[olympiaworkers] Unexpected Visit Prompts Pizza Place to Pay Up

Friday, 17 February 2012 Seattle Solidarity Network

It was almost Christmas when Luis got in touch with SeaSol and he hadn't
been paid since before Halloween. A part-time pizza chef at a local
Pizzeria, Luis had not received a penny for his hard work for almost three
months. Instead, management had only given him three bad checks from
different banks and scores of broken promises.

As his bills continued to mount and his family kept asking him when he
would finally be getting paid Luis wondered what he should do. A
dishwasher at the restaurant had recently been slapped in the face and
subsequently fired for being too insistent about being paid on time. Luis
thought about not showing up to work until he got paid or just quitting
for good, but he didn't want to lose his job and knew he shouldn't have
to.

After joining SeaSol, he decided it might be possible to fight for his
stolen wages while continuing to work at the restaurant. On Friday,
January 13th, nearly thirty SeaSol members marched into the restaurant
with Luis on one of his off days to bring a little bad luck to the
thieving establishment.

While the owner was spotted hiding in the back Luis was eventually able to
deliver a letter to the general manager containing a simple message: pay
him everything he was owed within two weeks and do not retaliate against
him in any way or expect further action.

SeaSol received a phone call later the same evening from the general
manager apologizing for how she had behaved during the demand delivery
(screaming, swearing, and calling the police) and assuring us it was all
just a misunderstanding because Luis doesn't speak English. Most
importantly, she promised to pay him the next day.

She broke this promise and time started to run out fast as SeaSol and Luis
could not agree with the restaurant on exactly how much he was owed. As
the deadline of Friday, January 27th, approached SeaSol and Luis began
organizing an action for Saturday the 28th if the restaurant should fail
to pay. However, this action never happened.

When Luis got off work Friday night he was handed a check for $1,774.24.
And this check didn't bounce. There was a small discrepancy regarding an
additional $150 being owed, but once it was brought to their attention
management added this amount to the first up-to-date and in-full paycheck
Luis had received in months the following week. Luis got his money and
kept his job and as of this writing he is continuing to be paid on time
and in full. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible and stay
ready in case anything should change for the worse at Luis's workplace.

[olympiaworkers] Hospital workers across Edmonton walk out on wildcat strike

Feb 16 2012 libcom.org

Hundreds of support workers at the Royal Alexandra and University of
Alberta hospitals in Canada walked out this morning in a dispute over pay
and conditions.

So far dozens of surgeries have been cancelled as diagnostic imaging
clerks, cleaners and technicians downed tools at at least 12 different
sites at 7 AM.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees stated that they believed
workers at Mayerthorpe, Radway, Peace River and Claresholm were also
either taking or considering taking similar action.

One worker told the Edmonton Journal:
<blockquote> "They are constantly adding more duties to our work, without
an increase in pay… We're fed up with our conditions, our pay. Cost of
living is going up, but my pay is not." </blockquote>

Workers are still providing life and limb cover for emergencies, and
blamed their employer for provoking staff in negotiations around working
conditions.

The employer has applied for a Labour Relations Board order to force
strikers back to work. The Board is due to meet later today.

Please post updates or reports if you have more information, or if you are
taking part in the action.

[olympiaworkers] Uniting all of Oly, the state and the nation! Occupy Solidarity Social Forum, this weekend.

We are 24 hours away from opening night of the Occupy Solidarity Social Forum. 44 folks have registered locally so far with an astounding 118 registered from outside of Olympia! We expect that number to increase substantially by this weekend. Already folks nationally are beginning to echo this event with NOW DC calling for an Occupy Social Forum. You all have done an astounding job of opening up your doors and welcoming the movement coming from all over the country! http://ossf2012.org Have you registered yet? Registration helps the food committee, hard workers all of them, make sure that food is for everyone!

Friday starting at 7PM we are having a community potluck at the Labor Council, 906 Columbia St SW, welcoming the Occupy Express and all others who are arriving into town. This will be a time for socializing and networking and to get connected with housing and that kind of thing. Come join us and bring a dish.

