[olympiaworkers] Please sign this petition! Homelessness Ends With A Home! from Brendan Phillips

Hi All! Some of you I have been in recent contact with others I have not. I am doing well, living in Portland OR and working at Sisters Of The Road (www.sistersoftheroad.org).  I would like to invite all of you to sign this petition: http://www.change.org/western_regional_advocacy_project/actions/view/tell_politicians_that_homelessness_ends_with_a_home For the past 6 months I have been helping to organize a Western Regional coalition (www.wraphome.org) to demand more funding for affordable housing and an end to civil rights violations against people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in our communities.  Sisters Of The Road is happy to be sending over 50 members of our community to represent Portland at this action in San Francisco.  Not only can you sign this petition, you can also follow the whole trip and the action by following the links below: http://www.change.org/western_regional_advocacy_project/actions/view/tell_politicians_that_homelessness_ends_with_a_home http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/join_the_fight_for_change_in_sf_on_january_20 I hope all of you are doing well!  Brendan Phillips Community Organizer Sisters Of The Road Portland OR (503) 222-5694 Ext. 13 brendan@sistersoftheroad.org

From: "Brendan Phillips"
Date: Fri, January 15, 2010

Hi All!

Some of you I have been in recent contact with others I have not. I am
doing well, living in Portland OR and working at Sisters Of The Road
(www.sistersoftheroad.org).  I would like to invite all of you to sign
this petition:

http://www.change.org/western_regional_advocacy_project/actions/view/tell_politicians_that_homelessness_ends_with_a_home

For the past 6 months I have been helping to organize a Western Regional
coalition (www.wraphome.org) to demand more funding for affordable housing
and an end to civil rights violations against people experiencing
homelessness and extreme poverty in our communities.  Sisters Of The Road
is happy to be sending over 50 members of our community to represent
Portland at this action in San Francisco.  Not only can you sign this
petition, you can also follow the whole trip and the action by following
the links below:

http://www.change.org/western_regional_advocacy_project/actions/view/tell_politicians_that_homelessness_ends_with_a_home

http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/join_the_fight_for_change_in_sf_on_january_20

I hope all of you are doing well! 

Brendan Phillips
Community Organizer
Sisters Of The Road
Portland OR
(503) 222-5694 Ext. 13
brendan@sistersoftheroad.org

[olympiaworkers] Call for Solidarity and Funds for the Working People of Haiti!

Libcom.org Jan 14 2010

Miami Autonomy & Solidarity (MAS) and Batay Ouvriye Haiti Solidarity
Network seek help and solidarity funds to aid Haitian working class.

01/14/09- A natural disaster has descended upon Haiti whose scope we only
are seeing the surface of at this time. The Haitian people will be
struggling to rebuild their lives and their home possibly for decades in
light of unprecedented collapse, both physical and social. Yet despite the
unpredictability of earthquakes, this disaster is unnatural, a monstrosity
of our time. The extent of the damage of the earthquake is part of the
cost of unrestrained exploitation which at every step put profit above the
health, safety, and well being of the Haitian people. While the world
watches on ready to help, power is being dealt an opportunity. The Haitian
workers and peasants have been fighting for their rights to even the most
basic level of existence for decades, while the UN-occupying force, the
state, and the ruling elites maintain the social misery without relenting.
Now as Port-Au-Prince is in rubble, new opportunities arise for rulers to
rebuild Haiti in their own interests, and likewise for the Haitian workers
and peasants to assert their right to their own Haiti, one where they will
be not be forced to live in dangerous buildings, and work merely to fill
the pockets of elites, foreign or domestic.

As we move from watching in horror to taking decisive action, progressives
can offer an alternative. There is a strong and beautiful desire to do
something, to help others in this time of need. Our actions are strongest
when we organize ourselves, and make a concerted effort in unity. Right
now we can have the deepest impact by committing ourselves to act in
solidarity with the autonomous social movements of Haiti directly. They
present the best possible option for the Haitian people, and are in the
greatest need. At the same time, we are in the best position to help them
out our common interest as people engaged in struggling against a system
that works to exploit us all. We are calling for solidarity
people-to-people engaged in common struggle. It is not only a question of
money for AID but also an autonomous and independent act of international
solidarity that illuminates the bankruptcy of the occupying forces,
multinational corporations, and Haitian elites that are primarily
responsible for the decayed state of Haiti. There will be aid flowing and
money given as a form of charity until the next disaster. Our act of
solidarity should, in no shape or form, be solely an act of humanitarian
aid. It should not be an apolitical act, and we shouldn't give the green
light to those that wish to capitalize on the suffering of others. It
should be an act of solidarity to the struggling people of Haiti and their
organizations while at the same time rejecting the totally inept Haitian
elites and their state apparatus for bankrupting Haiti. The earthquake is
a natural disaster, but the state of Haiti, the abject poverty of the
masses and the vile injustice of the social order, are unnatural.

