[olympiaworkers] [Fwd: Teamsters on strike in Auburn]

message from OWLS (organized Workers for Labor solidarity)

Dear friends,
During this cold snap, one group of your fellow workers is facing a
particular challenge: staying warm on the picket line.

Teamsters 174 is striking Oak Harbor Freight Lines. They have been
striking since September 22 to combat unfair labor practices including
coercing and threatening employees, as well as making unlawful changes to
working conditions.

Join OWLS on the picket line! We will be car pooling to the Auburn strike
site from Linda's house at 900 Hiawatha Pl S, Seattle at 11:30am on
Saturday, December 20.

Contact : Linda 206-328-2509 for more information about Saturday's
Solidarity Action.

For more information about the strike, please see www.organizedworkers.org.

[olympiaworkers] Greek workers occupy union offices

Greek workers occupy union offices

dec. 17, 2008 Infoshop.news

A banner handing from the facade of the building reads:

From labor "accidents"
to the murders in cold blood
State - Capital kill
No persecution:
Immediate release
of the arrested
GENERAL STRIKE
Workers' self-organization
will become the bosses' grave

The historic central offices of the General Confederation of Greek Workers
in Athens have been occupied by militant workers

The action forms part of a strategy to counteract the designs of the
union bureaucracy to distance its membership from the current revolt,
and protest its management and mediation of workers' struggles in
Greece. The occupants aim to create a space in which to facilitate a
grassroots and self organised workers response to the crisis, and bring
the wider working class into the events unfolding on the streets of
Greece. Town halls in Athens and Thessaloniki have also been occupied
in order to hold general assemblies.

The communique of the "General Assembly of Insurgent Workers" follows below:

DECLARATION

We will either determine our history ourselves or let it be determined
without us

We, manual workers, employees, jobless, temporary workers, local or
migrants, are not passive tv-viewers. Since the murder of Alexandros
Grigoropoulos on Saturday night we participate in the demonstrations,
the clashes with the police, the occupations of the centre or the
neighborhoods. Time and again we had to leave work and our daily
obligations to take the streets with the students, the university
students and the other proletarians in struggle.

WE DECIDED TO OCCUPY THE BUILDING OF GSEE

-To turn it into a space of free expression and a meeting point of workers.

-To disperse the media-touted myth that the workers were and are
absent from the clashes, and that the rage of these days was an affair
of some 500 "mask-bearers", "hooligans" or some other fairy tale, while
on the tv-screens the workers were presented as victims of the clash,
while the capitalist crisis in Greece and Worldwide leads to countless
layoffs that the media and their managers deal as a "natural
phenomenon".

-To flay and uncover the role of the trade union bureaucracy in the
undermining of the insurrection -and not only there. GSEE and the
entire trade union mechanism that supports it for decades and decades,
undermine the struggles, bargain our labor power for crumblings,
perpetuate the system of exploitation and wage slavery. The stance of
GSEE last Wednesday is quite telling: GSEE cancelled the programmed
strikers' demonstration, stopping short at the organization of a brief
gathering in Syntagma Sq., making simultaneously sure that the people
will be dispersed in a hurry from the Square, fearing that they might
get infected by the virus of insurrection.

-To open up this space for the first time -as a continuation of the
social opening created by the insurrection itself-, a space that has
been built by our contributions, a space from which we were excluded.
For all these years we trusted our fate on saviours of every kind, and
we end up losing our dignity. As workers we have to start assuming our
responsibilities, and to stop assigning our hopes to wise leaders or
"able" representatives. We have to acquire a voice of our own, to meet
up, to talk, to decide, and to act. Against the generalized attack we
endure. The creation of collective "grassroot" resistances is the only
way.

-To propagate the idea of self-organization and solidarity in
working places, struggle committees and collective grassroot
procedures, abolishing the bureaucrat trade unionists.
All these years we gulp the misery, the pandering, the violence in
work. We became accustomed to counting the crippled and our dead - the
so-called "labor accidents". We became accustomed to ingore the
migrants -our class brothers- getting killed. We are tired living with
the anxiety of securing a wage, revenue stamps, and a pension that now
feels like a distant dream.

As we struggle not to abandon our life in the hands of the bosses
and the trade union representatives, likewise we will not abandon no
arrested insurgent in the hands of the state and the juridical
mechanism.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE DETAINED
NO CHARGE TO THE ARRESTED
SELF-ORGANIZATION OF THE WORKERS
GENERAL STRIKE

WORKERS' ASSEMBLY IN THE "LIBERATED" BUILDING OF GSEE

Wendesday, 17 December 2008, 18:00
General Assembly of Insurgent Workers

A letter to students, December 2008

An open letter to students by workers in Athens, against the background
of the social upheaval following the police shooting of a young boy.

A letter to students

Our age difference and the general estrangement make it difficult for
us to discuss with you in the streets; this is why we send you this
letter.

Most of us have not (yet) been bald or big-bellied. We are part of the
1990-91 movement. You must have heard of it. Back then, and while we
had occupied our schools for 30-35 days, fascists killed a teacher
because he had gone beyond his natural role (that of being our guard)
and crossed the line to the opposite side; he had come with us, into
our struggle. Then, even the toughest of us got to the streets and
riot. However, we didn't even think of doing what you easily do today:
attack police stations (although we sang "burn police stations…").

So, you're gone beyond us, as always happens in history. Conditions are
different of course. During '90s they passed us off the prospect of
personal success and some of us swallowed it. Now people cannot believe
this fairy tale. Your older brothers showed us this during the 2006-07
students' movement; you now spit their fairy tale to their faces.

So far so good.

Now the good and difficult matters begin.

We'll tell you what we've learned from our struggles and our defeats
(because as long as world is not ours we'll always be the defeated
ones) and you can use what we've learned as you wish:

Don't stay alone. Call us; call as many people as possible. We don't
know how you can do that, you will find the way. You've already
occupied your schools and you tell us that the most important reason is
that you don't like your schools. Nice. Since you've already occupied
them change their role. Share your occupations with other people. Let
your schools become the first buildings to house our new relations.
Their most powerful weapon is dividing us. Just like you are not afraid
of attacking their police stations because you are together, don't be
afraid to call us to change our life all together.

Don't listen to any political organization (either anarchists or
anyone). Do what you need to. Trust people, not abstract schemes and
ideas. Trust your direct relations with people. Trust your friends;
make as many people as possible in your struggle your people. Don't
listen to them when they're saying that your struggle doesn't have a
political content and must seemingly obtain. Your struggle is the
content. You only have your struggle and it's in your hands to preserve
its advance. It's only your struggle that can change your life, namely
you and the real relations with your fellowmen.

Don't be afraid to proceed when confronting new things. Each one of us,
as we're getting older, has things planted in their brains. You too,
although you are young. Don't forget the importance of this fact. Back
in 1991, we confronted the smell of the new world and, trust us, we
found it difficult. We learned that there must always be limits. Don't
be scared by the destruction of commodities. Don't be scared by people
looting stores. We make all these, they are ours. You (just like we in
the past) are raised to get up every morning in order to make things
that they will later not be yours. Let's get them back all together and
share them. Just like we share our friends and the love among us.

We apologize for writing this letter quickly, but we do it swinging the
lead from our work, secretly from our boss. We are imprisoned in work,
just like you are imprisoned in school.

We'll now lie to our boss and leave work: we'll come to meet you in
Syntagma sq with stones in our hands.

Proletarians

[olympiaworkers] Week-long strike in Vietnam factory ends

Libcom.org Dec 13 2008
http://libcom.org/news/week-long-strike-vietnam-factory-ends-13122008

Wildcat strikers at a South Korean owned firm returned to work yesterday
11 December gaining promises of improved working conditions.

Thanhniennews.com reported that on Thursday last week, around 1,300
workers gathered in front of Doosan Vina Company office in the Dung Quat
Economic Zone in the central Quang Ngai Province to demand proper
treatment and payment of allowances.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Doosan Vina management said they would soon set
up a labor union, improve the quality of food, guarantee safety, and
behave better with employees.

Other demands concerning pay rises and a range of allowances will be
considered later, they said.

Doosan Vina makes cranes, pressure tanks and filtering devices.

The meeting was attended by the striking workers, Nguyen Hoa Binh,
deputy chief of the Communist Party Unit of Quang Ngai and the
provincial People's Committee vice chairman Le Quang Thich.

The strike on Thursday followed up on another by more than 200 workers
three days earlier.

[olympiaworkers] Sit-Down Strike Ends in Victory at Republic!

From UE Dec. 10, 2008
"Victory for republic workers. Negotiations are over and the workers have
won a victory for the American working class."

The plant occupation has ended as workers have reached a settlement
Wednesday, December 10, 2008! "Members of UE Local 1110 have voted to
accept
a tentative agreement at Republic Windows and Doors. The occupation has
ended. Details as soon as possible."
<http://www.ueunion.org/uenewsupdates.html?news=438>For updates, see the
UE website at ueunion.org !

This is a fantastic precedent, winning a factory occupation after only five
days....! Let's keep up the militant energy in our organizing! For anyone
who doubts the power of organizing in our communities-- let's hold this as
an example of what grassroots organizing, base-building, and militant
escalation tactics can accomplish!!!

