Friday, December 31, 2010

[olympiaworkers] Australia: Wharfies strike over conditions at Patrick Stevedores

Dec 27 2010 Libcom.org

Fremantle port where workers have gone on strike

Maritime Union of Australia members in Patrick Stevedoring facilities at
Fremantle, Albany, Melbourne's Webb Dock, and Geelong have voted
overwhelmingly to take protected action after a secret ballot conducted by
the Australian Electoral Commission.

Wharfies in Fremantle took industrial action on the 27th December for 72
hours, with workers in Albany to follow on December 30 for 48 hours. Webb
Dock and Geelong have not yet provided notice when they are taking action.

Fremantle Port Authority spokeswoman Ainslie De Vos said two vessels could
potentially be affected by the strike.

"One of the vessels in the inner harbour in Fremantle will be affected by
the strike and possibly a bulk ship in Kwinana will be affected," she
said.

The industrial action follows 6 months of negotiations which the union has
labeled as unfruitful and unsatisfactory. The unions claims include:
negotiations on wage rises, increasing the levels of permanency and career
progression, increased training particularly regarding OH&S procedures and
the safety culture on the waterfront, better processes for consultation
rather than enforcement, and a disputes procedure that allows for
independent arbitration when workers and management are unable to resolve
disputes.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said "After six months of patient,
reasonable and determined negotiations on our part, Patrick has refused to
meet the Union even part of the way. This is not an unreasonable wage
claim; in fact wages are quite literally the least of our priorities. This
is about the safety and well-being of workers at Patrick bulk and general
facilities."

"I am horrified to hear that OH&S representatives that have raised safety
issues on behalf of workers have been targeted by management through
disciplinary measures. This same heavy handed approach by management is
applied across the workforce." Paddy Crumlin said.

There have been 3 workplace deaths on the waterfront in 2010, with 60% of
the Patrick workforce is employed on a causal basis. Some of these workers
have been casual for over 9 years and the average is around 5 years,
according to the MUA. There is minimal training and it is delivered
without a strategic or purposeful framework.

The MUA and Patricks were at the centre of the 1998 Waterfront dispute
where the company attempted to dismiss it's workforce on mass and bring in
a non-union workforce. The plan to de-unionise the waterfront was hatched
in collusion with senior members of the Howard Government.

"With the assistance of Work Choices, Patrick has instilled an antiquated
and - frankly - dangerous management culture at these facilities." said
Paddy Crumlin.

After six months of negotiations there are no resolutions to any of the
National claims, or on any local negotiations at the 12 sites currently
negotiating.

Source:

* MUA media release - Fremantle workers strike: life is simply too precious

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

[olympiaworkers] NLRB backs Ozzie's Barista who Claims He was Fired for Union Organizing

Complaint by the National Labor Relations Board is a new chapter in the
area coffee wars.

A barista at a beloved area coffee shop claims he was wrongly terminated
over the summer for his union affiliation and is seeking legal action
against his former employer.

Jeff Bauer, 41, had worked at Ozzie's at Seventh Avenue and Lincoln Place
for almost a year when he was terminated. Last Wednesday, the National
Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided to issue a complaint against the
coffee shop.

According to Bauer, he was constantly praised by management as a model
employee and even offered the manager position, which he turned down.

"Politically as an anarchist and union organizer, it didn't coincide with
my politics," Bauer said.

Then Bauer said he began organizing a May Day benefit for his union, the
International Workers of the World (also known as the Wobblies). The IWW
is an international union that believes all workers should be united and
the wage system must be abolished.

Bauer began inviting his coworkers to organize, and he believes someone
leaked his union affiliation to management. Bauer said manager Raphael
Bernadine questioned him about his union membership.

"Suddenly I went from a model employee to being the worst worker," Bauer
recalled.

But Store Manager Raphael Bernadine said Bauer's accusations are entirely
false.

"Nobody knew he was in a union. I can swear to that," Bernadine said.

In early June, Bauer said a confrontation between a coworker and
Bernadine's boyfriend led to a screaming fight in the basement of the
coffee shop. During and after the fight, the former barista said he was
left to work the coffee shop alone for three hours.

"I was choking back tears," Bauer said. "When customers asked what was
wrong, I answered honestly and explained the incident to customers and
expressed anger at the hostile work conditions."

He also stood up for his coworker to the manager, he said. Afterwards,
Bauer claims his hours were slashed from over 40 hours a week to around
20, so Bauer led a union delegation into Ozzie's with six other union
members to deliver a demand letter, asking for the return to his original
40 plus hours among other requests.

