[olympiaworkers] The AWBC 2007: 4 Days, 3 Venues, 2 Cities, 1 Mission.

Dear friends and radical activists,

Some of the members of Olympia Ecovillage are helping with the 2007 A World
Beyond Capitalism (AWBC) Conference. The AWBC is an annual event of
unparalleled access and outreach, and so it should be no surprise that we're
going to try a radical 2-city approach to the AWBC this year: The Seattle,
Washington venue will feature open forum networking amongst activists who
desire a world free from capitalism, rather than speakers and topics. The
Olympia venue will feature speakers and workshops from all over the world. Both
events are completely free of charge.

The first portion of the ABWC on October 4th will be in Olympia, Washington.
The first day of the conference, including lunch with free vegan and vegetarian
food, will be held at the Millersylvania Park Environmental Learning Center
(ELC) starting at 1pm. The ELC includes a dining hall/ kitchen, restrooms/
showers, one amphitheater, one private swim area, eight canoes, two rowboats,
three Ballfields, plus a volleyball and a horseshoe court so there will be
plenty of room for break out groups.

The initial workshops (such as Theatre of the Oppressed at 1pm) will be taught
here and there will be free time to enjoy the hiking trails and canoes,
rowboats, ballfields, and the volleyball and a horseshoe court.

The ELC also has about 40 tables so people are free to exhibit on these tables
with their non-corporate, non-government (and definitely non-politician)
activist group material from 1pm-3pm.

Millersylvania Park is an 842-acre camping park with 3,300 feet of

freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake. The park, filled with trails, is

abundant in old-growth cedar and fir trees.

Millersylvania Park is located at 12245 Tilly Road South, Olympia,

WA, 98512.

Free shuttles to Millersylvania departs at 12noon on October 4th, 2007 from 225
Milroy Street NW, Olympia, WA 98502 and returns by 4pm on the same day.

There will also be many film festivals by night at other locations on October
4th and many classes, workshops by day on October 5th and as well as an awesome
performance on October 5th!

The second portion of the AWBC will be in Seattle beginning on Saturday,
October 20th, 2007. It will begin at 1pm.

The AWBC will officially end at 3pm on Oct 20th, 2007.

Location of Oct 20th event:

4001 - 9th Avenue NE

Seattle, WA 98105

Everything is free…As it should be.

Donations are still needed for food, flyers and whole lot more. Special Thanks
to Syd Fredrickson who contributed $25.00 which helps because every bit counts.
Thanks.

Multilingual translators, people fluent in sign language and more shuttle bus
drivers are needed. Thanks!

Love for the people,

-AWBC 2007 organizers

Please print out many flyers below and post them throughout your area no matter
where you are located in the USA! Solidarity!

The AWBC 2007: 4 Days, 3 Venues, 2 Cities, 1 Mission: Networking and Working
Together to Create A World of Peace, A World of Equality: A World That is
Beyond Capitalism!

Zero Registration Fees…as it should be!

The Third Annual International Multiracial Alliance Building Peace Conference

http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org

PDF Schedule and Flyer:

http://aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/awbc2007/2007schedule.pdf

[olympiaworkers] G.M. Workers Begin Walkout as Contract Talks Continue

G.M. Workers Begin Walkout as Contract Talks Continue

By MICHELINE MAYNARD and NICK BUNKLEY for the New York Times

DETROIT, Sept. 24 — Members of the United Automobile Workers union across
the country began to walk off the job this morning even as contract talks
continued beyond a strike deadline.

Union officials at G.M.'s plant in Bowling Green, Ky., said they had
received a call from union headquarters in Detroit saying the contract had
been extended for one hour beyond the 11 a.m. deadline.

But union local presidents at a number of plants instructed workers to
walk out. It was not immediately clear how many of G.M.'s 73,000 workers
were heeding such calls, and there was no comment from union leaders in
Detroit.

The contentious negotiations on a new contract have centered on the
union's demand for job protection for its shrinking work force, and G.M.'s
push for worker concessions.

