Saturday, March 29, 2008

[olympiaworkers] Workers' Assembly on Immigration

Hi everyone,

I'm somewhat involved with this, but if you could email me at
dunnb@evergreen.edu or Samira at shirdels@evergreen.edu if you want to
volunteer, that would be great. Attached are flyers for the event.

Hello those in solidarity with the rights of immigrant workers!
Attached you will find flyers for the Worker's Assembly on Immigration,
which is coming up very soon on April 11th and 12th! Please look at the
flyers for more information.

If you are interested in being a part of this very important event as a
volunteer please reply back to this email, and we can get connected.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with setting up the event,
closing down the event, registration at the event, being a Spanish/
English bi-lingual host at the event, food serving at the event, and a few
drivers to help with transportation to the event.

Participate in a historic movement-making event to bring immigrant workers
with U.S. born workers to have important discussions and build critical
alliances.

We look forward to working with you!

www.evergreen.edu/laborcenter

Friday, March 28, 2008

[olympiaworkers] Urgent appeals from Russia, Iran and Canada

 
In this week's mailing:

* Russia: Nestle refuses to negotiate
* Iran: Jailed trade unionist goes on hunger strike
* Canada: Stop union-busting in Saskatchewan
* Global: Unions launch Olympic-linked campaign for workers' rights
* UK: Fremantle update
 
 
 
Pictured: Nestle workers demonsrate in Perm. 


Russia: Nestle refuses to negotiate

A few months ago, the determined resistance of workers combined with a global solidarity campaign forced Ford to negotiate with its workers in Russia.  Now it's Nestle's turn.  The giant food multinational is attempting to dictate wages to its Russian workers, and refuses to bargain collectively with the union.  The workers at the company's factory in Perm have called for an international campaign of protest, which has been launched by the IUF.  Please take one minute to send your message right now.
 
Iran: Jailed trade unionist goes on hunger strike

Mahmoud Salehi, the jailed Iranian trade unionist, was due to be freed from prison on 23 March.  But the authorities now accuse him of "communicating with those outside prison for the purposes of issuing messages of solidarity". As a result, he has not yet been released and has gone on hunger strike.  Amnesty International is waging a global campaign to demand his freedom -- please send off your message today.

Canada: Stop union-busting in Saskatchewan

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan was once known as the citadel of democratic socialism in that country.  No longer.  A new right-wing government has made its first legislative priority the enactment of union-busting legislation.  The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is asking for our help to pressure the government to back down.  More details and a chance to send off your protest message are available here .

Global: Unions launch Olympic-linked campaign for workers rights

The international trade union movement has launched a campaign to highlight abuses of workers' rights in the run-up to the summer Olympic games in Beijing.  The campaign -- called "Catch the Flame" -- is part of Play Fair 2008.  Full details are here.

UK: Fremantle update

As you may recall, last year we ran a very large online campaign in support of care home workers in North London employed by Fremantle Trust.  Despite your 12,500 email messages, the dispute is not yet over.  However,  the union has informed us that a series of meetings are now taking place with the employer in an attempt to resolve the dispute.  They have asked us to suspend the online campaign, which we have done, and have promised to update us in the future.

You can help make these online campaigns much more effective by spreading the word -- pass this email on to fellow union members and to mailing lists.  Thank you.

Have a great weekend.

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. Email Marketing Software


Manage your subscription
In this week's mailing:

* Russia: Nestle refuses to negotiate
* Iran: Jailed trade unionist goes on hunger strike
* Canada: Stop union-busting in Saskatchewan
* Global: Unions launch Olympic-linked campaign for workers' rights
* UK: Fremantle update

Pictured: Nestle workers demonsrate in Perm.

Russia: Nestle refuses to negotiate

A few months ago, the determined resistance of workers combined with
aglobal solidarity campaign forced Ford to negotiate with its workers
inRussia. Now it's Nestle's turn. The giant food multinational
isattempting to dictate wages to its Russian workers, and refuses tobargain
collectively with the union. The workers at the company'sfactory in Perm
have called for an international campaign ofprotest, which has been
launched by the IUF. Please take one minute to
[http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=344] send your
message right now.

Iran: Jailed trade unionist goes on hunger strike
Mahmoud Salehi, the jailed Iranian trade unionist, was due to be freed
from prison on 23 March. But the authorities now accuse him of
"communicating with those outside prison for the purposes of issuing
messages of solidarity". As a result, he has not yet been released and has
gone on hunger strike. Amnesty International is waging a global campaign
to demand his freedom -- please
[http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=386] send off your
message today.