Peace and solidarity forever,
Salma
CHICAGO

Update #2: Vote is 'Yes' at Republic; Plant Occupation Ends
After the conclusion of negotiations Wednesday evening, the membership of
Local 1110, more than 200 workers, met in the plant cafeteria to hear and
consider the tentative settlement that had been worked out by UE
negotiators over the past three days.

The settlement was approved by a unanimous vote.
'Justice - We Did It!'

Following the vote, the UE members, led by Local President Armando Robles,
marched out of the plant, chanting "We did it!" in English and Spanish.

Pres. Robles stepped to the microphones outside the front entrance to the
plant, where a throng of reporters and cameras had been waiting. He
announced the end of the occupation and said that justice had been
achieved.

UE Western Region President Carl Rosen then described the negotiations,
summarized the settlement agreement, and commented on the significance of
the struggle and the achievement.

Pay, Health Care, Vacation Pay
The settlement totals $1.75million. It will provide the workers with:

* eight weeks of pay they are owed under the federal WARN Act;

* provided with two months of continued health coverage, and;

* pay for all accrued and unused vacation.

JPMorgan Chase will provide $400,000 of the settlement, with the balance
coming from Bank of America
Third Party Fund
Although the money will be provided as a loan to Republic Windows and
Doors, it will go directly into a third-party fund whose sole purpose is
to pay the workers what is owed them.

As the Local 1110 leaders characterized the settlement, "We fought to make
them pay what they owe us, and we won."

'Historic Victory'
UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley spoke on behalf of the National
Union, describing the outcome of the occupation as "a victory for workers
everywhere," and as "an historic victory for America's labor movement."

Kingsley went on to call the settlement "a win for all working men and
women who face uncertainty, unfairness and job loss in a troubled
economy."
'The Window of Opportunity'

Foundation
Kingsley then announced the creation of a new foundation, dedicated to
reopening the plant. It will be initiated with seed money from the UE
national union and the thousands of dollars of donations to the UE Local
1110 Solidarity Fund that have come in from across the country and around
the world in just the past five days.

Melvin Maclin of Local 1110 announced the name of the foundation, which
was chosen by the workers themselves: the Window of Opportunity Fund.
Maclin said that the fund will be open to receive donations from all
friends of the Republic workers and supporters of their struggle.

[olympiaworkers] 1,300 manufacturing workers wildcat in Vietnam

Libcom.org Dec. 5, 2008

The wildcat strike of more than 200 workers from a company in the central
Quang Ngai Province escalated on Thursday.

Since Thursday morning, around 1,300 South Korean-owned Doosan Vina
Company employees, gathered in front of the company office in the Dung
Quat Economic Zone to emphasize their demand for proper payment of
allowances.

Workers first walked off the job on Monday, saying Doosan Vina had not
honored its promise to pay a range of allowances and hand out pay rises to
employees once they'd completed four months of service.

"The company's payment policies are inconsistent," one worker said.

Workers hired by the company, which makes cranes, pressure tanks and
filtering devices, during its first days of operation are paid more
than those hired later, the workers said. The workers are also
complaining about the many insults and beatings they've suffered at
work.

Jae Young Kim, the company deputy director, told Quang Ngai
authorities Thursday the language barrier had caused many
misunderstandings between management and the workers. Kim admitted the
company had made some errors with bonus payments but only in a few
cases. He said the company had not awarded pay rises because some
workers were not skilled enough while others were still interns. The
first workers were recruited carefully while those put on later were
not, he said. The company was initially seeking senior and skilled
workers and so offered higher salaries as an incentive, he said.

The workers, however, disagreed with the deputy director and said they
were continuing the strike.

Meanwhile, labor protection and union development were the focus of
a two-day conference held by the Vietnam General Congrederation of
Labor and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Ho Chi Minh
City Thursday.

Vietnamese workers in private companies often lack of confidence in
labor unions and go on strike spontaneously every time they feel their
rights have been infringed, Jan-Min Sunoo, head consultant of ILO
-Vietnam Labor Relationship project, told the conference.

Sunoo stressed the importance of negotiation, which is used in many
other countries to protect laborers, but was not popular in Vietnam.

[olympiaworkers] Chicago Workers Occupy Factory

Saturday, December 06 2008 infoshop news
http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20081206103507850

The workers of Republic Windows and Doors are right this minute occupying
their factory, which was due to close at 10:00 AM Friday morning.

The workers are fighting for pay for their lost vacation days and for the
75 days notice that they are guaranteed under Illinois law. This is the
first time in many years workers have taken the bold, militant strategy of
occupying their place of work to demand justice. The plan to occupy the
plant until they hear the results of the next round of negotiations Monday
afternoon. THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY HAVE OUR SUPPORT!!!

A prayer vigil has been planned for 12:00 Noon tomorrow. Please attend.
BUT WE SHOULD ORGANIZE A CONSTANT PRESENCE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS PICKETING
OUTSIDE THE FACTORY! BRING FOOD AND COFFEE FOR THE WORKERS. It is our
presence and the press that is the workers best defense against the police
raiding the factory.

These workers are fighting for all of us!!! As the economic crisis deepens
we need to launch a working class fight back. These workers are the
starting point and deserve our full support.

Go to:

Republic Windows & Doors
1333 N. Hickory
On Goose Island, near the intersection of Division & Clyborn

Feel free to call me for more info… (312) 502-7867 - Jerry Mead-Lucero
[ pilsenprole.blogspot.com/ ]

[olympiaworkers] Support striking workers at Oak Harbor

To unsubscribe send an email to labourstart-en-unsubscribe@unionlists.org.uk
with the subject 'unsubscribe'.

From: ericlee@labourstart.org
Date: Sun, October 26, 2008

In this week's mailing:

* USA: Support striking workers at Oak Harbor
* South Africa: Dispute ends at Woolworths
* Philippines: Demand release for jailed labour lawyer
* Labour Photo of the Year: Voting ends on 31.10
* Your dollars go further at LabourStart - here's why

***

USA: SUPPORT STRIKING WORKERS AT OAK HARBOR

Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho went on
strike more than a month ago and the response of the company has been
brutal.

They've employed scabs, cut off health care to retirees, and bullied and
intimidated striking workers.

A number of responsible companies have decided not to work with Oak Harbor
until the dispute is resolved.

But not The Gap. They're continuing to use a company which is breaking U.S.
labour laws.

We've been asked by the strikers to launch a global campaign to put
pressure on The Gap and on Oak Harbor. Please take a minute to send off
your message:

http://www.labourstart.org/oakharbor

If you're on Facebook, please sign up to the Oak Harbor strikers' cause,
here:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/135663

Thanks -- and now spread the word!

***

SOUTH AFRICA: DISPUTE ENDS AT WOOLWORTHS

A couple of weeks ago we asked for your support -- and you responded with
over 1,000 messages to the company. Woolworths proved to be acutely
sensitive to this pressure and sent out email messages to many of you
explaining their side of the story. The result has been that the company
agreed to a joint membership verification exercise beginning on Monday, 27
October, and the workers returned to work on Friday. Thanks for your
support!

***

PHILIPPINES: DEMAND RELEASE FOR JAILED LABOUR LAWYER

On Wednesday last week, Remigio Saladero, the chief legal counsel for the
KMU (an independent labor federation in the Philippines) and the union
representing Dole Philippines's workers, was illegally arrested by the
Philippine government. The International Labor Rights Forum has launched
a campaign to call for his release:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/saladero

***

LABOUR PHOTO OF THE YEAR: VOTING ENDS ON 31.10

Over 2,000 of you have cast your votes for this year's Labour Photo of the
Year competition -- and the race is tight. We have five outstanding
photos to choose from and the deadline for voting is Friday, 31
October. Please make sure you've voted (once!) and spread the word:

http://www.labourstart.org/lpoty/

***

YOUR DOLLARS GO FURTHER AT LABOURSTART - HERE'S WHY

The one good thing to have come out of the global economic crisis is that
your donations in US dollars to LabourStart are now worth a lot more money
to us. A $100 donation used to be worth only £50; today that's worth
almost £63. As we're based in London and pay for services in pounds,
we're very grateful for every dollar donation we receive these days.
Please give generously to support LabourStart's campaigns:

http://www.labourstart.org/docs/en/000002.html

Thanks!

Eric Lee

[olympiaworkers] AWBC Peace Conference... And Online Community. Over 40 new members and Counting! :)

Dear friends,

Please forward this announcement widely.

The Fourth Annual A World Beyond Capitalism Conference 2008 invites
activists to come to Olympia, Washington on October 25th and 26th, 2008
and engage in educational discussion and visionary dialogue. Everything
is freee. as it should be! We believe in the need to reflect and
imagine
the future of the world beyond capitalism. We will emphasize the need
for
multi-lingual, long-term strategy through open dialogue and bridging
political theory with non-violent practice. To see the homepage of the
A
World Beyond Capitalism Conference please click the below link:
http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org

This year there are two ways to join us! Even if you can't make it to
this peace conference, we hope you can join our Community (that
hopefully
will have videos of some of the workshops later) that we call the Peace
Communities Social Networking Website and Online Community (Beta version
of the Mutualist Project created at ZMI) with Member Profiles,
Discussion
Forum, Event Listings, Photos & Slideshows, Custom Video Players,
Real-time Activity Stream and much more:
http://www.peacecommunities.ning.com

Special thanks to everyone at the School for Designing A Society, Z
Media
Institute (ZMI) and the Healthcare Justice Gathering who joined the
online
community! If we ever hope to create a progresive, non-corporate
alternative to facebook and
myspace, we have to start that journey with small steps. Over 40 new
folks
from around the world joined in just the last two weeks! And many of
them
have uploaded some amazing photos! Awesome! *happy laughter*

Everything is free! As it should be! We ask that those who are able to
do so, please bring food to contribute to our free-of-charge potluck
meals at the AWBC conference. We have been able to provide
free-of-charge meals each year at the
AWBC only due to the kindness of those who contribute.