The last time the U.A.W. struck G.M. nationwide was in 1970, in a walkout
that lasted two months. The union's last strike at G.M. was in 1998, when
workers at two plants in Flint, Mich., struck the company in a walkout
that nearly shut its operations in North America.

The U.A.W.'s contract with G.M. expired at midnight on Sept. 14, and the
union extended it on an hour-by-hour basis.

But late Sunday, the U.A.W. told workers to be prepared to walk off the
job at 11 a.m. Eastern time if no deal had been reached. In a statement
early today, the union said it had set the strike deadline because G.M.
had failed to address job security and other "mandatory issues of
bargaining" which it did not name.

Union officials criticized G.M. for continuing to pay bonus compensation
to its executives, while pressing U.A.W. members to make concessions.
(G.M. did not pay cash bonuses to its top officials last year, but gave
them stock awards and other perquisites.)

"This is our reward," said Cal Rapson, a union vice president and director
of the union's G.M. Department, adding that G.M. was demanding that "our
members accept a reduced standard of living."

The harsh tone of the statement was in sharp contrast to the silence that
had surrounded the talks until then. The U.A.W. had not commented publicly
on the negotiations since they began in July, although it has sent updates
to its local unions.

G.M. has called the talks the most crucial in a generation. The company
has pushed hard for a key demand, the creation of a health care trust that
would take over G.M.'s liability for benefits for workers, retirees and
their families.

G.M. estimated the liability at $55 billion, and said it was a stumbling
block to becoming competitive with leaner Japanese manufacturers.

While the two sides had agreed on the framework for such a trust, the
union was said to be seeking guarantees that G.M. would not cut any more
hourly jobs after it completes a restructuring plan next year. G.M.'s work
force is one-fifth its size in 1990, thanks to a series of plant closings
resulting from an unending slump in American sales.

The U.A.W. has also wanted G.M. to pay workers a bonus of several thousand
dollars apiece once the contract was approved, in an effort to defray any
other concessions sought by the company.

Even after a deal is reached at G.M., the union must still come to
agreements at Ford Motor and Chrysler, where the issue of a health care
trust is likely to be discussed.

Together, the three auto companies have a collective liability of nearly
$100 billion. The health care trust, called a voluntary employee benefit
association, or VEBA, would take over responsibility for paying benefits
to workers and their families.

For now, U.A.W. members will receive $200 a week in strike pay if they
walk picket lines, and are eligible for unemployment in many states.
Retired workers receive their benefits regardless of whether active
workers are on strike.

[olympiaworkers] Killings of trade unionists up by 25%

If you are having trouble viewing this message, please go to
http://labourstart.icontact.com/archives/inside/posts/killings-of-trade-unionists-up-by-25.html.

In this week's mailing:

- Killings of trade unionists up by 25%

- Canada: Wood workers strike following 65 deaths on the job

- USA: After 62 years, NFFC freezes out the union

- Campaign updates: UK, Albania

- Communicating labour rights course

- "I just got elected - now what?"Killings of trade unionists up by 25%

144 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers' rights in 2006,
while more than 800 suffered beatings or torture, according to the Annual
Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, published by the International
Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The report details nearly 5,000 arrests
and more than 8,000 dismissals of workers due to their trade union
activities. 484 new cases of trade unionists held in detention by
governments are also documented in the report.

You can read the full report online, country by country, in English,
Spanish, French and German, [http://survey07.ituc-csi.org/] here.

This report is required reading for all trade unionists - please spread
the word.

Canada: Wood workers strike following 65 deaths on the job

Striking forestry workers in British Columbia.

Canadian wood workers in British Columbia, members of the United
Steelworkers (USW) have been on strike since 21 July in a dispute
centering on work hours, safety and contracting out.

Over 65 forestry workers have been killed on the job since January 2005.
Hundreds more have been seriously injured. The union and its global
union federation (BWI) are asking for our help to put an end to these
unnecessary and tragic deaths. Please take a minute to learn more and
sign up to the [http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=1074&Language=EN]
online campaign.