We have a relationship with one organization, Batay Ouvriye, and are
putting our resources and time into helping Batay Ouvriye to help rebuild
from the catastrophe and maintain the struggle for a better Haiti and a
better world. Batay Ouvriye is a combative grassroots worker and peasant's
organization in Haiti with workers organized all over Haiti, especially in
the Industrial sweatshops and Free Trade Zones.

We have set up a means to send money to Batay Ourviye. If others wish to
send money to Batay Ouvriye, please email
miamiautonomyandsolidarity@yahoo.com.

Miami Autonomy & Solidarity and Batay Ouvriye Haiti Solidarity Network

[olympiaworkers] Demonstrate for Reproductive Rights and Basic Health January 22nd

Hello, my name is Lisa and Im a member of Radical Women http://www.radicalwomen.org/  We are inviting all socially active organizations and individuals to demonstrate for Reproductive Rights and Basic Health, January 22nd, on the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision, legalizing abortion.  Womens right to control their own bodies begins with full access to abortion and guarenteed medical care for individuals and families.  Come to the state capitol to raise a ruckus over the threatened destruction of the Basic Health Plan and the fact that over two-thirds of Washington counties have no abortion providers.
 
I've attached a copy of the January 22 leaflet in hopes that you can forward it around. A text version is below. One thing we're interested in is having some music at the rally--do you have any ideas of folks we should contact? Also, please let me know if your group is interested in sponsoring the rally.
 

We would love to work with you on these actions. Please check out www.SaveBasicHealth.org for more information about what's happening.

 

Thank you and I look forward to meeting you at the rally, if not before.
 
Lisa
 

Fri., Jan. 22, noon, Olympia
37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision

Rally for Reproductive Rights & Basic Health

It's basic – women's ability to control their own bodies begins with guaranteed medical care as well as access to abortion. Yet the state Basic Health Plan and crucial programs that aid the most vulnerable are in jeopardy. Come raise a ruckus over the threatened destruction of essential services and the fact that two-thirds of Washington counties have no abortion providers. Reproductive justice means affordability, access and healthcare for all! Tax the rich and corporations to expand health, education and social programs and to fund full-service women's health clinics statewide.

 

Capitol Steps, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. S.W., Olympia

Sponsored by Sisters Organize for Survival, a campaign of Radical Women

For information or to endorse, please call (206)722-6057 or email RWseattle@mindspring.com. www.SaveBasicHealth.org

 
 

 

 

 

---

Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now.From: "Lisa Rohrabacher" <rutzdaughter@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, January 13, 2010

Hello, my name is Lisa and Im a member of Radical Women
http://www.radicalwomen.org/ We are inviting all socially active
organizations and individuals to demonstrate for Reproductive Rights and
Basic Health, January 22nd, on the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade
decision, legalizing abortion. Womens right to control their own bodies
begins with full access to abortion and guarenteed medical care for
individuals and families. Come to the state capitol to raise a ruckus
over the threatened destruction of the Basic Health Plan and the fact that
over two-thirds of Washington counties have no abortion providers.

I've attached a copy of the January 22 leaflet in hopes that you can
forward it around. A text version is below. One thing we're interested in
is having some music at the rally--do you have any ideas of folks we
should contact? Also, please let me know if your group is interested in
sponsoring the rally.

We would love to work with you on these actions. Please check out
www.SaveBasicHealth.org for more information about what's happening.

Thank you and I look forward to meeting you at the rally, if not before.

Lisa

Fri., Jan. 22, noon, Olympia
37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision
Rally for Reproductive Rights & Basic Health
It's basic – women's ability to control their own bodies begins with
guaranteed medical care as well as access to abortion. Yet the state Basic
Health Plan and crucial programs that aid the most vulnerable are in
jeopardy. Come raise a ruckus over the threatened destruction of essential
services and the fact that two-thirds of Washington counties have no
abortion providers. Reproductive justice means affordability, access and
healthcare for all! Tax the rich and corporations to expand health,
education and social programs and to fund full-service women's health
clinics statewide.

Capitol Steps, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. S.W., Olympia
Sponsored by Sisters Organize for Survival, a campaign of Radical Women
For information or to endorse, please call (206)722-6057 or email
RWseattle@mindspring.com. www.SaveBasicHealth.org

[olympiaworkers] Egyptian fishworkers on strike in Nea Michaniona, Northern Greece.

Libcom.org Jan 8, 2010

The struggle of Egyptian immigrant fishworkers in northern Greece. Their
strike is still on.

article appeared at clandestinenglish.