Location of all workshops: The Freeschool Community, 610 Columbia
Street,
Olympia, WA 98501.

This conference (followed by a special concert by June Madrona)
will be the last event at the Freeschool's office space
location. But good news! The Freeschool has secured a new location in
a
residential community! The Community movement grows stronger everyday!

The website for the conference is http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org
###
The 2008 A World Beyond Capitalism Conference: 4 Years Strong, 3
Documentaries Recorded, 2 Ways To Join us, 1 Mission: Networking and
Working Together to Create A World of Peace, A World of Equality: A
World
That is Beyond Capitalism!

Love, Solidarity, Peace,
Love for a world of peace and equality,
-AWBC Collective

Peace Communities
"This is where strangers can become friends and friends can network
worldwide."
http://www.PeaceCommunities.org

The Second Annual Radical Road Trip - Visiting Underserved Communities
on
a Face-to-Face Basis and Making Radical Connections. - August 2009
http://www.RadicalRoadTrip.org

The Freeschool Community
http://www.freeschoolunity.org

The Radical Feminist Distro
http://www.freeschoolunity.org and click on "RFD"

A World Beyond Capitalism Conference - The Fourth Annual International
Multiracial Alliance Building Peace Conference - October 25th and 26th,
2008 http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org

=============================================

AWBC Flyers are Found Below.

For a JPG (if you can't open the PDF) version of the AWBC flyer with
workshop titles click below:
http://aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/awbcflyers/2008/small_awbc2008_flyerwithworkshop_titles.jpg

For a (slow loading) PDF version of the AWBC flyer with workshop titles
click below:
http://aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/awbcflyers/2008/small_awbc2008_flyerwithworkshop_titles.pdf

For a very large poster size PDF version of the AWBC flyer with workshop
titles click below:
http://aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/awbcflyers/2008/large_awbc2008_flyerwithworkshop_titles.pdf

For a JPG (if you can't open the PDF) version of the red and yellow AWBC
flyer click below:
http://aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/awbcflyers/2008/AWBC2008_redandyellow_poster.jpg

For a PDF version of the red and yellow AWBC flyer click below:
http://aworldbeyondcapitalism.org/awbcflyers/2008/AWBC2008_redandyellow_poster.pdf

=======================================================
--
peacefulfacilitator@yahoo.com
peacefulfacilitator@reallyfast.info

--
http://www.fastmail.fm - The way an email service should be

[olympiaworkers] Worker history and zines about organizing class struggle

hey, I just read the Centralia Conspiracy, by Ralph Chaplin. It a worker
account of the 1919 Centralia Massacre where American Legion members and
the chamber of commerce attempted to raid the IWW union hall. Chaplin sets
the context for the event by going into detail about conditions in the
lumber industry at the time and the history of anti-union activity in
Centralia. The Centralia IWW had their union hall raided and destroyed in
1918 following a strike.

you can read and print the Centralia Conspiracy at:

http://zinelibrary.info/files/Centralia.pdf (12.5 mb)

More zines about class struggle can be found at:

http://zinelibrary.info/classstruggle

More zines about organizing workplaces and communities can be found at:

http://zinelibrary.info/english/organizing-manuals

[olympiaworkers] Arrests of Korean trade unionists continue

http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=47&l=2&c=18281

Following a wave of strikes, the South Korean government has unleashed a
massive attack against the Korean Metal Workers' Union targeting more than
75 of the union's key leaders for arrest or investigation.

SOUTH KOREA: With the recent arrest of Hyundai Motor Branch First
Vice-President Kim Tae-gon on September 16 and the arraignment of Jung
Gab-deuk, president of the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), on
September 18 on charges of obstructing business, members of the KMWU are
bracing for more assaults. Leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade
Unions have also been targets of arrest.

Arrest warrants were issued on July 24 for KMWU President Jung Gab-deuk,
KMWU Vice-President Nam Taek-gyu, KCTU President Lee Suk-haeng, KCTU First
Vice-president Jin Young-ok, KCTU General Secretary Lee Yong-shik, and all
six of the top elected officers of the Hyundai Motor Branch namely; Yoon
Hae-mo, Kim Tae-gon, Kim Jong-il, Jung Chang-bong, Joo In-koo, and Jo
Chang-min. Search warrants were also issued for their homes.

Reports from KMWU indicate that Vice-President Nam Taek-gyu and the
remaining five Hyundai Motor Branch elected officers are currently in
hiding, while another 70 of KMWU's national, regional and local leaders
are targeted for investigation. KMWU President Jung Gab-deuk has been held
at Youngdeungo Detention Center since his arrest on August 20. On July 27,
KCTU First Vice-President Jin Young-ok was arrested and held before being
released on bail in the first week of September.

Meanwhile, police forces have surrounded the building where KMWU
headquarters and the headquarters of the KCTU are located. All visitors to
the building are searched and interrogated. The government has also
announced audits of the two legal centers used by the KMWU and KCTU.

The government crackdown stems from the union's participation in a July 2
general strike called by the KCTU and the KMWU's strike action in demand
for national-level industrial collective bargaining.

The International Metalworkers' Federation is urging IMF affiliates to
join the International Trade Union Confederation, KCTU and KMWU in
denouncing the South Korean government's actions and demanding that basic
internationally recognized labour standards and worker protections are
respected.

[olympiaworkers] Turkish Union Worker Meryem Özsöğüt finally released!!

http://www.world-psi.org/Images//meryem_ozsogut.jpg

Meryem Özsö&#287;üt finally released!!

8 September 2008 - After more than eight months in prison Meryem
Özsö&#287;üt has finally been acquitted and released after her trial on
Friday 5 September. Despite worries about her safety, Ms Özsö&#287;üt is
in good health and will shortly be able to return to her duties.
Ms Özsö&#287;üt was arrested last December following her participation in
a Press Conference on behalf of her union, SES, PSI's affiliate in Turkey.
She was facing charges on two accounts, the first for "being a member of a
terrorist organisation" and the second "for making propaganda in favour of
the terrorist organisation".

On the first charge the Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence
and Meryem Özsö&#287;üt and other defendants in the case were fully
acquitted. On the second charge, however, the court ruled that Ms
Özsö&#287;üt had indeed been using the Press Conference to "make
propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation" and sentenced her to
15-months of prison - the maximum for this kind of "crime". The court
agreed to release her as she had already served 8 months of her
"sentence".

Ms Özsö&#287;üt's lawyer will be appealing to the high court of Yargitay
on this second charge. PSI will continue to monitor the situation and
support Ms Özsögüt's appeal.

In a message to PSI on Ms Özsö&#287;üt's behalf, SES thanked the
international community for its support and solidarity via the Labourstart
campaign as well as PSI affiliates, the ILO, the EPSU and ETUC, and the
European Union Commissioners. PSI especially thanks EU Parliamentarian Mr
Joost Langedijk, Chairman of the Turkey delegation to the European
Parliament who had personally handed over the campaign signatures to the
EU leaders. See SES website.
Turkey: 8409 messages calling for Meryem Özsögüt's release

4 September July 2008 - Meryem Özsögüt's trial is due to be held tomorrow,
Friday 5th September. This is the fifth trial date to be set - Ms Özsögüt
was arrested on 14 December 2007 while attending a press conference and
charged of terrorist activities. PSI remains convinced that her arrest and
continued detention is further evidence of the Turkish Government's
hostility to trade unionists. Please support the LabourStart Act NOW
campaign that PSI has launched for her release.
PSI campaign collects 7000 signatures calling for Meryem Özsögüt's release

On Sunday 13 July, PSI appealed to the EU leaders gathered in Paris
discussing the Mediterranean Union to urge the Turkish government to
release Meryem Özsögüt. Two days previously, PSI handed a total of almost
7,000 messages of support from around the World to EU parliamentarian
Joost Lagendijk, chairman of the Turkey delegation of the European
Parliament. Peter Waldorff, general secretary of PSI, welcomes Lagendijk's
actions to raise the unacceptable detention of Ms Özsögüt within the EU
and with the EU presidency currently held by France.

9 July 2008 - Meryem's Özsögüt's fourth trial date was set for today,
Wednesday 9 July. Despite the strong presence of many members of her
union, SES, she has still not been released. A new trial date, the fifth
since January, has been set for 5 September. Please support the
LabourStart Act NOW campaign that PSI has launched for her release.
Trade unions branded as terrorist organisations.