USA: After 62 years, NFFC freezes out the union

Since 1945, workers at National Frozen Foods (NFFC) in Chehalis,
Washington have been represented by the Teamsters union. But this summer
the company terminated its contract with the Teamsters and illegally
declared bargaining at an impasse. The union filed unfair labour practice
charges against the company and together with its global union federation
(ITF) is calling for an international online campaign of protest. This is
not just a company which wants to get rid of its union -- it is also
accused of breaking child labour laws. To learn more and to send off a
message, please go [http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/NFFC.cfm] here.

Campaign updates: UK, Albania

UK: Workers in north London care homes, employed by Fremantle Trust, are
on strike today. For the very latest news, visit
[http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/] their website.

Albania: 1,255 of you responded to our appeal to support the BWI campaign
following the attacks on unions in this country. There's an
[http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=1057&Language=EN] update online.

Communicating labour rights course

The International Labour Organization's International Training Center in
Turin, Italy will be holding its first ever course on the subject of
communicating labour rights. Check out the
[http://www.itcilo.org/itc-modif/A900822-flyer.pdf] course description.

"I just got elected - now what?"

This is the title of a new book we're offering as our LabourStart
[http://www.labourstart.org/bookoftheweek] book of the week. (The subtitle
is "a new union officer's handbook".)

According to the publisher, "This is an aggressive new guide to building a
strong and effective local union. Don't buy this book if your goal is
simply to be a local union officer like "Old Joe" was before you, doing
things the way they've always been done and skating by as things just
bump along."

Do buy it if you want strong and effective local unions -- and by buying
this book using [http://www.labourstart.org/bookoftheweek] this link, you
support both a unionized bookshop and you contribute to LabourStart.

Thank you - and have a great weekend.

Eric Lee

This message was sent by: Eric Lee, 51 Briarfield Avenue, London, UK N3
2LG, United
Kingdom

[olympiaworkers] 50 ICE Agents in Lynnwood, WA!!!

From: Maru Villalpando [mailto:
maru@washingtoncan.org]
Sent: Viernes, 14 de Septiembre de 2007 06:11 p.m.
To: Pedro Sosa; Leo Morales; ' amalia anderson '
Subject: FW: 50 ICE agents in Lynnwood
Importance: High

For Spanish version please scroll down.

We have 3 separate reports from the community in
Lynnwood with exactly the same information.

50 ICE agents with uniforms and luggage checked in
early this morning at Embassy Suites Hotel in
Lynnwood. They came with 1 bus and 3 vans.

This is our plan of action:

1. we want Lynnwood residents to know there are
ICE agents in their community

2. based in our experience, we expect that a raid
might happen

3. based in our experience we ask community to be
vigilant and safe from ICE activity

4. fear in the community is based on ICE well
known targeted racial profiling raids

5. key community members and organizations are
ready to support and educate the larger community
about their rights, - distributing know your rights
materials; legal observers are on site to record ICE
activity; organizations are doing outreach to the
mainstream media; organizations are trying to set up
legal help

6. we want raids and detentions to stop. Raids are an
outrage and are hurting our community.

What we need from you:

Call Dave Cahn 360-927-9765 if you can help us observe
the Hotel for any ICE activity during this weekend.

Distribute this information to whom you feel is
appropriate; we need support from all communities.

Thank you,

Maru Mora Villalpando
Community Organizer
Washington Community Action Network
La Red Activa Comunitaria de Washington
206-389-0050 x106
www.washingtoncan.org

Recibimos 3 reportes separados con la misma
información de miembros de la comunidad en Lynwood.

50 agentes con uniformes llegaron al Hotel Embassy
Suites temprano esta mañana, con un autobús y 3
camionetas.

El siguiente es nuestro plan de acción:

1. Queremos que los residentes de Lynnwood sepan
que hay agentes de ICE en sus comunidad

2. basado en nuestra experiencia esperamos una
probable redada

3. basado en nuestra experiencia pedimos a la
comunidad que sean cuidadosos de cualquier actividad
de ICE

4. el miedo en nuestra comunidad esta basado en
el bien conocido perfil racial que ICE emplea durante
redadas

5. miembros lideres de la comunidad y
organizaciones están listos para apoyar y educar a
toda la comunidad sobre sus derechos –distribuyendo
materiales de conozca sus derechos, grupos de
observadores legales están en el sitio indicado para
grabar cualquier actividad de ICE; organizaciones
están llamando a medios de comunicación para
informarles; organizaciones están tratando de
conseguir ayuda legal;

6. queremos que las redadas y detenciones se
detengan. Las redadas son una atrocidad y estan
hiriendo a nuestras comunidades.