Saturday, 8AM, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, we will be checking folks in for registration. We are asking folks for $30 but it is pay what you can if you can. Local folks may want to wander in for specific workshops, we're fine with that but still register. Check out the schedule and see what you like of the over 50 that are being presented. With this many workshops everyone will find at least one interesting.

Saturday, 7PM, we have David Korten speaking with Dorli Rainey, look these two fine folks up to see their story. This is a split benefit for Olympia Fellowship Of Reconciliation, our allies, so we are asking $10 at the door but again pay what you can and some of you pay more.

Sunday we have more great workshops and serious discussion time. In the evening we have a great line up of performers back to back at the Olympia Ballroom. Doors open at 6:45 and we will start promptly at 7PM for the Musical Revolutionaries Danny Kelly, David Rovics & Jim Page; also newly added is Autococoon. Directly following that show in the same location will be our after party, featuring Musical Revolutionary underground hiphop artist Mic Crenshaw! If you haven't heard of him watch the youtube video of "Help Me!" from 2010 and listen to the lyrics. We'll have some local talent on that bill as well. There is a beer garden but the event is all ages and we ask folks to donate $10 but again, give what you can, it doesn't pay to be a real revolutionary and we want to support our artists who are!

Don't stay up too late because we need you all in the morning for Occupy President's Day! Rally begins gathering in Sylvester Park at 10AM, with music and speakers, we'll serve food and have an open mic at noon and march to the capitol at 12:45PM. There we have all sorts of fun we are looking at engaging in and feel free to be yourself. Some folks will be lobbying, not us, but we aren't against you giving your representative grief. Others will be doing street theater, die-ins, occu-pieing and confronting corporate lobbyists. We've got the steps of the "Temple of Justice" building facing the capitol till 2 but we won't have a sound system so be LOUD! There are lots of other groups around that day so starting at 2 you are on your own to collaborate with other good hearted folks on the Capitol Steps or do your own thing. Be back at Sylvester Park at 5PM for a debrief General Assembly! Maybe new folks will show and we'll re-march to the capitol and take it over! Who knows!

Thanks everyone for taking the time to participate together. Olympia has been encouraged by the Occupy movement and this is our chance to build on the parts we found engaging to us! I'm listing some links below here so that folks can find out more information.

Occupy Solidarity Social Forum: ossf2012@gmail.com, 360-742-0864, @ossf2012, http://ossf2012.org

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/occupysolidarity

FB events:  http://www.facebook.com/events/260209830707521  ;  http://www.facebook.com/events/326545830715710/  ;  http://www.facebook.com/events/220884014671849/  ; 

Occupy Olympia Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOlympia

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OccupyOlympia/

Occupy Olympia Listserves:

Main: https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/togetheroly

Occupy Solidarity: https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/occupysolidarity

Health, medical, first aid: https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/togetherhealth

Food: https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/togetherfeed

Structure (shelter): https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/togethershelter

Art (including performance): https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/togetherart

Discussion: https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/togethercommunicate

Medical Team: Olympians United for Community Health (O.U.C.H.) www.facebook.com/groups/276609785694824

Food Committee https://www.facebook.com/groups/189957447747931/

Art Group Calendar for Occupy Olympia http://www.my.calendars.net/artoccupyoly

Livestream: http://www.livestream.com/occupyolympia/

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/OccupyOlympia

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69293302@N04/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MediaOccupyOly

Olyblog: http://olyblog.net/blog/occupy-olympia-solidarity-global-occupywallstreet

[olympiaworkers] Victory in less than a week for newly reformed Glasgow Solidarity Network

Feb 10 2012 Libcom.org

Victory in less than a week for newly reformed Glasgow Solidarity Network

Collective direct action against a letting agent succeeds in the full
refund of an illegal administration fee.

Glasgow Solidarity Network has demonstrated how direct action gets the
goods with a successful conclusion to its first fight.