After that, Bauer said he was left off the schedule entirely and was fired
on June 29. He then filed charges of unfair labor practices with the NLRB
on July 2.

Bauer believes he was fired "simply for organizing," but Bernadine
disagrees. He said Bauer was fired for not doing his job.

Bernadine said Bauer was neglecting simple duties, such as making coffee
correctly and keeping the store clean. As for the incident leading up to
Bauer's termination, the store manager said it never took place.

"It's so unfortunate that he's telling these lies. There was no fight.
There was never any fight in the store," Bernadine said.

Bauer along with other IWW members have organized pickets and call-ins to
ask the store to give the barista his job back.

Bernadine said that most people who call the store do not even know what
happened or who Jeff Bauer is.

"For example, there were two people who came into the store and started
cussing the employees but didn't even know his name. They kept saying to
give Ozzie his job back," Bernadine said.

Bernadine also stated that the protesting has not affected Ozzie's because
loyal customers know the allegations are entirely untrue.

Bauer has yet to find another job, and the legal battle continues. He is
asking for the reinstatement of his job will full back pay, but Bernadine
doubts that will happen.

"I don't think it would be fair to hire someone who has been so dishonest
publicly. How could we trust him in the shop?" said Bernadine.

http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/federal-agency-backs-baristas-complaint-against-ozzies-coffee

Thursday, December 16, 2010

[olympiaworkers] The fight for workers' rights takes no break for the holidays

LabourStart
Where trade unionists start their day on the net.

I thought that the most recent mailing we sent you was going to be the last for 2010.  

After all, in many parts of the world, we are coming up upon a holiday season -- a time when things slow down a bit, when union offices close, people take vacations, and so on.

Unfortunately, the government of Moldova has gotten in the way of this being a quiet time for us.

I've just received an urgent appeal from the IUF which has launched an international campaign to protest the jailing of five trade union leaders in this former Soviet republic.

Their crime?

Leading a legitimate struggle by members of their union to claim unpaid wages.

And we're not talking about a missing month or two.  The workers at the Glodeni sugar plant haven't been paid since June 2009.  

That's not a typo -- it really has been 18 months since they were paid.

The Moldovan government needs to feel under pressure from the international labour movement to immediately release the five leaders who are under house arrest.

Please -- before you take your break (if you're taking a break) -- read more and send off your message from the IUF website:

http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=543

And then please spread the word in your union and to your co-workers.

Thank you.

Eric Lee

 

 

Check out our home page for breaking labour news from around the world. All our current active campaigns are here -- make sure you've signed up to all of them.

LabourStart needs your support - please donate today!

Join our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter.

Spread the word - pass on this message to your co-workers and fellow union members.

To unsubscribe, >>>

To change your address, >>>



--

Powered by PHPlist2.10.12, &copy tincan ltd

From: ericlee@labourstart.org
Date: Thu, December 16, 2010

I thought that the most recent mailing we sent you was going to be the
last for 2010.

After all, in many parts of the world, we are coming up upon a
holiday season -- a time when things slow down a bit, when union
offices close, people take vacations, and so on.

Unfortunately, the government of Moldova has gotten in the way of
this being a quiet time for us.

I've just received an urgent appeal from the IUF which has launched
an international campaign to protest the jailing of five trade union
leaders in this former Soviet republic.

Their crime?

Leading a legitimate struggle by members of their union to claim
unpaid wages.

And we're not talking about a missing month or two. The workers at
the Glodeni sugar plant haven't been paid since June 2009.

That's not a typo -- it really has been 18 months since they were
paid.

The Moldovan government needs to feel under pressure from the
international labour movement to immediately release the five leaders
who are under house arrest.

Please -- before you take your break (if you're taking a break) --
read more and send off your message from the IUF website:

http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=543

And then please spread the word in your union and to your co-workers.

Thank you.

Eric Lee

[olympiaworkers] Nationwide report from the General Strike in Greece, December 15th 2010

Dec. 16, 2010 en.contrainfo.espiv.net

http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/2010/12/16/weve-got-the-rage-report-from-the-general-strike-in-greece-december-15th-2010/

No doubt remains, not even for the most naive, that the State – in close
cooperation with all its supporters and mechanisms – has decided to wage a
full-scale war against society. They are afraid of the natural social
rage, that expressed so far, but also the rage to come. The repressive
role of the State, as expressed through the murderous mechanism of the
Greek Police – and not only them – has now began to spread its tentacles,
in an attempt to spread and repress any generalized outbreak in the
future. Fascists, undercover cops, peace-loving citizens, obedient
householders and other social dregs have been recruited to act like a
natural extension of this murderous formation.