4 June 2008 - In a strongly-worded letter to the Turkish government PSI
has once again called for the immediate release of Meryem Özsögüt. The
Turkish government had responded to PSI's initial letter of protest (see
below) claiming that Ms Özsögüt had been arrested in connection with
"being a member of a terrorist organisation" and "for making propaganda in
favour of the terrorist organisation".

PSI remains convinced that the arrest of Ms Özsögüt and her continued
detention in an "F-type' prison is further evidence of the Turkish
Government's hostility to trade unionists and its determination to use
whatever means at its disposal to repress the legitimate activities of
trade unions in Turkey.

PSI will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Meryem Özsögut remains under arrest

7 March 2008 - PSI recently wrote to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdo&#287;an expressing concern at the arrest of Ms Meryem Özsögüt a
management board member of the SES – the trade union of public employees
in health and social services. PSI believes that her arrest was motivated
solely by her activities as a trade union leader. There are also concerns
for Ms Özsögüt's safety whilst in police custody.

Following letters from PSI and affiliates and the EPSU, Ms. Özsögut's
trial was unexpectedly brought forward to 22nd February instead of the
expected five-month delay. However, although seven of the 12 defendants
were recently released, the trials of Ms Özsögut and four other defendants
were deferred and they remain under arrest.

A new trial will be held on 25th March. PSI will continue to monitor the
situation closely and has already sent a further letter of protest urging
the Turkish government to release Ms. Özsögut and to take any necessary
steps to guarantee her safety.

[olympiaworkers] Machinists at Boeing Set to Stike

From: owls@riseup.net
Date: Fri, September 5, 2008

Dear OWLS supporters,
Saturday, September 6, 11am
Support striking Boeing Machinists — meet at 6726 Corson Ave S

Despite record profits Boeing is offering a concessionary, two tier
contract to IAM members. A strike HAS BEEN CALLED for September 6 at 12:01
am (Midnight tonight!). Join us for a sign making party in Georgetown.
Then OWLS will head for the picket lines. An injury to one is an injury to
all!

The following is from the IAM Web site at:
http://www.goiam.org/content.cfm?cID=13771

----------------------------------------------------
Machinists at Boeing Set to Strike

September 05, 2008 - Leaders of the International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced that a strike will
begin at 3:01 am EST despite extraordinary efforts by the union to reach
an agreement with the Boeing Company.

"The absence of job security language was a key reason why members
rejected the company's earlier offer and it is why Boeing is now facing
the second major strike in three years," said International President Tom
Buffenbarger. "We've learned it's not enough to have a good-paying job if
that job can disappear at any time."

The strike will involve 27,000 Machinists at Boeing facilities in Kansas ,
Oregon and Washington . Details about the strike will be posted at
www.iam751.org and www.goiam.org.

The IAM is among the nation's largest industrial trade unions,
representing over 700,000 active and retired members in airline,
aerospace, manufacturing, railroad, woodworking and shipbuilding
industries.
-----------------------------------------

Mike for Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity

[olympiaworkers] IWW Denied Access to Mall of America by Riot Police, 8/31/08: Video

Indybay Sept 1, 2008

View Video and Pictures at:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/01/18531590.php

Starbucks workers at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota,
unionized with the Industrial Workers of the World about a month ago. One
worker, Erik Forman, was wrongly fired due to his union organizing. With
pressure from the IWW, Starbucks reinstated him and he was set to return
to the job today. Riot police at the Mall of America turned back the IWW,
but Erik was still able to make it to the job. Jake Fell (pictured below)
was interviewed about the day's events and the future plans of the local
IWW.
As an act of solidarity, several dozen local IWW members and supporters,
along with National Lawyer's Guild observers, intended to peacefully
escort the reinstated Erik Forman to the Mall of America. In line with
recent police aggression in the Twin Cities related to the 2008 RNC in St.
Paul (see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/30/18531223.php),
police massed at the IWW rally point at the light rail station at Lake &
Hiawatha. Initially, police refused to allow the IWW access to the light
rail station so that they might escort Erik back to the Mall of America.
Later, the IWW was allowed to proceed. Two stations from the mall, police
again seemed to be ready to prevent the group's access to the mall yet
then allowed the train to proceed. Finally, at the mall itself, a line of
riot cops from Plymouth, MN in full riot gear refused to allow the IWW to
disembark from the train. Other unrelated passengers, including one
diabetic in need of insulin, were also not allowed to leave the train as
it was held with the doors closed. Eventually, the train was just sent in
the other direction, away from the mall, with no one allowed off. At the
first stop in the other direction, Erik Forman got off and walked to his
job at the mall. Jake Fell was interviewed right after the IWW returned to
the original light rail station.

Wobblies Welcome Mall of America Starbucks Baristas to the Union!
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/07/31/18521261.php

8/31- Day of Action Against Capitalism: All out for the IWW Starbucks
Workers!
http://twincities.indymedia.org

Starbucks Barista's Everywhere Can Sign Up:
http://starbucksunion.org

Those Local to Twin Cities Can Call or Email:
1-651-biliup1
twin-cities-iww [at] iww.org

http://starbucksunion.org

[olympiaworkers] Unions propose a general strike to stop the war

From: owls@riseup.net
Date: Tue, July 15,

Stoking the summer heat:
Unions propose a general strike to stop the war

Come to our July meeting to discuss an exciting anti-war resolution. As of
early July, three local unions have endorsed an antiwar resolution to be
brought to the Washington State Labor Council Convention in August. The
resolution, adopted at the June OWLS meeting, calls for a general strike
across the U.S. to be planned and executed by the AFL-CIO and Change to
Win with the demand that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan end immediately.
The resolution also calls for a moratorium on foreclosures, public
ownership of gas and oil companies, affordable health care, and an end to
ICE raids and deportations. We must get this resolution passed to get
labor back in front.

Also featured: OWLS' support for Access bus drivers — ATU 587 members who
are planning actions to win respect and protest King County's giveaway of
140 union jobs to a non-union contractor; and a recent strike by teachers
in Puerto Rico — and how SEIU is trying to raid their independent union.

Coming up August 9 OWLS will hold a yard sale fund raiser. Bring your art
skills to make signs!

Tuesday, July 22, 7:00pm
Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 132, 2800 First Ave

OWLS meets the fourth Tuesday of every month. We are an open, multiracial
group of labor activists formed to forge solidarity across union lines and
promote the unionization of all workers, especially the lowest paid.
Info: OWLS@riseup.net or call Mike at 206-354-8753 or Max at 206-949-4552
Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity PO Box 18202 Seattle, WA 98118-9998

[olympiaworkers] Solidarity request from Providence RI IWW

Hey all, i just got something in the mail from the IWW in Providence. A
couple of their members were brutalized by Providence police over a year
ago during an informational picket. One member, Alexandra Svoboda had her
leg badly broken during the incident. Apparently the City of Providence is
pressing charges and wobblies are asking for funds.

Joe

Following is an article from the IWW website about the incident

http://www.iww.org/en/node/3593

IWW continues organizing and free speech fight in Providence
Submitted by intexile on Mon, 08/20/2007 - 4:43am.
RECENT UPDATES

I.W.W. Victory: Jacky's Galaxy Discontinues Business With Dragonland
Trading Inc.

On Thursday August 16, 2007, "Jacky Ko", members of the Industrial
Workers of the World and their respective lawyers appeared in Superior
Court in Providence. Under oath, Ko stated that he no longer does, nor
will he ever again, knowingly do business with Dragonland. Considering Ko
stated this under oath, the IWW considers this sufficient evidence of Ko's
divestment.

Furthermore, New Buffet restaurant in Providence confirmed that they have
also divested in Dragonland. This is a clear and absolute victory for the
IWW, union rank and file at Dragonland and Alexandra Svoboda, who was
brutalized on the picket line. Alex will undergo her third surgery
tomorrow at RI Hopital and will be operated on at least one more time.

The IWW plans to march, permitted, on August 26th to protest police
brutality and violation of civil rights and to celebrate the recent
victories of the IWW and workers everywhere. The Providence branch of the
IWW is currently seeking a permit for the march.

Alex has just finished her third operation and awaiting a fourth. We
don't know yet how the latest operation went. We'll keep you informed.

********************************************************************************

WHERE TO SEND DONATIONS

This is the paypal e-mail address we are using for her support funds:
albiorix80@yahoo.com
If sending mail, please send it to

Providence GMB:
PO box 5795
Providence R.I.
02903

*********************************************************************************

20 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT ALEX SVOBODA!