Two members of the Glasgow Anarchist Federation and their flatmate
discovered that it is illegal in Scotland for letting agents to charge
tenants fees apart from rent and deposits. Their letting agent, Martin &
Co, had charged the three of them them a substantial £250 "check-in" fee
before they had even paid their deposit. They first submitted an official
complaint but received only the receipt listing the fees they had paid as
a reply. Shelter advised them that they could go to the small claims
court, but the court fee would have been £65 with no guarantee of a win!
So instead, on 3rd February, they and 15 friends from the Glasgow
Solidarity Network delivered a letter in person to the head of the Martin
& Co West End office (to the amusement of other staff) giving the company
two weeks to return the money. They left quickly, took a picture outside
for posterity, and dispersed, some to the pub. The manager must have
called the police, because two officers came by the flat on Saturday to
have a friendly chat, but thanks to helpful information from the Scottish
Activist Legal Project, Solidarity Network members know their rights, and
the police left without even taking names.

On Tuesday 7th February, just four days later, the tenants received a
cheque for the money in full.

Don't let letting agents get away with charging illegal fees! Don't let
landlords take advantage of you! Join us!

[olympiaworkers] Greek hospital now under workers' control

Feb 5 2012 Libcom.org

Health workers in Kilkis, Greece, have occupied their local hospital and
have issued a statement saying it is now fully under workers control.

The general hospital of Kilkis in Greece is now under workers control. The
workers at the hospital have declared that the long-lasting problems of
the National Health System (ESY) cannot be resolved.

The workers have responded to the regime's acceleration of fascism by
occupying the hospital and outing it under direct and complete control by
the workers. All decisions will be made by a 'workers general assembly'.

The hospital has stated that. "The government is not acquitted of its
financial responsibilities, and if their demands are not met, they will
turn to the local and wider community for support in every possible way to
save the hospital defend free public healthcare, to overthrow the
government and every neo-liberal policy."

From the 6th February, hospital workers will only deal with emergencies
until their wages, and monies owed have been paid. They are also demanding
a return to wage levels prior to the implementation of austerity measures.

The next general assembly will take place on the 13th, and a related press
conference will be given on the 15th.

The following statement has been issued by the workers:

1. We recognize that the current and enduring problems of Ε.Σ.Υ (the
national health system) and related organizations cannot be solved with
specific and isolated demands or demands serving our special interests,
since these problems are a product of a more general anti-popular
governmental policy and of the bold global neoliberalism.

2. We recognize, as well, that by insisting in the promotion of that kind
of demands we essentially participate in the game of the ruthless
authority. That authority which, in order to face its enemy - i.e. the
people- weakened and fragmented, wishes to prevent the creation of a
universal labour and popular front on a national and global level with
common interests and demands against the social impoverishment that the
authority's policies bring.

3. For this reason, we place our special interests inside a general
framework of political and economic demands that are posed by a huge
portion of the Greek people that today is under the most brutal capitalist
attack; demands that in order to be fruitful must be promoted until the
end in cooperation with the middle and lower classes of our society.

4. The only way to achieve this is to question, in action, not only its
political legitimacy, but also the legality of the arbitrary authoritarian
and anti-popular power and hierarchy which is moving towards
totalitarianism with accelerating pace.

5. The workers at the General Hospital of Kilkis answer to this
totalitarianism with democracy. We occupy the public hospital and put it
under our direct and absolute control. The Γ.N. of Kilkis will henceforth
be self-governed and the only legitimate means of administrative decision
making will be the General Assembly of its workers.

6. The government is not released of its economic obligations of staffing
and supplying the hospital, but if they continue to ignore these
obligations, we will be forced to inform the public of this and ask the
local government but most importantly the society to support us in any way
possible for: (a) the survival of our hospital (b) the overall support of
the right for public and free healthcare (c) the overthrow, through a
common popular struggle, of the current government and any other
neoliberal policy, no matter where it comes from (d) a deep and
substantial democratization, that is, one that will have society, rather
than a third party, responsible for making decisions for its own future.