Canada: Stop union-busting in Saskatchewan

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan was once known as the citadel of
democratic socialism in that country. No longer. A new right-wing
government has made its first legislative priority the enactment of
union-busting legislation. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is asking
for our help to pressure the government to back down. More details and a
chance to send off your protest message are available
[http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=350]
here .

Global: Unions launch Olympic-linked campaign for workers rights

The international trade union movement has launched a campaign to
highlight abuses of workers' rights in the run-up to the summer Olympic
games in Beijing. The campaign -- called "Catch the Flame" -- is part of
Play Fair 2008. Full details are [http://www.playfair2008.org/] here.

UK: Fremantle update

As you may recall, last year we ran a very large online campaign in
support of care home workers in North London employed by Fremantle Trust.
Despite your 12,500 email messages, the dispute is not yet over. However,
the union has informed us that a series of meetings are now taking place
with the employer in an attempt to resolve the dispute. They have asked us
to suspend the online campaign, which we have done, and have promised to
update us in the future.

You can help make these online campaigns much more effective by spreading
the word -- pass this email on to fellow union members and to mailing
lists. Thank you.

Have a great weekend.

Eric Lee


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

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Monday, March 17, 2008

[olympiaworkers] Workers’ Assembly On Immigration

from http://olympiaimc.org
http://cascadia.olympiaworkers.net/workers-assembly-immigration

Date: Fri & Sat, April 11th and 12th, 2008
(4:30 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Saturday)

Location:
the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus
1210 Sixth Avenue
Tacoma, Washington

*Childcare and Transportation will be available*

The Assembly is for workers to talk to one another about
immigration, how it affects working families in all of our communities,
and what we can do to stop exploitation on the job and in the streets.

How can immigrant communities and their supporters respond to ICE raids?

How can we overcome stereotypes and myths about each others’
communities to create a stronger power base and solidarity?

*Organized by: The Labor Center at The Evergreen State College and El
Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Juan Jose Bocanegra 360.650.2106,
bocanegj@evergreen.edu

Juan Jose Bocanegra, MSW
LABOR EDUCATOR/FIELD ORGANIZER
Evergreen State College
Labor Education & Research Center
Seminar II E2128

1-360-918-2726 cell
1-360-867-5524 office

Sunday, March 16, 2008

[olympiaworkers] March for Peace on the Anniversary of War

From: owls@riseup.net
Date: Wed, March 12, 2008 10:32 pm

The fifth year anniversary of the war in Iraq is approaching. Over five
years in Afghanistan, five in Iraq, and what do we have to show for it?
Thousands dead, millions of refugees, and we're closer to world war III
than ever. In February, OWLS discussed the cost of the wars, and the
crippling effect they will have on generations to come. OWLS has been a
voice for union workers against war. Compare our record to the AFL-CIO:
the words "war", "peace" and "Iraq" do not appear on their home page. And
consider these words of AFL-CIO President John Sweeney: "President George
W. Bush did the right thing yesterday [3/25/03] in presenting to Congress
a request for funding the war and eventual reconstruction in Iraq."

Compare that to the report presented at the February OWLS meeting
(attached) which states: "War is the most egregious and costly icon of our
desperate condition. In order to end war... we need a new political voice
for workers, a voice independent from the Democrats and their deep ties
with the fundamentally corrupt system that allows war criminals to rule,
rather than sending them to a well deserved prison cell."

There are two upcoming events at which we can make our voices as union
workers heard. Please bring an OWLS sign and let the world know that
Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity stands for peace.

Wednesday, March 19: Fifth anniversary of the US Invasion of Iraq.
Evening protest, 6:00pm, downtown Seattle, Westlake Mall.

AND

Saturday, March 22, Noon-4pm: Support the right of GIs to resist! Rally &
march at Fort Lewis

A coalition of antiwar and veteran organizations will gather near the
base, at Harry Todd Park in Lakewood to support GIs right to resist. The
day's events will include GI Resource Tables, March & Vigil, Personal
Testimonies and Music & Speakers, The speakers will include Chanan Suarez
Diaz, IVAW, Seth Manzel, GI Voice, Maggie Pondolfino, MFSO, Steve Kofahl,
AFGE.

For more information go to www.GIvoice.org

To carpool from Seattle: gather at 10:30am, leave at 11am sharp, from New
Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S. (Hudson St. stop on the #7 bus route.)
For information call 206-722-2453 or email FSPseattle@mindspring.com.

"Getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan may be the only way to give our
children and grandchildren a way out of debt and a chance to free
themselves from our terrible legacy." --The Hidden Cost of War

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

[olympiaworkers] Fw: Save the Date - Workers Assembly on Immigration

 
 

Save the Date!