* Join Alex's union ­ the IWW. For more information on the Industrial
Workers of the World visit HYPERLINK "http://www.iww.org"
http://www.iww.org. For more information about how to join the local
Providence IWW contact Mark Bray at HYPERLINK
"mailto:albiorix80@yahoo.com" albiorix80@yahoo.com
* Attend solidarity actions organized to support Alex, including the
Anti-Police Brutality March on Sunday, August 26 at 1:30 at the North
Providence City Hall
* Make a donation to support Alex. There are three ways to send
whatever funds you can:

1. Providence IWW GMB, PO Box 5795, Providence, RI 02903
2. Or contact Mark Bray at 201-669-0714
3. For readers wanting to use PayPal, you can address contributions
to the account named HYPERLINK "mailto:albiorix80@yahoo.com"
albiorix80@yahoo.com

* Call your local representatives voicing your outrage over the North
Providence Police's brutal attack on Alex.
* Write letters of support for Alex addressed to:

* North Providence Mayor: Charles A. Lombardi, North Providence
Town Hall, 2000 Smith Street, North Providence, RI 02911 -
Telephone: (401) 232-0900, ext. 226 Fax: (401) 232-3434
* Police Chief: Ernest C. Spaziano, North Providence Police
Department, 1967 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence, RI 02904 -
Business line: 401-233-1433 Fax number: 401-233-1438
* North Providence Police Department Professional Standards Unit,
1967 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 - (401)
233-1433 Ext. 114 Confidential Fax (401) 233-1425
* Attorney General Patrick Lynch, 150 South Main St., Providence,
RI 02903 (401) 274-4400
* Governor Donald L. Carcieri, Office of the Governor, 222 State
House, Providence, RI 02903-1196

* Contact friends, associates or organizational affiliates and urge
them to write letters as well
* Do you have connections to national groups? If so, urge them to
support Alex by writing a letter
* Put an announcement about Alex's situation on a listserve you belong to
* Download flyers from the website and distribute them; Ask local
organizations to distribute them. To download flyers, visit HYPERLINK
"http://supportalexsvoboda.blogspot.com/"
http://supportalexsvoboda.blogspot.com/

* Download the petition on the website and get signatures
* Table at local events with literature and the petition; Notify the
providence GMB about events where we can table
* Make an announcement about supporting Alex's case at a meeting or
public gathering
* Write a letter to the editor to your local newspaper or media outlet
* Make a donation to help with legal fees
* Pass the hat, take up a collection at your place of worship, union
hall, school, etc.
* Organize a fundraiser/ outreach event such as a dinner party,
musical event, film or lecture
* Offer to donate your skills (artistic, writing, music, research,
outreach, canvassing, phone banking, etc)
* Ask a band or entertainer to donate proceeds of a performance to Alex
* Check the website often for updates and events!
* Ask friends and associates to do all of the above!

******************************************************************
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR ALEX AND THE I.W.W.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my concern and outrage over the North Providence
Police Department's handling of the August 11th protest organized by the
Industrial Workers of the World on Mineral Spring Ave. The responding
officers' over-reaction and escalation of this situation that resulted in
such a serious injury to a non-violent peaceful protestor will not be
tolerated by those who hope for and actively work toward a better
community.

It is no doubt that officers face many difficult situations in the line of
duty; however, the judgment exercised by the officers present during this
incident clearly indicates a lack of education about basic civic liberties
and training on appropriate responses to minor infractions.

Clearly, Alexandra Svoboda is not a criminal, but an activist, whose
actions fall within the historic tradition of protest against injustice.
That is not the kind of activity that should lead to such a serious injury
or criminal charges. Ms. Svoboda is a social justice advocate and has a
record of important community service. She is a good, dearly loved,
peaceful member of the community who was brave enough to take a stand
against injustice and inequality.

The pictures that capture this unfortunate incident are horrific. I find
it nauseating to look at the photo of the one officer bearing his weight
on what is clearly her grotesquely broken leg while trying to handcuff
her. Instead, the humane thing to do would have been to find medical
attention for this victim. I hereby demand that you take action against
the offending officers; order a full-scale, independent investigation into
the incident; issue a formal apology to Ms. Svoboda and all who were
present that day; and dismiss all charges against Ms. Svoboda and fellow
union organizer Jason Friedmutter.

In this digital age where news stories can be passed around the world in
seconds quite literally, I can say in all honesty and conviction that THE
WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING and looking upon the City of North Providence with
shame. It is not too late to rectify this situation by holding the
officers accountable for the abuse of power that was exercised that day
and issuing a formal apology to Ms. Svoboda and all who were present at
the demonstration that day.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

**********************************************************
PETITION TEMPLATE

Mayor Charles Lombardi and Colonel Ernest Spaziano,

We, the undersigned, disapprove of the North Providence Police Officers'
handling of the demonstration organized by the Industrial Workers of the
World on August 11, 2007. Two members of the IWW union were arrested
during the incident while exercising their constitutionally protected
rights of freedom to dissent and free speech. In addition to the blatant
disregard for basic civil liberties on which America was built, I am
outraged that the incident resulted in an eruption of police brutality and
misconduct which caused such a severe injury to Alexandra Svoboda. We
demand that you conduct a full-scale, independent investigation into the
actions of the participating police officers; issue a formal apology to
Ms. Svoboda and dismiss all charges against her and fellow union members;
and take appropriate measures to make sure police brutality will not occur
in North Providence ever again.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

NAME ADDRESS PHONE/EMAIL

Please return completed petitions to: Support for Alex, c/o Providence
GMB, PO Box 5795, Providence, RI 02903

***********************************************************

MORE INFO:

CONTACTS FOR MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF OF N. PROV:

North Providence Mayor:
Charles A. Lombardi
North Providence Town Hall
2000 Smith Street
North Providence, RI 02911
Telephone: (401) 232-0900, ext. 226
Fax: (401) 232-3434

Police Chief:
Ernest C. Spaziano
North Providence Police Department
1967 Mineral Spring Ave.
North Providence, R.I. 02904
Business line: 401-233-1433
Fax number: 401-233-1438

*********************************************************

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTERS OF THE NATIONAL LAWYER'S GUILD CONDEMNS VIOLENCE
AGAINST PROTESTERS IN NORTH PROVIDENCE

The New England chapters of the National Lawyers Guild, in Maine,
Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as the regional leadership, have
joined with Rhode Island members to condemn law enforcement violence
against protesters at an August 11 protest march in North Providence.

Last Saturday, a group of about 40 people were taking part in a march
organized by the Providence International Workers of the World (IWW or
"wobblies") in support of HWH Trading Corporation warehouse workers. HWH,
now called Dragonland, is a warehouse in Queens, New York, known for its
sweatshop conditions and flagrant disregard for workers rights. Jacky's
Galaxie, a restaurant chain in Providence and surrounding areas, continues
to do business with HWH, despite knowledge of the company's illegal
practices.

On Saturday, the peaceful marchers were walking down a side of the road
and, when making their way to the sidewalk at the request of law
enforcement, suddenly found themselves being pushed backwards by police.
Alex Svoboda, a Providence wobbly, was violently pushed to the ground and
sustained a broken leg, which had been bent in an awkward while she was
pinned face down to the ground. Not only was Ms. Svoboda's leg broken, but
she required surgery for a burst blood vessel in her leg. Despite Ms.
Svoboda's significant injuries at the hands of law enforcement, she was
subsequently arrested on multiple charges. Another wobbly was also
arrested and two other marchers were pepper sprayed by the police.

The National Lawyers Guild condemns the violence shown by law enforcement
towards these peaceful marchers who were exercising their first amendment
rights in solidarity with workers. Rather than those who were attacked and
arrested, it is the companies that provide sweatshop conditions for their
workers and the companies that purchase goods from these vendors.

We call for all criminal charges resulting from this lawful march to be
dismissed, and for those law enforcement personnel responsible for the
injuries to Ms. Svoboda to be held professionally, and financially,
responsible. Furthermore, we call on Jacky's Galaxie to finally, and
permanently sever its connections to HWH Trading Corporation and to commit
to only dealing with vendors which have a demonstrated commitment to the
rights of workers.

[olympiaworkers] Olympia Worker Resource Blog Updated

Hey all, I updated the links to the Olympia Workers Resource Blog today.
The Blog news is updated by the email list. Anyone on the olympia worker
email can post to the blog by posting to the email list. There are also
newsfeeds from Libcom.org, Labourstart, IWW, and Worker Independent News.
And links to class struggle pamphlets have also been updated.

http://olympiaworkers.net

Joe

[olympiaworkers] Shipping companies file charges over May Day ILWU anti-war strike

Shipping companies file charges over May Day ILWU anti-war strike

US West Coast dockers who struck against the war on May 1st now face a legal threat from their employers.

The Pacific Maritime Association has asked the National Labor Relations Board to file charges against the union. The employers' move, initiated in late May, comes in the midst of ongoing contract talks.

The threat was revealed to several hundred trade unionists at the National
Shop Stewards Network annual conference in London on Saturday. Four
delegates from ILWU Local 10 – Samantha Levens, Anthony Leviege, Robert
Irminger and Jack Heyman – were greeted with a standing ovation as they
entered the hall. In workshops and informal discussion, they explained how
their historic strike had been organised.

The NSSN is the first non-party inter-union coordination of rank and file
trade unionists in Britain for many years. Initiated by the RMT, it now
involves members spread across most major unions in England, Wales,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Platform speakers on Saturday included the
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow, POA General Secretary Brian Caton, and PCS
President Janice Goodrich. Interest in the ILWU story was intense. Jack
Heyman told the final plenary that imperialist wars abroad meant
repression at home, and ending the war would benefit all workers.

The strike had its origins in the Labor Conference to Stop the War, held
in San Francisco last October and to which the RMT sent 6 delegates.
Conference called on individual unions to establish policy in favour of
industrial action against the war. In February, the ILWU Longshore Caucus
debated a resolution from Local 10. Vietnam veterans spoke in that debate,
and swung the vote to overwhelming support for workers' action to stop the
war. While the original motion called for a 24 hour stoppage, the union
opted for 8 hours and then tried to use the normal facility of a monthly
stop-work meeting. However, the employers refused to grant this facility
and the stoppage went ahead without their permission.