It is a fact that it should concern us all, something that was happening
before, but is now fully-fledged, in the most indiscriminate, naked and
shameless way. It happens right before our very own eyes!

Athens: In a city full of police officers of all kinds in every corner,
sample of the transparent effort to terrorize people and to present the
city as an inaccessible place, controlled by them. Nevertheless…

Since the early morning of December 15th, huge numbers of people started
to flock to the pre-gathering points in the center of Athens. Every part
of Patission Avenue, from Areos' Field to Omonia Square, was full of
people, while the sidewalks were becoming increasingly crowded too. It may
not be of great value to talk about exact numbers, but some rough
estimates talk of about 200.000 people, a number that can only compare to
the seminal May 5th General Strike. Before the demonstration started,
there where at least three cases in which undercover cops were expelled
from the demonstration after the dynamic intervention of comrades. In one
case, they attempted to arrest four comrades who were heading to the
gathering point with spears and banners, but the forceful intervention of
50-60 people stopped them from doing so.

The demo started in a passionate manner, with slogans vibrating the center
of the city. A sample of the size of the demo is that when the first
blocks were close to Syntagma square, the latest were still in Patission
Avenue. During the march, and before this arrived at Syntagma, slogans
were written, paints were thrown at governmental buildings, while it
became clear that the spirit and the choice of the demonstrators wasn't to
attack during the march, but to give their battle outside the Parliament,
with lots of people properly prepared (masks, malox and various
self-protection materials), a fact strongly reflecting the confrontational
mood of a fairly large part of the demo.

The clashes began when the main part of the demo arrived at Syntagma
square. Large numbers of the demonstrators attacked the patrons of the
local ruling class and Capital. For a long period of time, explosions
could be heard throughout the area around Syntagma square. There were
attacks with molotov cocktails, stones, dynamite, fire extinguishers, etc.
against several squads around Syntagma, while in many cases there were
melee collisions with the MAT forces (riot police) and the thugs of the
DIAS motorcycle police force. The MAT forces responded with tear gas and
flash-bang grenades, in this way achieving to cut the demo in various
parts and locations – yet in so doing, they spread the conflicts that were
now extended in various areas of the city center.

A large part of the demo was directed to Propylaea, attacking the MAT
forces, banks and luxury cars, while riot police and undercover cops
violated (once more) the university asylum, making arrests. At the same
time, a large number of protesters that had been cut from the demo because
of the cops' attacks, were attacking the riot squads up to Dionysiou
Areopagitou Street, where in one of them the protesters managed to repel
the cops and set on fire a police paddy-wagon. At various parts of the
center, people successfully faced the brutal raids of the police while at
Alexandra Avenue sub-humans of DIAS motorcycle police force were beaten by
angry demonstrators that burned both their bikes.

cute politician face

Meanwhile, demonstrators attacked the former minister of the conservative
New Democracy government Hatzidakis, who escaped thanks to the
intervention of his henchmen that accompany him at all times (photo).

All these were taking place while several blocks of the demo had not yet
reached Syntagma square. The attacks of the MAT forces were indiscriminate
and violent, beating badly unsuspected passers-by and everyone they felt
like. At various parts of the center there were vans from which undercover
cops were pouring out, hooded and dressed in black.

A spontaneous march by the Primary Unions and the AK (Antiauthoritarian
Movement), moved toward the main building of GSEE (General Confederation
of Greek Workers) in order to occupy it. There were melee clashes with the
police, however the police's superiority in numbers managed to deter them.
Some cops didn't hesitate to pull their guns.

protester "arrests" a cop

Clashes continued around the Polytechnic School for several hours, while
scores of people remained inside it, not able to leave since they were
trapped there by riot police (MAT) forces.

Behind the University of Economics and around the Polytechnic school in
Athens there were scattered clashes with cops in the street and
barricades, as well down other streets of Exarchia, with people playing
cat and mouse with the police after the end of the main demo. There were
reports that the neighborhood of Exarchia has been completely militarized
and that the police were stopping people there, arresting them, and
harassing whoever they found on the street. One caller to the 98 anarchist
radio station reported witnessing the police stop two people walking down
the street in Exarchia, and beat them badly before arresting them. Ten
people have been arrested in Victoria square, with reports of other
sporadic arrests around the center of Athens throughout the day.