Esto es lo que les pedimos:

Llame a Dave Cahn 360-927-9765 si esta interesado en
ser un observador legal en el Hotel para vigilar
actividad de ICE durante este fin de semana.

Distribuya esta informacion a quien crea apropiada;
necesitamos apoyo de todas las comunidades.

Gracias.

[olympiaworkers] 50 ICE Agents in Lynnwood, WA!!!

From: Maru Villalpando [mailto:
maru@washingtoncan.org]
Sent: Viernes, 14 de Septiembre de 2007 06:11 p.m.
To: Pedro Sosa; Leo Morales; ' amalia anderson '
Subject: FW: 50 ICE agents in Lynnwood
Importance: High

For Spanish version please scroll down.

We have 3 separate reports from the community in
Lynnwood with exactly the same information.

50 ICE agents with uniforms and luggage checked in
early this morning at Embassy Suites Hotel in
Lynnwood. They came with 1 bus and 3 vans.

This is our plan of action:

1. we want Lynnwood residents to know there are
ICE agents in their community

2. based in our experience, we expect that a raid
might happen

3. based in our experience we ask community to be
vigilant and safe from ICE activity

4. fear in the community is based on ICE well
known targeted racial profiling raids

5. key community members and organizations are
ready to support and educate the larger community
about their rights, - distributing know your rights
materials; legal observers are on site to record ICE
activity; organizations are doing outreach to the
mainstream media; organizations are trying to set up
legal help

6. we want raids and detentions to stop. Raids are an
outrage and are hurting our community.

What we need from you:

Call Dave Cahn 360-927-9765 if you can help us observe
the Hotel for any ICE activity during this weekend.

Distribute this information to whom you feel is
appropriate; we need support from all communities.

Thank you,

Maru Mora Villalpando
Community Organizer
Washington Community Action Network
La Red Activa Comunitaria de Washington
206-389-0050 x106
www.washingtoncan.org

Recibimos 3 reportes separados con la misma
información de miembros de la comunidad en Lynwood.

50 agentes con uniformes llegaron al Hotel Embassy
Suites temprano esta mañana, con un autobús y 3
camionetas.

El siguiente es nuestro plan de acción:

1. Queremos que los residentes de Lynnwood sepan
que hay agentes de ICE en sus comunidad

2. basado en nuestra experiencia esperamos una
probable redada

3. basado en nuestra experiencia pedimos a la
comunidad que sean cuidadosos de cualquier actividad
de ICE

4. el miedo en nuestra comunidad esta basado en
el bien conocido perfil racial que ICE emplea durante
redadas

5. miembros lideres de la comunidad y
organizaciones están listos para apoyar y educar a
toda la comunidad sobre sus derechos –distribuyendo
materiales de conozca sus derechos, grupos de
observadores legales están en el sitio indicado para
grabar cualquier actividad de ICE; organizaciones
están llamando a medios de comunicación para
informarles; organizaciones están tratando de
conseguir ayuda legal;

6. queremos que las redadas y detenciones se
detengan. Las redadas son una atrocidad y estan
hiriendo a nuestras comunidades.

Esto es lo que les pedimos:

Llame a Dave Cahn 360-927-9765 si esta interesado en
ser un observador legal en el Hotel para vigilar
actividad de ICE durante este fin de semana.

Distribuya esta informacion a quien crea apropiada;
necesitamos apoyo de todas las comunidades.

Gracias.

[olympiaworkers] "We will not be silenced!"

The campaign we launched a little more than a week ago in support of
low-paid workers in care homes in north London has generated more support
than any other campaign we have ever done.

Already, well over 8,100 messages have been sent to the employer. This is
even bigger than our 2005 campaign in support of the Gate Gourmet workers,
which was a much more widely publicized dispute in the mainstream media.