Workers' Assembly On
Immigration

 

Date: Fri & Sat, April 11th and 12th, 2008

 

(4:30 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Saturday)

 

Location: the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus

 

1210 Sixth Avenue

Tacoma, Washington

 

*Childcare and Transportation will be available

 

The Assembly is for workers to talk to one another about immigration, how it affects working families in all of our communities, and what we can do to stop exploitation on the job and in the streets.

 

"How can immigrant communities and their supporters respond to ICE raids?"

 

"How can we overcome stereotypes and myths about each others' communities to create a stronger power base and solidarity?"

 

 

*Organized by: The Labor Center at The Evergreen State College and El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Juan Jose Bocanegra 360.650.2106, bocanegj@evergreen.edu

 

Juan Jose Bocanegra, MSW

LABOR EDUCATOR/FIELD ORGANIZER

Evergreen State College

Labor Education & Research Center

Seminar II E2128

1-360-918-2726 cell

1-360-867-5524 office

 

 


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Saturday, March 08, 2008

[olympiaworkers] SWAZILAND: Worst labour strife in a decade

SWAZILAND: Worst labour strife in a decade

MBABANE, 6 March 2008 (IRIN ) - A bloody week of the worst labour strife
in a decade has exposed cracks in the Swazi government's
poverty-alleviation plan of creating thousands of low-paying jobs by
promoting a textile industry.

In the strike action, which began on 3 March, workers participating in
peaceful marches to demand better salaries have been teargassed and beaten
by police, and at least a dozen have reportedly been injured. More than
16,000 workers, most of them women, have been affected by the strike
action.

Local media reported that the Swaziland police carried out unprovoked
attacks on peaceful marchers on the first day of the strike. Several
injuries were reported after riot police shot teargas into a line of
marchers in the Matsapha Industrial Estate outside the central commercial
town of Manzini.

Police spokesman Vusi Masuku defended the police action, saying some
marchers had attempted to stop other textile workers from going to work.
Some Asian-owned shops adjacent to factories reported looting.

On 5 March, several marchers were beaten and teargassed after vandals
sealed the lock on the gate of a textile factory with glue. Uncertain of
the culprits' identities, the police randomly struck at marchers, some of
whom had to be hospitalised. One policewoman was injured by a thrown
stone.

Alex Fakudze, president of the Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied Workers
Union (SMAWU), told the Industrial Court on 5 March that factory owners
had instructed the police to assault strikers. Industrial Court President
Peter Dunseith ordered the police to permit peaceful picketing outside
company premises.

"My take-home pay is R300 (about US$38) a fortnight," said Cynthia
Ndwandwe, a mother of five employed by an Asian-owned garment factory. "I
can no longer afford to buy bread."

Only job creating sector

Swaziland's textile industry is dominated by garment-making factories
owned by Taiwanese immigrants who came to Swaziland in 2000/02 to take
advantage of preferential trade conditions with the US under the African
Growth and Opportunity Act, creating tens of thousands of employment
opportunities.

The country is one of the few that has diplomatic ties with Taiwan and
does not recognise the People's Republic of China. Taiwan returned the
favour by encouraging its garment-makers to invest in Swaziland.

In turn, the Swazi government has offered tax holidays to incoming firms,
and constructed factory shells that are sometimes leased for free of
charge to large employers.

Textiles have become a key player in Swaziland's otherwise moribund
manufacturing sector, which saw many of its multinational companies
relocate to South Africa when apartheid ended in 1994 and economic
sanctions against the government were lifted, making it unnecessary to use
neighbouring Swaziland to gain access to South Africa's market.

Asian-owned textile firms, mainly located at the Matsapha Industrial
Estate, offered the only significant job creation in the past decade, and
led to the development of a new industrial park at Shiselweni, the
regional capital in the south of the country, where some firms have set up
shop.

Low wages and "cultural conflicts" bedevilled labour relations from the
outset, but came to a head when a strike vote was approved by 30 percent
of the nation's 16,000 SMAWU members, with the remainder abstaining,
according to the union.

The union seeks to raise wages by 12 percent. "Textile workers are forced
to live on mediocre salaries," said Fakudze. "How can breadwinners be
expected to provide for their families on just R600 ($77) a month?"

The Ministry of Enterprise and Employment, which brought the textile
industry to Swaziland, called workers and management to a resolution
conference in Manzini for the evening of 6 March. On the table will be the
wage dispute, but another less tangible issue will likely remain
unresolved when workers return to their jobs: the workers' complaint about
lack of respect.

"The Asians treat us like children," said Ndwandwe. "They yell, they speak
down to us. This is not the Swazi manner of conduct. We think of them as
guests in this country, and we refuse to be mistreated by people we have
shown hospitality."