First ever US strike against war

The longshore action on International Workers Day was the first ever US
strike against war, closed all 29 West Coast ports and inspired a
solidarity stoppage in the Iraqi Port of Basra. The PMA claims it
constituted an "unlawful secondary boycott".

The legal threat may be a ploy in contract talks. The current agreement
expired today (1st July). During previous negotiations in 2002, the then
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfield warned the union that industrial action would constitute a
threat to national security, and theatened to bring troops to occupy the
docks in the event of a strike over the contract. In their submission to
the NLRB filed on 27 May, the PMA declared:

On or about February 8, 2008, and at all times thereafter, the
International Longhsore and Warehouse Union ("ILWU") has engaged in the
planning, coordination and publication of a work stoppage scheduled to
occur on or about May 1, 2008 at ports throughout the West Coast. On May
1, 2008, the threatened work stoppage occurred and caused the closure of
virtually every major port in California, Oregon and Washington. The ILWU
did not have a dispute with PMA, a multi-employer bargaining association,
or any of PMA's approximately 70 member stevedoring, terminal and shipping
companies, all of whom employ ILWU members. Rather, according to the
Union's public statements, the purpose for the work stoppage was to
protest the United States Government and its current military policy,
specifically regarding the war in Iraq.

The ILWU's actions in connection with the May 1, 2008 work stoppage
constituted an unlawful secondary boycott in violation of the Section 8
(b) (4) (B) of the Act. The ILWU induced and encouraged its members to
refuse to perform their jobs and threatened and restrained PMA and its
member companies with the work stoppage. In doing so, the ILWU prevented
PMA and its member companies from doing business and dealing with other
employers and persons, as well as each other.

Section 8 (b) (4) (B) bars labour actions aimed to force a boycott of
other companies or to compel another employer to recognise a union.

It is highly debatable whether the action constituted a "secondary
boycott". The ILWU stoppage came after the PMA refused a normal union
request that the monthly facility for stop-work meetings be granted for
the day shift on May 1st.

The NLRB must now decide whether to proceed with charges against the union.

Send solidarity messages to:

Bob McEllrath, International President, ILWU, 1188 Franklin Street, San
Francisco, California 94109. Tel: (+1 415) 775 0533 Fax: (+1 415) 775
1302. Email: robert.mcellrath [at] ilwu.org

Send protests to:
PMA public relations consultant, Steve Getzug, at (310) 633-9444 or
steve.getzug@hillandknowlton.com
PMA Headquarters
555 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2800
Phone: (415) 576-3200 Main FAX: (415) 348-8392
and to
NLRB San Francisco
901 Market Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94103-1735
Regional Director: Joseph P. Norelli Hours of Operation: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
(PST)
TEL: 415-356-5130 FAX: 415-356-5156
or use the email form for the NLRB information office
http://www.nlrb.gov/about_us/news_room/contact_the_division_of_information.aspx

http://libcom.org/news/shipping-companies-file-charges-over-may-day-anti-war-strike-02072008

Global Day of Action Will Protest Starbucks’ Anti-Union Terminations

Monday, June 30 2008 Contributed by: GRSBUXUNION to infoshop news

Grand Rapids, Michigan - Union members and social activists are gearing up for what may be the largest, global coordinated action against Starbucks ever. Protesters will decry what they see as an epidemic of anti-union terminations by the world’s largest coffee chain. Starbucks and its CEO Howard Schultz have exhibited a pattern of firing outspoken union baristas ever since the advent of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union (SWU) in 2004 and are demonstrating the same practice against the CNT union in Spain.

Coordinated Actions Across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America Could
Be Largest Ever Against Coffee Chain

Grand Rapids , MI ( 06-30-2008 )- Union members and social activists are gearing up for what may be the largest, global coordinated action against Starbucks ever. Protesters will decry what they see as an epidemic of anti-union terminations by the world’s largest coffee chain. Starbucks and its CEO Howard Schultz have exhibited a pattern of firing outspoken union baristas ever since the advent of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union (SWU) in 2004 and are demonstrating the same practice against the CNT union in Spain.

"On July 5th people around the world will show Starbucks that we, baristas along with our supporters, will have a voice and Starbucks discrimination and repression of our efforts will not go unchecked," said Cole Dorsey, a fired Starbucks barista and a member of the SWU.

The IWW and CNT have called for the day of action in response to two recent anti-union terminations. On April 24, Starbucks fired Monica in Sevilla , Spain, for her activity on behalf of the CNT union. She asked to be identified by only her first name to avoid future employment discrimination. On June 6, Starbucks fired 2 year barista Cole Dorsey in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for his activity on behalf of the Industrial Workers of the World union. These firings come in the midst of Unfair Labor Practice charges being investigated by the NLRB against Starbucks in Grand Rapids, including whether Starbucks violated a previous Labor Board settlement there, and deliberations by a judge on the anti-union terminations of three IWW baristas in New York City.

The firing of Monica, in Spain, made clear that Starbucks union-busting policies were not specific to the US, but were decided by the top echelons of the corporation in Seattle. The Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores ( CNT ) quickly responded in Spain with local pressure to reinstate their member.

Due to Starbucks globalized response to union activists, the Starbucks Union (IWW) and the Sevilla CNT vowed to join struggles for the reinstatement of their members. As a consequence of that declaration, July 5th was called for a Global Day of Action Against Starbucks Repression. In a show of solidarity, Cole and Monica vowed not to return until both were reinstated.

Actions against Starbucks will take place in: Argentina, Chile, the British Isles, Italy, Japan, Norway, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, 4
cities in Spain, 6 cities in Germany. In the US: Phoenix, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Boston, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles .

The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization
of employees at the world's largest coffee chain united for better pay, stable work schedules, safer working conditions, and easier access to more affordable health care. The union has members throughout the United States fighting for systemic change at the company and remedying individual grievances with management.

[olympiaworkers] Help us free a jailed woman trade unionist

This message will be very brief and to the point.

 

The Turkish government has jailed a woman trade unionist, Meryem Özsögüt, and has kept her in detention for nearly six months.    Meryem is a leader of the public sector union SES, and we've been asked by Public Services International (PSI) to launch a big online campaign demanding her release. For more details and to add your signature, please click here now.

This campaign will not take off, and we will not secure Meryem's release, unless we can mobilize thousands of our members around the world. 

 

Please do what you can to help this campaign go viral -- forward it to your email lists, post information on your union websites, pass out flyers at events, use new tools like Twitter, Facebook and blogs to spread the word.

Meryem needs our help.  I know that I can count on all of you.

Eric Lee

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

Manage your subscription

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---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Help us free a jailed woman trade unionist
From: "Eric Lee" <ericlee@labourstart.org>
Date: Mon, June 30, 2008 4:48 am
To: olympiaworkers@riseup.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are having trouble viewing this message, please go to
http://community.icontact.com/p/labourstart/newsletters/inside/rss.xml.

This message will be very brief and to the point.

The Turkish government has jailed a woman trade unionist,
Meryem Özsögüt, and has kept her in detention for nearly six months.

Meryem is a leader of the public sector union SES, and we've been asked
by Public Services International (PSI) to launch a big online
campaign demanding her release.

For more details and to add your signature, please
[http://www.labourstart.org/meryem] click here now.

This campaign will not take off, and we will not secure Meryem's release,
unless we can mobilize thousands of our members around the world.

Please do what you can to help this campaign go viral -- forward it to
your email lists, post information on your union websites, pass out flyers
at events, use new tools like Twitter, Facebook and blogs to spread the
word.

Meryem needs our help. I know that I can count on all of you.

Eric Lee

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

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[olympiaworkers] Please sign ISC-supported petition for guest workers

Please sign ISC-supported petition for guest workers

> Fellow Workers,
>
> On Wednesday, June 11th (tomorrow!) there will be an international
> day of action to support Indian guest-workers who have been on hunger
> strike for weeks to protest their coercive, deceptive and brutal
> mistreatment in the United States. They came to the Gulf Coast to help
> rebuild the area destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and after facing
> terrible conditions they are now threatened with deportation for
> speaking out.
>
> Please go to http://nolaworkerscenter.wordpress.com/sign-the-petition/

> right now and sign the petition there. Despite a lot of recent
> publicity and a letter to the Department of Justice from over a dozen
> members of Congress, there are amazingly only 59 signatures on this
> petition so far. Let's change that and show these fellow workers that
> they have our support! Also, anyone who can organize a local protest
> or join forces with an existing one tomorrow (and write a report about
> it for the Industrial Worker, iww.org, the ISC bulletin, etc.) should
> email solidarity@iww.org immediately. Thank you!
>
> Mike Pesa
> International Solidarity Commission
> Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
> _______________________________________________

[olympiaworkers] Reminder: Tacoma Wobblyfest this Saturday

Please Post Widely

Tacoma Wobblyfest 2008:                                                A Poor and Working People's Gathering

A Public Gathering of Education and Music

When the union's inspiration through the workers blood shall run There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun---- Solidarity Forever

May 24, 2008

9 AM to 5 PM at: Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus: 1210 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA

6 PM to 9 PM at: Pitchpipe Infoshop, 621 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA

ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED!