7. The labour union of the Γ.N. of Kilkis will begin, from 6 February, the
retention of work, serving only emergency incidents in our hospital until
the complete payment for the hours worked, and the rise of our income to
the levels it was before the arrival of the troika (EU-ECB-IMF).
Meanwhile, knowing fully well what our social mission and moral
obligations are, we will protect the health of the citizens that come to
the hospital by providing free healthcare to those in need, accommodating
and calling the government to finally accept its responsibilities,
overcoming even in the last minute its immoderate social ruthlessness.

8. We decide that a new general assembly will take place, on Monday 13
February in the assembly hall of the new building of the hospital at 11
am, in order to decide the procedures that are needed to efficiently
implement the occupation of the administrative services and to
successfully realise the self-governance of the hospital, which will start
from that day. The general assemblies will take place daily and will be
the paramount instrument for decision making regarding the employees and
the operation of the hospital.

We ask for the solidarity of the people and workers from all fields, the
collaboration of all workers' unions and progressive organizations, as
well as the support from any media organization that chooses to tell the
truth. We are determined to continue until the traitors that sell out our
country and our people leave. It's either them or us!
The above decisions will be made public through a news conference to which
all the Mass Media (local and national) will be invited on Wednesday
15/2/2012 at 12.30. Our daily assemblies begin on 13 February. We will
inform the citizens about every important event taking place in our
hospital by means of news releases and conferences. Furthermore, we will
use any means available to publicise these events in order to make this
mobilization successful.

We call
a) Our fellow citizens to show solidarity to our effort,
b) Every unfairly treated citizen of our country in contestation and
opposition, with actions, against his'/her's oppressors,
c) Our fellow workers from other hospitals to make similar decisions,
d) the employees in other fields of the public and private sector and the
participants in labour and progressive organizations to act likewise, in
order to help our mobilization take the form of a universal labour and
popular resistance and uprising, until our final victory against the
economic and political elite that today oppresses our country and the
whole world.

[olympiaworkers] Leonard Peltier was from the Northwest

Please post widely

From the Tacoma Chapter of the LPDOC

THE NORTHWEST UNITED IN SOLIDARITY!
  
  LEONARD PELTIER WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST. Leonard had been living in Seattle and was a member of Northwest AIM. He had been involved in a number of local struggles including the occupation of Fort Lawton. When the traditional Oglala Lakota people were suffering under a reign of terror after Wounded Knee II, over 66 of them murdered, many more wounded, villages shot up and so on. Northwest AIM answered a plea by  Oglala Lakota Elders and help them survive. On the very day in which a part of  Oglala Lakota was being illegally signed away to the U.S. government, the FBI attacked the Northwest AIM encampment and a firefight took place.
  The first two AIM members to go on trial, and were found not guilty for reason of self-defense, were from the northwest. The one AIM member who died upon that day, Joe Stuntz Killsright was from Port Angeles. We of the Northwest need to let everyone know that we will not forget and that we will stand strong for our own. Leonard is in prison for the people and we need to be out here for him!
  On Feb. 4, 2012, this coming Saturday, is the INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH LEONARD PELTIER, we here in the northwest, Portland, Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle and other towns in unity, have organized a Regional Leonard Peltier Clemency March and Rally in Tacoma. We need the help of all of you to make this a strong statement that northwest people stand with Leonard in solidarity. Everyone of you is important.
  Please northwest people join with us as we join with people around the world. The Northwest region of the U.S. (Tacoma, Portland, Olympia, Seattle and other towns united together) march in Tacoma, WA;  Toronto and Vancouver; Canada; Binghamton, UK; Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg, Germany; Brussels and Antwerp Belgium; Dublin, Ireland; Boulder, CO, San Jose, CA; Gullup, NM; Los Angeles, CA; Albuquerque, NM; San Francisco, CA; New York City, NY; Fresno, CA; Buffalo, NY; Macon and Decatur, GA; and other places.
  This is the most important march and rally so far in the northwest for Leonard. If you have marched with us before, please join us again. If you have ever thought about supporting Leonard, now is the time to do it. Please join us, please bring your family and friends. Thank you.

