Tuesday.
The argument about whether or not to unionize was based on three concerns.
Supporters hoped unionization would give more bargaining power over faculty
salaries. Brian Walter, Chairman of the Agenda committee, said in an
interview that the salary paid to faculty at TESC is "the lowest among
public state schools." He added later that the difference in salary was
"considerable."
Another concern was the recommendations made by DTFs (Disappearing Task
Forces), particularly having to do with growth. In 2005, the Enrollment
Growth DTF decided that the student body needed to grow by five thousand
people. The Faculty Governance DTF decided that they would be unable to
guarantee such a growth immediately but would be able to do so in
increments, the first one being 300 people. Citing Evergreen's
curriculum structure and its commitment to a low student teacher ratio,
the Faculty Governance DTF was unsure about how to allocate the
additional faculty required for such a leap.
The Enrollment Growth DTF also said that in order to draw more people
there would need to be more offerings available to prospective students,
specifically focusing on business and health studies which, in the words
of Nancy Allen, "made the faculty nervous" worried that "Evergreen might
lose its atmosphere."
The faculty voted to wait until fall of 2005 before making any final
decisions. The faculty was only able to make a recommendation, however,
so the actual choice was left to the administration, who decided to move
forward with the project. The teachers were hired and are working here
now. This intensified union discussions amongst the faculty. Rachel
Hastings, a humanities teacher in her second year here, noted that this
"made a lot more people come forward" in the arguments over
unionization.
Those arguing against unionization were concerned that the "buddy buddy"
relationship between the faculty and the administration might suffer. Many
felt that this might create an "us versus them" environment. One
particular concern was that the new administration/union dynamic would put
the rotating dean system at risk.
At most colleges, once one is appointed a dean you have left the ranks
of the teachers forever. However, the Evergreen State College Faculty
Handbook says deans are "solicited from within the faculty," and serve
three and four year deanships, allowing them to rotate in and out of the
position.
Allen broke down the votes, saying, "If you thought the administration
was cool of part of the gang, you voted for the union, but if you felt
the administration wasn't representing you, then you voted union."
The students have thus far been largely silent on the issue. Those who
were interviewed were surprised to hear about it at all. "I didn't
know," said Bernard Feinsod, a Freshman here. "I'm surprised no one's
really talking about it."

[olympiaworkers] New OWA Website, no more Joe W. A.

Hey everyone, I made a new website for the OWA. I moved the news blog to
the front page. It needs a new graphic at the top if anyone is interested
in designing one. This new site will automatically publish the
announcements from this email list.

Now the website is a resource for working people and a good place to go
for labor news. If you would like to help expand the site to include more
resources, please email olympiaworkers@riseup.net for details. If a few
people want a tutorial on how to change things on the site, I'll be
willing to explain what I know.

I'm no longer going to be involved with the OWA since I no longer live in
Olympia. I plan on writing about the Pizza Time Strike and my experiences
trying to create a grassroots labor movement in Oly. Other than that, the
OWA is now completely autonomous of me and my ideas, and it is in all of
your hands to make a solid resource for workers. There are a lot of
sympathetic people in Olympia and a lot of potential for workers to
self-organize. Good luck.

If any of you don't know who Brendan is, he is active with the OWA and
IWW. He has lots of energy for community organizing and would be a great
person to get in touch with if you would like to do more for local workers
rights. He can be reached by contacting the OWA.

So long, take care, keep struggling

Joe