Workshops 9 AM to 12 Noon: Everegreen State College-Tacoma Campus                                                             

1. Immigrant Workers: Mary Smith.                                     9:00 am to 9:45 am   

This workshop will focus on the reality that most immigrants are working people who are being exploited by employers and politicians. The workshop will include information on resistance to exploitation and union organizing.                                                  

2. Working Class Environmentalism: Leah Coakley:            10 am to 10:45 am  

Working Class Environmentalism Workshop:

The mainstream environmental movement has many challenges, including its predominantly consumer-based strategies, which often exclude the knowledge, struggles, and organizing power of the poor and working classes.  This workshop will serve to introduce the Working Class Environmentalism movement -- its vision, history, and significance.  The ideas of IWW environmental-labor organizers such as Judi Bari will be featured.  Workshop participants will have a chance to participate in an organizing scenario and engage in discussion on working class environmental movement-building and education.

 

3. Joe Hill and IWW Music: Patrick Edelbacher:               11 am to 11:45 am

 

This workshop will focus on the importance of music in labor organizing, specifically the impact of Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie (non-Wobbly), Ralph Chaplin, and other IWW songwriters on the movement. Not only will we revisit  songs that shaped the American labor movement but discover contemporary labor songs and applicable tunes for today's worker. Since the IWW is know as the singing union, it wouldn't be a true IWW workshop without group songs. No signing experience necessary, every voice matters.

FANNING THE FLAMES OF DISCONTENT SPOKEN WORD AND MUSIC 1 PM to 5 PM: Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus

MC: Marilyn Kimmerling

Openning 1 pm to 1:05 pm

IWW Preamble: Jen Rogue: 1:06 to 1:11

Openning song "Banks of Marble"  1:12 to 1:17:         Patrick Edelbacher & Diane M. Crews

THE IWW, IDEAS, STRUCTURE AND TACTICS:          Arthur J. Miller: 1:20 to 1:45  

TACOMA IWW:                                                           Leah Coakley 1:50 to 2:25

MUSIC FOR REBEL WORKERS:                             

Patrick Edelbacher 2:30 to 3:15  

Diane M. Crews, 3:20 to 4:05

Jess Grant: 4:10 to 4:55

Solidarity Forever 5:55 to 5 pm

TACOMA, LET US ORGANIZE! Workshop on Workplace Organizing:Patrick Edelbacher:  6 PM to 9 PM at: Pitchpipe Infoshop, 621 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA  

  This workshop will focus a workplace organizing skills, questions on organizing, and possible union organizing in Tacoma

CHILD CARE PROVIDED: Please let us know if you will need Child Care so that we will know what needs to be organized

Complimentary lunch and dinner

We need help getting fliers and posters out. To arrange getting fliers and posters or the get the event flier by e-mail please send a message to: TacIWW@iww.org

This event is organized by:

Tacoma General Membership Branch

Industrial Workers of the World

P.O. Box 5464

Tacoma, WA 98415-0464

E-Mail: TacIWW@iww.org

Web Site: http://tacoma.iww.org/

IWW Web Site: www.iww.org 

The Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) was founded over 100 years ago as a labor organization that believes in industrial unionism, industrial organizing, direct action and universal working class solidarity. The I.W.W. has sought to organize workers internationally into a One Big Union for the purpose of carrying on the day-to-day labor struggles from the greatest possible strength that can be organized and to build a new society within the shell of the old where class conflict no longer exists

 

[olympiaworkers] Up-Date: Tacoma Wobblyfest 2008

 

Please Post Widely

Tacoma Wobblyfest 2008:                                                A Poor and Working People's Gathering

A Public Gathering of Education and Music

When the union's inspiration through the workers blood shall run There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun---- Solidarity Forever

May 24, 2008

9 AM to 5 PM at: Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus: 1210 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA

6 PM to 9 PM at: Pitchpipe Infoshop, 621 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA

ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED!

Workshops 9 AM to 12 Noon: Everegreen State College-Tacoma Campus                                                             

1. Immigrant Workers: Mary Smith.                                     9:00 am to 9:45 am   

This workshop will focus on the reality that most immigrants are working people who are being exploited by employers and politicians. The workshop will include information on resistance to exploitation and union organizing.                                                  

2. Working Class Environmentalism: Leah Coakley:            10 am to 10:45 am  

Working Class Environmentalism Workshop:

The mainstream environmental movement has many challenges, including its predominantly consumer-based strategies, which often exclude the knowledge, struggles, and organizing power of the poor and working classes.  This workshop will serve to introduce the Working Class Environmentalism movement -- its vision, history, and significance.  The ideas of IWW environmental-labor organizers such as Judi Bari will be featured.  Workshop participants will have a chance to participate in an organizing scenario and engage in discussion on working class environmental movement-building and education.

 

3. Joe Hill and IWW Music: Patrick Edelbacher:               11 am to 11:45 am

 

This workshop will focus on the importance of music in labor organizing, specifically the impact of Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie (non-Wobbly), Ralph Chaplin, and other IWW songwriters on the movement. Not only will we revisit  songs that shaped the American labor movement but discover contemporary labor songs and applicable tunes for today's worker. Since the IWW is know as the singing union, it wouldn't be a true IWW workshop without group songs. No signing experience necessary, every voice matters.

FANNING THE FLAMES OF DISCONTENT SPOKEN WORD AND MUSIC 1 PM to 5 PM: Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus

MC: Marilyn Kimmerling

Openning 1 pm to 1:05 pm

IWW Preamble: Jen Rogue: 1:06 to 1:11

Openning song "Banks of Marble"  1:12 to 1:17:         Patrick Edelbacher & Diane M. Crews

THE IWW, IDEAS, STRUCTURE AND TACTICS:          Arthur J. Miller: 1:20 to 1:45  

TACOMA IWW:                                                           Leah Coakley 1:50 to 2:25

MUSIC FOR REBEL WORKERS:                             

Patrick Edelbacher 2:30 to 3:15  

Diane M. Crews, 3:20 to 4:05

Jess Grant: 4:10 to 4:55

Solidarity Forever 5:55 to 5 pm

TACOMA, LET US ORGANIZE! Workshop on Workplace Organizing:Patrick Edelbacher:  6 PM to 9 PM at: Pitchpipe Infoshop, 621 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA  

  This workshop will focus a workplace organizing skills, questions on organizing, and possible union organizing in Tacoma

CHILD CARE PROVIDED: Please let us know if you will need Child Care so that we will know what needs to be organized

Complimentary lunch and dinner

We need help getting fliers and posters out. To arrange getting fliers and posters or the get the event flier by e-mail please send a message to: TacIWW@iww.org

This event is organized by:

Tacoma General Membership Branch

Industrial Workers of the World

P.O. Box 5464

Tacoma, WA 98415-0464

E-Mail: TacIWW@iww.org

Web Site: http://tacoma.iww.org/

IWW Web Site: www.iww.org 

The Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) was founded over 100 years ago as a labor organization that believes in industrial unionism, industrial organizing, direct action and universal working class solidarity. The I.W.W. has sought to organize workers internationally into a One Big Union for the purpose of carrying on the day-to-day labor struggles from the greatest possible strength that can be organized and to build a new society within the shell of the old where class conflict no longer exists

[olympiaworkers] Pittsburgh: Solidarity With Locked Out Calgon Workers POG bringsdinner for Mayday-eve potluck in support of Calgon workers

from infoshop news

At midnight on February 29 Calgon Chemical locked out 63 members of United
Steelworkers Local 5032 based at the company's Neville Island facility.
Rather than let work continue under an extension of the previous contract
management locked out the workers, barring them from the plant. Workers
are struggling to maintain affordable family healthcare coverage and
pensions in the face of continual management efforts to cut benefits and
crush the union.

On April 30, a dozen members of Pittsburgh Organizing Group (POG) decided
to show their solidarity and support of labor by bringing the workers
dinner and standing with them on another cold night of the camp-out. POG
brought them home cooked meatball sandwiches, pasta, chips, and cake. We
talked with workers, thanked them for their dedication, and discussed some
of our ongoing work.

immersed in conversation 2

Since the lockout began workers have maintained a 24-hour camp outside the
plant gates (there are two main facility entrances.) Private security
goons are also on hand, video-taping, and otherwise seeking to maintain an
intimidating presence. Local police have also made their presence felt,
protecting management and the scab labor being used to operate the plant,
most recently issuing a citation to a steelworker for "swearing." During
the dinner security harassed a member of POG who took a picture of a car
from the sidewalk, demanding to know who he was, refusing to say where the
Calgon property line was, and then stating the local police had been
called.

We live in a world where capital continues its endless march to globalize,
to externalize all costs, and to crush all mechanisms of community
accountability and control. Laws and borders criminalize the movement of
people, while the powerful operate as they please, hidden actors within
mega-corporations.

With a National Labor Relations Board stacked in favor of corporations,
and a legal system that severely limits unions' abilities to confront
employers, these struggles often come down to the question of local
community action and utilization of the main weapon at our disposal,
solidarity.