As we mentioned in this week's message, the employer reacted swiftly and
brutally -- first threatening us with a libel action in the English courts
and then sacking a union rep.

And then on Thursday, in an unprecedented move, the employer (Fremantle
Trust) contacted our internet service provider and demanded that they shut
down the campaign or else face a lawsuit themselves.

We were contacted by the legal department of the internet service provider
and told that we had until noon on Friday to close down the campaign or
else the entire LabourStart site would be shut down.

We worked very hard over those 24 hours to attempt to get our provider to
back down, and had the full support of Unison (Britain's giant public
sector union, whose members are at the center of the dispute) but were not
successful in doing this before the noon deadline on Friday.

As a result, at 11:59 on Friday we were compelled to shut down the
campaigns.

But -- we instantly revived the campaign in nine languages on a different
server, in a different country, with a new name that reflects our feeling
at this time.

The new site is called "We will not be silenced!" and is located,
appropriately enough, at [http://www.wewillnotbesilenced.org]
http://www.wewillnotbesilenced.org

If you have not yet sent off your message of protest to Fremantle, please
do so from the new page.

Remember that you can use our system to send out your own message to the
chief executive of Fremantle Trust -- and you can tell her, if you wish,
what you think of this attempt to silence our campaign.

Please also inform all your lists and every trade unionist you know to use
the [http://www.wewillnotbesilenced.org] new site to send a loud and clear
message to this employer.

If Fremantle Trust were unhappy to receive 8,000 emails, how are they
going to feel about getting thousands more in the next few days? Because
that is exactly what is going to happen.

We will not be intimidated, we will not be bullied, and we will not be
silenced. The campaign continues.

Enjoy your weekend.

Eric Lee

This message was sent by: LabourStart, 51 Briarfield Avenue, London, UK N3
2LG,
United Kingdom

[olympiaworkers] [Fwd: Massive online campaign triggers threats, sacking]

 

In this week's mailing:

• UK: Massive online campaign triggers threats, sacking
• Australia: Foster's brewery workers need our help
• Virtual strikes, virtual unions: Italian IBM workers make history

UK: Massive online campaign triggers threats, sacking

 

Last week we asked for your support in a struggle by workers in north London care homes whose pay has been cut by 30% by a privatized employer, Fremantle.  Within hours, you flooded the inbox of Fremantle's chief executive with thousands of messages.  By the weekend, over 5,000 messages had been received.

 

The reaction of the company was swift: On Friday afternoon, they fired off an email message to me threatening LabourStart with legal action, accusing us of "libel".  (As you may know, English libel laws are biased against the defendant, and are used by corporations to attempt to suppress dissent.)

 

A couple of days later, Fremantle got even more aggressive, and sacked Unison rep Andrew Rogers (pictured).

 

Andrew Rogers, Unison rep sacked by Fremantle this week

This bullying behavior is, I am told, typical of how this company works.  They've asked us to stop this campaign, to stop saying negative things about them, and to stop sending them email protest messages.   I say:  let's flood them with thousands more messages.  Let's raise the profile of this campaign.   If you've not yet sent off your message of protest -- it will take just a few seconds -- please go here to do do.

Today, LabourStart has launched a major Google ad campaign to put further pressure on the company.  These campaigns cost money - please make sure to donate by clicking here.  I know that we can count on your support and your generosity once again. 

 

If Fremantle decides to follow through on its threat to sue us, if its attorneys send us a registered letter in the post, here is what I intend to do: I will put the letter up for auction on eBay, and I will invite all our supporters to bid on it.

 

We will not be bullied and we will not be threatened.  The campaign continues.

 

Australia: Foster's brewery workers need our help

 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, a company you are much more likely to have heard of (especially if you drink beer) is also attempting to lower labour costs by refusing to recognize the union freely chosen by its employees.  Fosters needs to receive a loud and clear message from trade unionists -- and beer drinkers -- around the world.  Please support the IUF campaign today.