Fresh attacks by MAT caused multiple injuries to demonstrators. Rumors
circulated concerning an attempt to violate the university asylum,
something that did not eventually happen.

updated: There are 23 people detained, of which 10 have been arrested and
charged.


***

In provincial cities there was some powerful atmosphere too, with most
people expressing their anger against the corrupt syndicalists and state
partner unions. In some cities there were clashes between cops and
protesters, while in most there were scores of cops and especially
undercovers. P.A.M.E (the syndicalist union of Greek "Communist" Party)
organized separate demos in each city, separating itself from the people's
wrath.

Thessaloniki: Massive demonstration by more than 10,000 workers,
unemployed, students, grassroot unions, leftists, anarchists and angry
people in general! A large part of demonstrators marched from the
gathering point of Kamara toward the Labor Center where there was
gathering point and speech by the corrupted unions of GSEE (General
Confederation of Greek Workers) and others. Anarchists shouted slogans
against these unions,water was thrown to the speakers-representatives,
mics and speakers were disconnected, and demonstrators called for a "wild
strike". Along the route of this "intervention demo" texts were
distributed to store workers that were not on strike – their bosses had
threatened some with dismissal should they strike.

During the powerful demonstration that started at around 11a.m. ATMs,
banks, large chain stores, post offices, McDonalds restaurants and bank
CCTV cameras were smashed while goods from a supermarket and a patisserie
were expropriated. When the demonstration arrived at the former ministry
of Macedonia-Thrace (and still the region's main administrative building),
cops came out and attacked the demo using tear gas and flash bang grenades
with no provocation from the side of the protesters. The demo continued in
several pieces while riot cops and undercovers detained around 20 people
from the demo's body but also from building entrances, using an unmarked
van. Two or three of those detained were injured were in need of hospital
treatment and so the cops turned their detentions into arrests in order to
justify the injuries… their usual tactic.

Patras: More than 4,000 people marched through the streets of Patras in
massive student, grassroot union, leftist and anarchist blocks. There were
attacks with stones and molotov cocktails against the local Courthouse,
several banks and a police van. A march of a similar size was also
organized by P.A.M.E. (the syndicalist union of Greek Communist Party).

"They're bringing us the Axis Occupation, '40-44"

Heraklion (Crete): Massive demonstration in the morning with around 2000
people; various grassroot unions, unemployed, immigrants, leftists,
anarchists etc. Some leftists blocked the speeches of the Labor Center's
president and other corrupt labour representatives. During the demo ATMs,
bank CCTV cameras and windows were smashed, slogans against the corrupted
unions were shouted and written on walls while cops and undercovers
followed the demo, without any clashes. In the afternoon an anarchist
march was also held in the city's neighborhoods.

Chania (Crete): Around 1,500 people marched in the city. Blocks of
workers, unemployed, students, anarchists and leftist groups but also a
block of immigrants that had managed to go on strike participated in the
demo. During the demo, slogans were written on the walls, leaflets were
thrown and some superstores were sabotaged by throwing "smelly capsules"
inside. Demonstrators verbally attacked the local puppet-syndicalists,
just like in other cities.

Volos: Very massive demo of about 2,500 people. Before the march begun,
speeches of local parties representatives and corrupted syndicalist were
blocked. Symbolic attacks against banks and the Prefecture building.

Xanthi: One of the most massive demonstrations the city has seen. 1,500
people marched downtown, slogans were written on walls and paint was
thrown at banks.

Ioannina: Powerful demo of about 2000 people with awesome pulse and
numerous slogans in the city center. Agricultural tractors also joined in
the demonstration.

Similar demonstrations/marches by hundreds of people were held in many
other cities and islands of Greece, such as Kavala, Veria, Aigio,
Zakynthos, Larissa, Corfu, Lesvos, Naxos, Rethymnon, Serres, and Sparta.
FREEDOM TO ALL HOSTAGES

more photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

more videos: 1, 2

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

[olympiaworkers] Inmates in Six Georgia Prisons on Strike for Third Work Day

Libcom.org Dec 14 2010

An historic prisoners' strike underway in the state of Georgia with
inmates in at least six separate prisons refusing to leave their cells for
the third work day.

Of note, this strike seems to be entirely organized by the inmates
themselves who have worked across the (particularly in prison) stark lines
of race and religion which so often keep workers divided.

When the strike began, prisoner leaders issued the following call: "No
more slavery. Injustice in one place is injustice to all. Inform your
family to support our cause. Lock down for liberty!"