Solidarity is more than a principle, more than an ethic; it is an
imperative for social change advocates. It is simply recognition that ours
is a collective struggle, and our fates are tied to the fates of others,
and that no one can afford to go it alone. In this interconnected web of
struggle, a defeat for labor at Calgon is a defeat for workers everywhere.
Members of POG may not see eye-to-eye with the United Steelworkers on all
issues, and many of our members likely have differences of political
vision with many Calgon workers, yet we are united in the joint belief
that workers are entitled to be the beneficiaries of their labor and that
they have an unalienable right to organize for the betterment of
themselves and others. We are workers and allies in the struggle.

Stated directly, it is an affront to our group's values and aspirations to
allow the continuation of a situation where locked out workers and their
families suffer while scab labor and management operate with impunity. We
are considering calling attention to those individuals (such as Calgon CEO
John S. Stanik of Venetia) and companies responsible for the current
suffering of workers and their families through the diversity of legal
means at our disposal- protests at Calgon or it's customers and suppliers,
home demonstrations, flyering, petitions, etc. We will be watching this
situation closely.

Pittsburgh was, is, and will always be, a labor town.

In solidarity with the workers at Calgon, and all those experiencing the
class-war that is being waged on workers.

Pittsburgh Organizing Group

www.organizepittsburgh.org

[olympiaworkers] May 1st - Building a Popular Anarchism in Ireland

Building a Popular Anarchism in Ireland
a speaking tour by Andrew Flood

Thursday, May 1st at 7pm
Evergreen State College
Sem2 D1107

Sponsored by the Sabot Infoshop, Olympia SDS, and Class Action Alliance.

Andrew Flood is an active anarchist organizer and writer, with twenty years
experience in Ireland, most of that time as a member of the Workers
Solidarity Movement (http://wsm.ie). More recently, he became a
member of the Northeast Federation of Anarchist Communists
(http://nefac.net) and is a founding member of Common Cause, Ontario
(http://linchpin.ca). His publishing record includes well over one hundred
articles, translated into over nine languages, chapters published in three
books, and articles in seven English language anti-authoritarian magazines
and newspapers. He was the speaker at numerous events in Ireland, meetings
in Britain, Italy, Canada, the Czech Republic and the USA and attended
conferences in the Netherlands, France, Spain and Mexico.

The tour is sponsored by Class Action Alliance, a new organization being
built in Washington and Oregon which identifies with the specific
international anarchist traditions recognizing four main tenets of
anarchist organization. The core of these traditions are the need for
anarchist political organizations that seek to develop theoretical unity,
tactical unity, collective action and discipline, and federalism. We are
loosely based on the Anarkismo editorial statement
(http://www.anarkismo.net/docs.php?id=1)

http://www.classactionalliance.org

[olympiaworkers] The Working Class Takes a Stand: Stop Chinese Arms Shipment to the Zimbabwean Regime!

from http://anarkismo.net

by Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front - ZACF Friday, Apr 18 2008, 2:52pm
zacf@zabalaza.net address: Postnet Suite 47, Private Bag X1, Fordsburg,
2033, South Africa phone: 00 27 (0) 82 334 6665 or 00 27 (0) 84 946 4240
southern africa / imperialism / war / feature

We welcome and support the decision by the South African Transport and
Allied Workers Union for their workers neither to unload nor transport the
shipment of Chinese-made armaments destined for Zimbabwe. This is a very
encouraging sign of working class solidarity and internationalism, and we
hope that such actions will indeed prevent this weapons consignment from
reaching its destination - the Zimbabwean Defence Force.

At the same time, if the transport workers should fail, if President
Robert Mugabe's friends should find a way to bypass their resistance, all
who stand with the Zimbabwean people should be ready to take a stand.
Should the action taken by Satawu fail to prevent the armaments from being
transported across South African territory to Zimbabwe, we call on all
progressive elements across the country to intervene.
[Türkçe] [Deutsch]

The Working Class Takes a Stand: Stop Chinese Arms Shipment to the
Zimbabwean Regime!

We welcome and support the decision by the South African Transport and
Allied Workers Union for their workers neither to unload nor transport the
shipment of Chinese-made armaments destined for Zimbabwe. This is a very
encouraging sign of working class solidarity and internationalism, and we
hope that such actions will indeed prevent this weapons consignment from
reaching its destination - the Zimbabwean Defence Force.

At the same time, if the transport workers should fail, if President
Robert Mugabe's friends should find a way to bypass their resistance, all
who stand with the Zimbabwean people should be ready to take a stand.
Should the action taken by Satawu fail to prevent the armaments from being
transported across South African territory to Zimbabwe, we call on all
progressive elements across the country to intervene.

On 29 March 2008, parliamentary, presidential and local elections were
held in Zimbabwe. This represented the last-gasp attempt of the Movement
for Democratic Change to oust the 28-year-old regime of incumbent
President Robert Mugabe, after a series of contestations since 2000 had
resulted in an impasse.

The results of the parliamentary election show that the MDC has a narrow
majority, but the results of the presidential election have been
unaccountably delayed – presumably to allow Mugabe's regime to reassert
its authority over the masses of the people who have been brutalised and
impoverished.

These facts are well known to the world's progressive forces and to those
who struggle for economic, social and political justice and equality. Now,
in the hour of Mugabe's ultimate betrayal, a new threat has arisen in the
form of a shipment of Chinese armaments – including rocket-propelled
grenades, AK-47 assault rifle rounds and mortars – which, we fear with
justification, will be used to forcibly suppress the democratic forces in
Zimbabwe, and could lead directly to the murder of thousands of Zimbabwean
people.

We are fully aware of the heroic resistance of the Zimbabwean people to
racist domination and their successful defeat of the regime of Ian Smith
in 1980. This resistance was both pluralistic via the guerrillas of both
Zanla and Zipra, and multiracial – even if the majority of white
"Rhodesians" chose to abandon their country after independence.

But we are equally aware of the grievous injury done to the cause of the
people by Mugabe's paranoia over the years – even if this paranoia was
well-founded on apartheid attempts on his own life – and the dead of
Matabeleland [1] and the displaced of Operation Murambatsvina [2] cry out
for social justice.

Now, with the whole world watching – and the Southern African Development
Community vacillating as predicted in its usual ineffective "engagements"
– Mugabe has again stolen not only a march on the opposition, but the
future of his people.

Journalists are being expelled and election observers have already fled
the roost, allowing blood to flow in the streets unseen and unchecked:
scanty reports now emerge of torture, murder, evictions, dispossessions
and beating.

And now we have caught, red-handed, a Chinese shipment of arms to this
regime, a regime that by all accounts is in terminal decline, with the
highest inflation rate in the world and an elite that is already
displaying the most grotesque elements of social decay imaginable.

We call on all progressive groups, organisations and individuals to
physically prevent, whether peacefully or with necessary force, the
shipment of arms to one of the world's most despised pariah dictatorships.
This call extends to the progressive world community to do whatever they
can to bring this to public attention and to prevent possible massacre.

This could include:

* Targeting and putting pressure on South African Port Authorities not
to allow the consignment to come onto land.
* Targeting South African, Chinese and Zimbabwean embassies and
diplomatic missions with pickets, protests and other non-violent
direct actions - against representatives of these governments - and
not the ordinary citizens of these states. (We will not tolerate any
actions against Chinese, Zimbabwean or South African people on the
basis of their ethnicity and/ or nationality).
* Gathering intelligence about the whereabouts, planned route and mode
of transport for the armaments, and publicising these.
* Blockading these routes in a non-violent manner with an eye to
preventing the armaments from reaching their destination.
* Blockading the South African border with Zimbabwe should the
armaments reach it.
* Supporting and sustaining the transport workers in their refusal to
unload and transport the weapons.
* Defending the transport workers and anyone else who faces repression
as a result of their efforts to stop the weapons reaching their
destination.
* Link this struggle directly to global opposition to China's campaign
to suppress the Tibetan people and turn the 2008 Olympics into a
replica of the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany – where nationalist
sporting events were used as a cover for gross human rights abuses.

What we know:

* A Chinese ship, An Yue Jiang - owned by the parastatal Chinese Ocean
Shipping Company - carrying armaments destined for Zimbabwe has
anchored at Durban harbour.
* The shipment contains almost three million rounds of ammunitions for
small arms and AK-47s, about 3 500 mortars and mortar launchers, as
well as 1 500 rockets for rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and is
valued at R9,88million.
* The ship's cargo documentation was allegedly finalised just 3 days
after the Zimbabwean elections.
* The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union has refused to
unload or transport the arms consignment, although this does not mean
someone else won't.
* About 10 Chinese soldiers armed with pistols have been seen with
Zimbabwean military officials in Harare.

THIS SHIPMENT WILL BE STOPPED BY THE DIRECT ACTION OF THE PEOPLE!

MUGABE WILL FALL! BUT WE, THE AFRICAN PEOPLE, WILL STAND IN HIS STEAD!
Footnotes:

[1] The Matabeleland Massacre, between 1982 - 1983 was an attempt by
ZANU-PF on the ethnic cleansing of people of the Ndebele ethno-political
group living in the Matabeleland region. An estimated 20 000 people were
murdered.

[2] Known in English as Operation Drive Out Trash, Operation Murambastvina
was a large scale government campaign to forcibly clear out slum areas,
effectively displacing an estimated 2.4 million people. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Murambatsvina

http://www.zabalaza.net

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