 

Virtual strikes, virtual unions: Italian IBM workers make history

 

IBM employees in Italy made headlines around the world this week (reported on LabourStart) when they announced their intention to carry out a "virtual strike" inside "Second Life".  They are being supported by Union Network International, which is inviting all of us to participate in this unprecedented action.  You are all encouraged to set up free accounts at SecondLife, and next week, to receive virtual "strike kits" from the union.  UNI has helpfully provided details of how to get started using Second Life.  Training courses within Second Life will take place from 9:00 to 21:00 (Italy time) on 12 September at UNI's virtual house on Commonwealth Island inside Second Life.

 

I realize that for most of you, the above was utterly new and perhaps incomprehensible.  Please don't ask me for help -- I'm as new to this as you are.  But if you want more help, or if you are already a Second Life user and can help others, please do contact Christine Revkin at UNI - christine.revkin@union-network.org 

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Eric Lee 

 

 

This message was sent from Eric Lee to olympiaworkers@riseup.net. It was sent from: LabourStart, 51 Briarfield Avenue, London, UK N3 2LG, United Kingdom. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

Manage your subscription

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Massive online campaign triggers threats, sacking
From: "Eric Lee" <ericlee@labourstart.org>
Date: Thu, September 6, 2007 1:39 am
To: olympiaworkers@riseup.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are having trouble viewing this message, please go to
http://labourstart.icontact.com/inside/massive_online_campaign_triggers_threats_sacking.html.

In this week's mailing:

- UK: Massive online campaign triggers threats, sacking
- Australia: Foster's brewery workers need our help
- Virtual strikes, virtual unions: Italian IBM workers make history

UK: Massive online campaign triggers threats, sacking

Last week we asked for your support in a struggle by workers in north
London care homes whose pay has been cut by 30% by a privatized employer,
Fremantle. Within hours, you flooded the inbox of Fremantle's chief
executive with thousands of messages. By the weekend, over 5,000 messages
had been received.

The reaction of the company was swift: On Friday afternoon, they fired off
an email message to me threatening LabourStart with legal action, accusing
us of "libel". (As you may know, English libel laws are biased against the
defendant, and are used by corporations to attempt to suppress dissent.)

A couple of days later, Fremantle got even more aggressive, and sacked
Unison rep Andrew Rogers (pictured).

Andrew Rogers, Unison rep sacked by Fremantle this week

This bullying behavior is, I am told, typical of how this company works.
They've asked us to stop this campaign, to stop saying negative things
about them, and to stop sending them email protest messages.

I say: let's flood them with thousands more messages. Let's raise the
profile of this campaign.

If you've not yet sent off your message of protest -- it will take just a
few seconds -- please
[http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=285]
go here to do do.

Today, LabourStart has launched a major Google ad campaign to put further
pressure on the company. These campaigns cost money - please make sure to
donate by [http://labourstart.chipin.com/labourstart] clicking here. I
know that we can count on your support and your generosity once again.

If Fremantle decides to follow through on its threat to sue us, if its
attorneys send us a registered letter in the post, here is what I intend to
do: I will put the letter up for auction on eBay, and I will invite all our
supporters to bid on it.

We will not be bullied and we will not be threatened. The campaign
continues.

Australia: Foster's brewery workers need our help

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, a company you are much more
likely to have heard of (especially if you drink beer) is also attempting
to lower labour costs by refusing to recognize the union freely chosen by
its employees. Fosters needs to receive a loud and clear message from
trade unionists -- and beer drinkers -- around the world. Please support
[http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=303] the IUF
campaign today.

Virtual strikes, virtual unions: Italian IBM workers make history

IBM employees in Italy made headlines around the world this week (reported
on LabourStart) when they announced their intention to carry out a "virtual
strike" inside "Second Life". They are being supported by Union Network
International, which is inviting all of us to participate in this
unprecedented action. You are all encouraged to set up free accounts at
SecondLife, and next week, to receive virtual "strike kits" from the
union. UNI has helpfully provided details of
[http://www.uniglobalunion.org/SecondLife] how to get started using Second
Life. Training courses within Second Life will take place from 9:00 to
21:00 (Italy time) on 12 September at UNI's virtual house on Commonwealth
Island inside Second Life.