Members of parliament have complained that textile factory owners bring in
relatives for management positions rather than train and promote Swazis,
and have expressed concern about an isolationist mentality in the Asian
community: parts of government-built factory shells have been converted
into living quarters, which management rarely leaves.

The Swaziland Textile Exporters Association, which is following a no-work
no-pay rule for the duration of the strike, argued that it had met
government's goal of creating jobs in a country where few are available.
The association said the expense of doing business in Swaziland, coupled
with competition from China, put factories in an economic bind.

Monday, March 03, 2008

[olympiaworkers] SUPPORT THE TEACHERS OF PUERTO RICO

SUPPORT THE TEACHERS OF PUERTO RICO, March 4

WHO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF US ALL!

A crucial strike for all working people is now taking place in Puerto
Rico! The island's biggest labor union is waging a fight for survival, for
free public education and against the privatization schools. At stake are
the universal right to unionize, to collective bargaining, to strike and
workers' rights and the basic right of freedom of _expression. The
Teachers' Federation of Puerto Rico (FMPR) has been on strike since
February 21, 2008 in a life and death struggle against the anti-labor and
repressive crusade of the colonial government. The colonial administration
of Anibal Acevedo Vilá has been refusing to negotiate for more than 27
months with no contract. With more than 40,000 members, mainly women, the
Federation has refused to be intimidated and is taking a courageous stand
for the rights of all.

The government's contempt for teachers, students and parents, as well as
for their input in education, is so extreme that it locked out the
teachers throughout the island, as well as hundreds of thousands of
students, for two weeks during April-May 2006. The government, facing a
fiscal crisis, was forcing the public sectors to endure the brunt of the
crisis.

Now SEIU chief Dennis Rivera helped get Puerto Rico teachers union ousted
so he could hijack members. While the clash between the teachers' militant
leaders and the government was grabbing the headlines, Rivera was
maneuvering to snatch control of the teachers for his Service Employees
International Union. Puerto Rico Governor Acevedo Vilá's Secretary of
Education, Aragunde, has ruled that the federation will not be permitted
to run in any new elections for a union to represent the teachers.

More than support statements are needed! As support grows among workers,
union members and independent unions in Puerto Rico and internationally,
our support NOW will make a difference!! With growing potential for other
unions in Puerto Rico to walk out in solidarity, public pressure greatly
intensifies on the anti-worker union-busting administration in Puerto
Rico. Already, the colonial government faces a social and political
crisis, as the school strike affects every part of the island. Solidarity
actions by workers everywhere in support of the Puerto Rican teachers are
crucial.

JOIN US IN SUPPORT OF PUERTO RICO'S TEACHERS AND IN DEFENSE

OF PUBLIC EDUCATION!
DEMONSTRATE YOUR SOLIDARITY!!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration offices
475 Park Avenue South at 32 Street, Manhattan

5pm

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2kxcd/fmprsupportcommitteenewyork/

http://www.fmprlucha.org/

fmpr.support.committee.ny@gmail.com

[olympiaworkers] Global Women's Strike March 8

INVEST IN CARING NOT KILLING! Women & girls do 2/3 of the world's work,
most of it unwaged. $1 trillion/year is spent on the military worldwide,
more than half by the US. 10% of this would provide the essentials of life
for all: water, sanitation, basic health, nutrition, literacy, and a
minimum income.
The Global Women's Strike network, with national co-ordinations in 11
countries and participating organisations in over 60 countries, is
demanding the return of military budgets to the community, beginning with
women the main carers of people and the planet. Women, and men who support
our goals, take action together on 8 March, International Women's Day, and
throughout the year. In this way each grassroots struggle is backed by our
collective power.
Women from different sectors are involved: Women of colour, Indigenous &
rural women, mothers, women in waged work, lesbian & bisexual women, sex
workers, religious activists, women with disabilities, older & younger
women...
Why go on Strike?
Different women tell their stories
Men participate in the Strike

Our Demands:

*

Payment for all caring work - in wages, pensions, land & other
resources. What is more valuable than raising children & caring for
others? Invest in life & welfare, not military budgets or prisons
*

Pay equity for all, women & men, in the global market.
*

Food security for breastfeeding mothers, paid maternity leave and
maternity breaks. Stop penalizing us for being women.
*

Don't pay 'Third World debt'. We owe nothing, they owe us.
*

Accessible clean water, healthcare, housing, transport, literacy.
*

Non-polluting energy & technology which shortens the hours we work.
We all need cookers, fridges, washing machines, computers, & time
off!
*

Protection & asylum from all violence & persecution, including by
family members & people in positions of authority.
*

Freedom of movement. Capital travels freely, why not people?

for more info:http://www.globalwomenstrike.net