On Thursday morning, December 9, 2010, thousands of Georgia prisoners
refused to work, stopped all other activities and locked down in their
cells in a peaceful protest for their human rights. The December 9 Strike
became the biggest prisoner protest in the history of the United States.

Thousands of men, from Augusta, Baldwin, Hancock, Hays, Macon, Smith and
Telfair State Prisons, among others, initiated this strike to press the
Georgia Department of Corrections ("DOC") to stop treating them like
animals and slaves and institute programs that address their basic human
rights. They set forth the following demands:

* A LIVING WAGE FOR WORK
* EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
* DECENT HEALTH CARE
* AN END TO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS
* DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS
* NUTRITIONAL MEALS
* VOCATIONAL AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
* ACCESS TO FAMILIES
* JUST PAROLE DECISIONS

The action is taking place in at least half a dozen of Georgia's more than
one hundred state prisons, correctional facilities, work camps, county
prisons and other correctional facilities. According to Elaine Brown and
other sources, inmates have planned the strike with the use of contraband
cell phones. Inmates who have spoken to Elaine Brown are reporting that
the strike is be honored by almost all inmates. This may be partially
because the wardens have responded to their refusal to work, by locking
down the prison.

Despite that the prisoners' protest remained non-violent, the DOC
violently attempted to force the men back to work—claiming it was "lawful"
to order prisoners to work without pay. At the heart of this strike, is a
very real outrage at legalized slavery that exists within US prisons. The
13th Amendment to the US Constitution which is widely believed to have
abolished slavery reads "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to
their jurisdiction."

The peaceful inmate strike is being led from within the prison and some of
those thought to be its leaders have been placed under close confinement.

In Augusta State Prison, six or seven inmates were brutally ripped from
their cells by CERT Team guards and beaten, resulting in broken ribs for
several men, one man beaten beyond recognition. This brutality continues
there.

actical officers rampaged through Telfair State Prison destroying inmate
personal effects and severely beating at least six prisoners. The warden
aso shut off heat Thursday when daytime temperatures were in the 30s.

At Macon State, the Tactical Squad has menaced the men for two days,
removing some to the "hole," and the warden ordered the heat and hot water
turned off. Inmates there also say authorities cut the prisoners' hot
water.

Prisoners have responded to violence and intimidation by screening their
cells with blankets, keeping prison authorities from performing an
accurate count, a crucial aspect of prison operations.

As of Friday, inmates at several prisons say they are committed to
continuing the strike. "We are going to ride it," the inmate press release
quotes one, "till the wheels fall off. We want our human rights."

Still, today(12/12/10), men at Macon, Smith, Augusta, Hays and Telfair
State Prisons say they are committed to continuing the strike.

Inmate leaders at Macon, Smith, Augusta, Hays, and Telfair State Prisons
representing Blacks, Latinos, whites, Muslims, Rastafarians, Christians,
have stated the men will stay down until their demands are addressed, one
issuing this statement:
Quote:

"…Brothers, we have accomplished a major step in our struggle…We must
continue what we have started…The only way to achieve our goals is to
continue with our peaceful sit-down…I ask each and every one of my
Brothers in this struggle to continue the fight. ON MONDAY MORNING,
WHEN THE DOORS OPEN, CLOSE THEM. DO NOT GO TO WORK. They cannot do
anything to us that they haven't already done at one time or another.
Brothers, DON'T GIVE UP NOW. Make them come to the table. Be strong.
DO NOT MAKE MONEY FOR THE STATE THAT THEY IN TURN USE TO KEEP US AS
SLAVES…."

Elaine Brown, former chairman of the Black Panther Party gave a detailed
interview about the ongoing strike, and has apparently been asked to be a
mouthpiece for the strike leaders who are nameless. Listen to the
interview here

People are being asked to call into the various prisons and the Department
of Corrections to show solidarity with the striking prisoners.

Macon State Prison is 978-472-3900.

Hays State Prison is at (706) 857-0400

Telfair State prison is 229-868-7721

Baldwin State Prison is at (478) 445- 5218

Valdosta State Prison is 229-333-7900

Smith State Prison is at (912) 654-5000

The Georgia Department of Corrections is at http://www.dcor.state.ga.us
and their phone number is 478-992-5246

Sources:
http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/day-3-of-historic-prison-strike-in-georgia-blacked-out-by-media-guards-committing-violence/
http://www.correntewire.com/ga_inmates_stage_one_day_peaceful_prison_strike_authorities_react_violence
http://blackagendareport.com/?q=content%2Fga-prisoner-strike-continues-second-day-corporate-media-mostly-ignores-them-corrections-offi

Saturday, December 11, 2010

[olympiaworkers] Europe calling: it's just the beginning! from Rome to London

Libcom.org Dec 11 2010

A call from the Italian site uniriot for solidarity and coordination
between the emerging European student movements.