As individual fingers we can easily be broken, but all together we make a mighty fist.
-- Sitting Bull

INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH LEONARD PELTIER
NW REGIONAL MARCH AND RALLY FOR CLEMENCY FOR LEONARD PELTIER

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2012, TACOMA, WA.

12:00 NOON: MARCH FOR JUSTICE Portland Ave. Park (on Portland Ave. between E. 35th & E. Fairbanks. Take Portland Ave. exit off I-5 and head east)
1:00 PM: RALLY FOR JUSTICE U.S. Federal Court House, 1717-Pacific Ave.
  
PLEASE POST, SHARE AND LIKE ON FACEBOOK:
Please share
INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH LEONARD PELTIER NW MARCH AND RALLY: FEB. 4, TACOMA.  12:00 NOON: MARCH FOR JUSTICE Portland Ave. Park (on Portland Ave. between E. 35th & E. Fairbanks. Take Portland Ave. exit off I-5 and head east)
1:00 PM: RALLY FOR JUSTICE U.S. Federal Court House, 1717-Pacific Ave.

  SPEAKERS:
Co-MCs
Matilaja: Yu’Pik Eskimo from Mountain Village Alaska. Member of N.W. AIM since 1973, Friend of Leonard Peltier for 38 odd years and member of Tacoma Chapter LPDOC
Steve Hapy: Long time Leonard Peltier and Native struggles activist, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC
Leonard Peltier Honor Song:
AIM Warrior Society Drum
Opening:
Dorothy Ackerman: Lakota Elder
Drum:
Albert Combs and Coastal Hand Drum Singers
Welcoming:
Deeahop Conway, Puyallup Tribal member, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC
Leonard's case and up-date;
Arthur J. Miller: Northwest Regional Organizer LPDOC, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC,  long time union member and human rights activist
Keynote Speaker:
Ramona Bennett: Puyallup Tribal Elder, Life long friend of Leonard Peltier, Grand Mother, Great Grand Mother
Chester Earl: Puyallup Tribal member
Zoltan Grossman: Evergreen State College faculty in Geography and Native Studies, in Olympia. former board member of Midwest Treaty Network in Wisconsin.
Decolonization:
Claudia Serrato
Unity:
Michael One Road: Portland Chapter LPDOC
Closing words:
David Duenas: Puyallup Tribal Member

  Feb. 4, 2012 Regional March in Tacoma Facebook event pages please sign that you are coming and please invite your friends.
http://www.facebook.com/events/#!/events/163763897043790/
http://www.facebook.com/events/#!/events/179938242097693/

  RESOLUTIONS FOR CLEMENCY: Leonard needs resolutions for clemency from Tribes, Unions, Human Rights Organizations and others. See a sample resolution at:
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/resolution.htm
  
  For donations: Please make checks payable to the Leonard Peltier Defense/Offense Committee (mark them for NW March) and send them to: Tacoma Chapter LPODC, P.O. Box 5464, Tacoma, WA 98415.
  
  Join Tacoma Chapter LPDOC on facebook at: http://facebook.com/tacoma.lpdoc
Subscribe to: Northwest Peltier Support at: nwpeltiersupport-subscribe@lists.riseup.net    
For more information: www.whoisleonardpeltier.info

TACOMA CHAPTER, LPDOC, P.O. BOX 5464, TACOMA, WA 98415-0464. bayou@blarg.net

ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,ZAP,

NORTHWEST PHONE AND E-MAIL ZAP, FEBRUARY 6 TO 10, 2012
White House Comments Line - 202-456-1111; 202-456-1112
E-mail:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Message: Northwest people support clemency for Leonard Peltier

  It is important to keep phone calls, e-mails, and letters going to the White House during the clemency campaign. But we want to make sure that it is very clear that the northwest supports clemency for Leonard Peltier, so we have called for a phone and e-mail Zap (a phone Zap is when a lot of people call around the same time), the week after the regional march and rally. Please northwest folks show your support of Leonard Peltier. Thank you.