I realize that for most of you, the above was utterly new and perhaps
incomprehensible. Please don't ask me for help -- I'm as new to this as
you are. But if you want more help, or if you are already a Second Life
user and can help others, please do contact Christine Revkin at UNI -
christine.revkin@union-network.org

Have a great weekend.

Eric Lee

This message was sent by: LabourStart, 51 Briarfield Avenue, London, UK N3
2LG, United Kingdom

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[olympiaworkers] Support National Frozen Food Workers-Friday 9/10

Support Nat'l Frozen Foods Workers:
Leafleting for Healthcare and a Voice at Work

Friday, September 10th at 4pm
Rally at the Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Occidental Park
Occidental Ave. S and S Main St. in Downtown Seattle

After the rally, leaflet around Safeco Field before the Mariner's Game

Join Jobs with Justice along with Teamsters locals from around the Northwest for a rally and informational leafleting to inform consumers about what the National Frozen Foods Corporation (NFFC) is doing to its workers at their Chehalis, WA Warehouse.  Over the past three years, NFFC has:

• Cut pay by 16%
• Stripped seasonal workers AND retirees of health care benefits
• Increased the number of hours it takes to qualify for health care, pension benefits and pay increases

These concessions have hit hardest at those least able to afford them, particularly Latino workers and new hires.  A majority of the peak work force is Latino.  NFFC has attempted to strip workers of their voice at work twice since 2004.  Workers beat back these efforts, voting to keep their union (Teamsters Local 252) on both occasions.  On July 14, 2007, NFFC illegally declared bargaining to be at an impasse, and ended their contract with the workers' Union.  The Teamsters have filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. 

Since then, NFFC has denied access to any pension plan for workers aged 18-21, eliminated entry into the defined benefit plan for new hires, stopped the Union grievance process, and put into effect minimal pay increases that come nowhere near making up for recent concessions.

Background:  National Frozen Foods Corporation (NFFC) is one of the five largest private label frozen vegetable processors in the United States.  It is headquartered in Seattle, and operates three processing plants, all in the Pacific Northwest: Chehalis, WA; Albany, OR; and Moses Lake, WA.  The Chehalis and Albany plants are Teamster-represented.  NFFC workers process fresh vegetables for freezing and repackaging for such chains as Boston Market, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Wal-Mart, Sysco Foods, ConAgra and Woodstock Farms, as well as producing their own label, Valamont.  The Chehalis plant employs over 200 workers year-round, and up to 1000 during peak season.  It has been Teamster-represented since 1945.  Most workers have been at the plant for over 10 years, many for over 20 years.

 

[olympiaworkers] Support Hotel Workers

From: "Linda Averill" <lindaeaverill@peoplepc.com>

Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity is helping to spread the word about
this rally to support Hotel Workers in their fight for a fair contract.
Join them if you can, and pass the word along.

Hotel Worker Rising Friends!
Thursday (Sept 6th) at 4:30pm
Across street from SeaTac Red Lion Hotel
(West side of International Blvd)

Join the NW Hilton workers who are coming out in force to begin their
public stand for family-sustaining jobs! (Flyer attached)

Background:
The SeaTac Doubletree and Hilton (along with the Portland Hiltons and
the newly organized Vancouver, WA Hilton) are in contract
negotiations. This campaign is spreading the fight for the Westin
standards. Negotiations have been slow, but the workers are determined
to win!
Fighting for:
- Wage Increases (Hilton management has offered $0.20/hr increase)
- Affordable Healthcare
- Reduced workloads for housekeepers (SeaTac Hilton workers have the
highest room quota of any union hotel chain in the state)
- Job Security (successorship & no subcontracting language)
- Increase in their reliable retirement (hotel currently refusing)
- The same strong immigrant and LGBT protections that the Westin got!

Sincerely,
Jessica Lawson
Community Affairs Coordinator
206-728-2326 x21
jlawson@unitehere.org
<1st NW Hiltons Rally Flyer.doc><1st NW Hiltons Rally Flyer with bug
and directions.pdf>

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