…You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows: occupation
of universities everywhere in Europe, blockage of the cities, manif
sauvage, rage. This is the answer of a generation to whom they want to cut
the future with debts for studying, cuts of welfare state and increasing
of tuition fees.

The determination of thousand of students in London, the rage of who
assault the Italian Senate house against the austerity and the education
cuts, has opened the present time: this is because the future is something
to gain that starts when you decide collectively to take risk and to
struggle.

The extraordinary struggles that we are living have the capacity to show a
present with an intensity that exceed the linearity of the time, that
refuse our precarity condition: it is an assault to the future!

We don't want to get into debt, we don't want to pay more fees to study in
London as well as in Paris, Wien, Rome, Athens, Madrid, Dublin, Lisbon.
This European movement is about refusing austerity policies, refusing to
get into debt for these miserable politicians. Que se vayan todos!

What is happening nowadays in Rome first spread out in Athens and Paris,
then in Dublin and London: it is the irruption of a movement who speaks a
common language, the same young generation in revolt, who inhabits
different cities but shares the same determination to struggle, "floating
like a butterfly and stinging like a bee".

We have to meet each other and invent a new political grammar against the
weakness of the nation-state and their strategy to face the crisis: their
recipe is just austerity, cuts and debt.

In Italy we have occupied not only universities, but also blocked
motorways and the mobility of the country in order to circulate struggles
outside the national borders and coming in Europe and beyond. The
circulation of struggles is living within the Book Block and the wild
demonstration in London, Paris and Rome.

This autumn we are living a real European student movement, that is
various and radical, really heterogeneous. Its common reclaim comes from a
protest that is born in the middle of the crisis, and that represents the
most courageous answer. It is a struggle composed by different struggles,
heterogeneous temporalities that reclaim more scholarships for student and
a public university for everyone.

Within the book block a new generation recognized and found itself in the
protest. Today in lots of cities the Italian student movement is showing
something more than just solidarity: this is because your struggle is our
struggle and all around Europe students are against the increasing of
fees, the privatisation of the university and the education cuts. You are
not alone in the UK: a European event, a new generation does not want to
stop. We have the force whom want to change the world and we have the
intelligence to do it. It is just the beginning!

We propose to students, researchers, precarious workers and PhD students
to build up together an European meeting at the beginning of the 2011, to
continue the struggle, to transform this wind into a tempest!

Friday, December 03, 2010

[olympiaworkers] Andrej Grubacic in Olympia Dec. 10



--- On Wed, 12/1/10, Peter Bohmer <peterbohmer@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Peter Bohmer <peterbohmer@yahoo.com>
Subject: Posting this
To: "Russ Frizzell" <russfrizzell@yahoo.com>, "Janet Jordan" <janetjordan@fastmail.fm>, "Janet Jordan" <jordanjanet@hotmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 9:24 AM

Janet, Russ-If you can post this to  the Greens and IWW list I would appreciate it, Thanks, Peter

Andrej Grubacic, will be speaking next Friday, December 10th on his just released book, "Don't Mourn, Balkanize:  Essays After Yugoslavia". Andrej Grubacic is a radical sociologist, an anarchist, an activist and a refugee from the former Yugoslavia. He is also the co-author of the important and outstanding book, "Wobblies and Zapatistas:  Conversations on Anarchism, Marxism and Radical History  ".

Friday, December 10th, 2010
3 P.M. Evergreen, Seminar. 2, A1105
7 P.M., Last Word Books, 211 E. 4th Ave., downtown Olympia



my web-page: http://blogs.evergreen.edu/bohmerp


Andrej Grubacic, will be speaking next Friday, December 10th on his just
released book, "Don't Mourn, Balkanize:  Essays After Yugoslavia". Andrej
Grubacic is a radical sociologist, an anarchist, an activist and a refugee
from the former Yugoslavia. He is also the co-author of the important and
outstanding book, "Wobblies and Zapatistas:  Conversations on Anarchism,
Marxism and Radical History  ".

Friday, December 10th, 2010
3 P.M. Evergreen, Seminar. 2, A1105
7 P.M., Last Word Books, 211 E. 4th Ave., downtown Olympia

[olympiaworkers] Labor Center News: Job Opening & Mother Jones

LABOR CENTER RISING AND ON THE MOVE!

WASHINGTON STATE LABOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER

SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 

December, 2010

 

These monthly email bulletins announce Labor Center news and activities. IF YOU WISH TO BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS LIST, PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu.

 

What’s New

 

JOB OPENING - The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center at the South Seattle Community College is looking for a new Labor Educator! The Labor Educator will work with Center staff to plan and implement trainings and workshops with unions and community organizations throughout the State of Washington and with regional partners. These trainings and workshops will provide education and skills development for and about workers and their organizations. Some examples of workshops the Labor Educator may be asked to facilitate include labor history classes, trainings for union stewards, collective bargaining, leadership and communication skills, community-labor alliances, and organizing. The Labor Educator will do strategic outreach to the labor community to develop programs and be a resource to faculty and staff at the Seattle Community Colleges. Candidates are encouraged to emphasize specializations they may have in particular skill areas such as collective bargaining, contract enforcement, union management, labor law, or strategic research, and/or particular content areas such as working women, immigrant workers, young workers, workers of color, the building and construction trades, or global labor.

 

The job is open until December 29th, 2010. Please circulate this announcement to any individuals you think may be interested or appropriate lists.

 

The application process for this position is entirely on-line. Please go to

http://hr.seattlecolleges.edu/jobs.aspx?id=392&type=3&int=External for more information and to complete an application.

 

 

MOTHER JONES IS COMING TO SEATTLE!  Don’t miss this great event on Saturday, December 11th, at 7:30 p.m., in Hall 1 of the Labor Temple (2800 1st Ave, Seattle). The evening’s entertainment will include Therese Diekhans performing David Christie’s one-woman play The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Machine Guns, Coal Dust, Mother Jones and the Making of the American Dream and the Seattle Labor Chorus. To reserve tickets email pcls@u.washington.edu. Co-sponsors include the Washington State Labor Education and Research Center, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, the MLK County Labor Council Education Committee, and the Puget Sound Labor Agency. If you have questions, call Sarah Laslett at 206-764-5382.

 

 

The next meeting of the MLK County Labor Council book group is tonight - Wednesday Dec. 1st from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in Room 226 of the Labor Temple at 28001st Ave in Seattle.  We will be having our first discussion of A Troublemaker’s Handbook: How to Fight Back Where You Work and Win!  Want more info? Email slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu.

 

 

NEED A TRAINING FOR YOUR UNION?  We design and implement trainings on a wide variety of topics.  Our standard fee schedule is $65 per hour or $500 per day for preparation and training. Some of the topics we can train on include:

 


Rank & File Leadership

Collective Bargaining

Recruiting the Next Generation of Leaders

Basic Workers' Rights – Union or Not

Immigration and Labor

Strategic Planning & Campaign Design

Salting

Meeting Facilitation

Organizing: Internal and External

Shop Stewarding


 

FREE LABOR HISTORY PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE!!  These presentations include great stories from the history of labor organizing, a Power Point slide show, and music!  We will bring this educational, entertaining, and dynamic presentation to your meetings or events.  To schedule a presentation, email slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu.

 

WORKERS’ RIGHTS MANUAL:  This is an invaluable resource that offers easy access to lots of vital information about workers’ rights in Washington State.  It can be downloaded for free at our website in both English & Spanish - http://laborcenter.evergreen.edu/.  We will be moving our website to the South Seattle Community College soon.  Until then, our Evergreen site will continue to function.

 

MEETING FACILITATION

Having a critical meeting to help your union figure out its goals and strategies?  Would you benefit from having an outside facilitator who can help to make your meeting as productive as possible?  The Labor Center can provide this service for a fee as well as combine facilitation with education about how to have effective meetings in the future. Contact us.

 

Staff & Contact Information:

 

Sarah Laslett, Director

     206-764-5382

     slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu

 

The Labor Center has a Facebook page!  Go to www.facebook.com and log in or join, then search for “solidarity works” and you will find the link to our page.  Enjoy!

 

Want to know more? Current information about our programs comes primarily through this e-bulletin. Our website at http://laborcenter.evergreen.edu is still functioning if you wish to look at past newsletters, etc. We will soon have a website at S Seattle Community College with a more complete listing of the resources and programs we offer. Feel free to call or email at any time with questions or ideas.

 

LABOR CENTER RISING AND ON THE MOVE!
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

December, 2010

These monthly email bulletins announce Labor Center news and activities.
IF YOU WISH TO BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS LIST, PLEASE SEND A
MESSAGE TO slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu<mailto:slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu>.

What's New

JOB OPENING - The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center at
the South Seattle Community College is looking for a new Labor Educator!
The Labor Educator will work with Center staff to plan and implement
trainings and workshops with unions and community organizations throughout
the State of Washington and with regional partners. These trainings and
workshops will provide education and skills development for and about
workers and their organizations. Some examples of workshops the Labor
Educator may be asked to facilitate include labor history classes,
trainings for union stewards, collective bargaining, leadership and
communication skills, community-labor alliances, and organizing. The Labor
Educator will do strategic outreach to the labor community to develop
programs and be a resource to faculty and staff at the Seattle Community
Colleges. Candidates are encouraged to emphasize specializations they may
have in particular skill areas such as collective bargaining, contract
enforcement, union management, labor law, or strategic research, and/or
particular content areas such as working women, immigrant workers, young
workers, workers of color, the building and construction trades, or global
labor.

The job is open until December 29th, 2010. Please circulate this
announcement to any individuals you think may be interested or appropriate
lists.

The application process for this position is entirely on-line. Please go to
http://hr.seattlecolleges.edu/jobs.aspx?id=392&type=3&int=External for
more information and to complete an application.


MOTHER JONES IS COMING TO SEATTLE! Don't miss this great event on
Saturday, December 11th, at 7:30 p.m., in Hall 1 of the Labor Temple (2800
1st Ave, Seattle). The evening's entertainment will include Therese
Diekhans performing David Christie's one-woman play The Most Dangerous
Woman in America: Machine Guns, Coal Dust, Mother Jones and the Making of
the American Dream and the Seattle Labor Chorus. To reserve tickets email
pcls@u.washington.edu. Co-sponsors include the Washington State Labor
Education and Research Center, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies,
the MLK County Labor Council Education Committee, and the Puget Sound
Labor Agency. If you have questions, call Sarah Laslett at 206-764-5382.


The next meeting of the MLK County Labor Council book group is tonight -
Wednesday Dec. 1st from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in Room 226 of the Labor Temple at
28001st Ave in Seattle. We will be having our first discussion of A
Troublemaker's Handbook: How to Fight Back Where You Work and Win! Want
more info? Email slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu<mailto:slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu>.

NEED A TRAINING FOR YOUR UNION? We design and implement trainings on a
wide variety of topics. Our standard fee schedule is $65 per hour or $500
per day for preparation and training. Some of the topics we can train on
include:


Rank & File Leadership
Collective Bargaining
Recruiting the Next Generation of Leaders
Basic Workers' Rights - Union or Not
Immigration and Labor
Strategic Planning & Campaign Design
Salting
Meeting Facilitation
Organizing: Internal and External
Shop Stewarding


FREE LABOR HISTORY PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE!! These presentations include
great stories from the history of labor organizing, a Power Point slide
show, and music! We will bring this educational, entertaining, and
dynamic presentation to your meetings or events. To schedule a
presentation, email slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu<mailto:slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu>.

WORKERS' RIGHTS MANUAL: This is an invaluable resource that offers easy
access to lots of vital information about workers' rights in Washington
State. It can be downloaded for free at our website in both English &
Spanish - http://laborcenter.evergreen.edu/. We will be moving our
website to the South Seattle Community College soon. Until then, our
Evergreen site will continue to function.

MEETING FACILITATION
Having a critical meeting to help your union figure out its goals and
strategies? Would you benefit from having an outside facilitator who can
help to make your meeting as productive as possible? The Labor Center can
provide this service for a fee as well as combine facilitation with
education about how to have effective meetings in the future. Contact us.

Staff & Contact Information:

Sarah Laslett, Director
206-764-5382
slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu<mailto:slaslett@sccd.ctc.edu>

The Labor Center has a Facebook page! Go to
www.facebook.com<http://www.facebook.com> and log in or join, then search
for "solidarity works" and you will find the link to our page. Enjoy!

Want to know more? Current information about our programs comes primarily
through this e-bulletin. Our website at http://laborcenter.evergreen.edu
is still functioning if you wish to look at past newsletters, etc. We will
soon have a website at S Seattle Community College with a more complete
listing of the resources and programs we offer. Feel free to call or email
at any time with questions or ideas.