About 300 Egyptian workers at the fishing boats of Nea Michaniona (a
village near Thessaloniki, Northern Greece) blockaded two days ago the
small port of the village. Before that, from Chrismas on, they had been on
one day strikes to protest against the severe decrease in ther income the
previous months. They ended the blockade yesterday but go on with their
strike. Egyptian immigrants are paid with shares of each catch's profit.
These shares have been seriously shrinking since some months. A worker who
used to make a living and also support his family in Egypt in the recent
months receives about 300-500 euros a month for working seven days a week
on 24 hour shifts of very hard work (anyone who has spoken to these people
knows how hard they work and under what circumstances).

The workers accuse the owners of vessels of exploiting the method of
payment to present less earnings and shrink the workers' money. What the
employers want through this – beyond expanding their profit margin in the
short term – is to force the Egyptian workers to leave and then bring
other (immigrant, obviously) workers at lower wages. Egyptian workers have
been coming to work in the fishing business since 25 years now and
according to the terms of a bilateral agreement between Greece and Egypt.
They demand that they are paid according to these terms.

The owners of trawlers disprove the allegations and justify reduced wages
on the grounds of increased fuel prices and the low price of Greek fish
due to imports.

According to Communist Party of Greece Newspaper Rizospastis what the
Egyptian workers demand is to be paid the Christmas bonus, to have a share
on VAT return, and be insured in the IKA social insurance fund, not in the
OGA (&#927;&#915;&#913;) (which is mostly for self-employed farmers): they
had been at IKA until 2004, when the PASOK government satisfied a demand
of the ship-owners, who did not want to pay for their workers insurance.

Although the workers ceased the blockade, they go on with their strike.
Again according to Rizospastis on Wednesday they also had the first
elections of the Egyptian Association of Nea Michaniona Fishery Workers
(which until yesterday operated on interim administration), despite the
efforts by employers and employer controlled Union of Fishery workers to
prevent such organization along class lines. This Union, whose
administration is affiliated with the PASOK trade unions organisation
PASKE (&#928;&#913;&#931;&#922;&#917;) has been since 2008 assigned with
the calculation and validation of shares, and it is since then that the
Egyptian workers' wages have been waning.

Various organisations controlled by the Communist Party, and its trade
union PAME, have been close to the Egyptian Workers' struggle. According
to Rizospastis the vessel bosses have been terrorising those (party
members and trade unionists) who chose to stand by immigrants, and they
attempt to break the strike by mobilizing repressive mechanisms. They said
they will sail their vessels by recruiting members of their families in
violation of any law. The Mayor of Michaniona Mr Mavromatis clearlt stood
alongside the vessel owners.. Yesterday afternoon he appeared at the port
and announced that he will go ahead to break the strike.

At the same time, by order of the chief of the Thesaaloniki Port Police
Forces and the Port Authority of Thessaloniki, the workers who went to
lodge a complaint against three ship owners who owed them money were
subjected to tremendous bureaucratic obstacles. The police tried to
prevent their lawyer from representing them, they demanded that the
workers had a translator, although they speak Greek more than adequately,
and kept looking for a Qu'ran for the complainants to swear. Police, riot
police and special port police forces were all the time close to the
mobilisation to intimidate and deter the workers.

Both in Greece (the PAME) and in Egypt trade unions have made protest
rallies at their respective Labour Ministries.

Athens indymedia users report that the only road leading to the port was
yesterday blockaded by about 100-150 Greeks who said they were waiting to
stop the "communists" and along with the riot police there were alert to
smash the strike (which at the time – Thursday noon possibly) was
supported by the workers themselves and about fifty Communist Party
members, who "did not really understood what was going on (some hundreds
meters away from them)". Many racist slogans were being sung, as well as
Chryssi Avgi graffiti and leaflets were to be spotted in the area.

There is a meeting today at 19.00 the Polytechic school in Thessaloniki
for people to coordinate solidarity actions.

[olympiaworkers] Turkey: 10, 000 workers protest despite police violence - and need your help

Turkey: 10,000 workers protest despite police violence - and need your help

More than 10,000 workers in Turkey are now in their fourth week of protests in near-freezing temperatures and they're asking for our help.

They are employed by Tekel, the former tobacco monopoly, and are protesting against a snap government decision to close their workplaces at the end of this month.  They face either unemployment or work at lower wages and fewer benefits.

Their protests began last month when over 100 buses brought them to Ankara to demonstrate in front of the ruling party's headquarters.  But police drove them away, forcing the workers into a nearby park. 

Police then put up barricades around the park and used water hoses and tear gas against the workers.  Police violence escalated, workers were beaten with clubs, and many were hospitalized.

The demonstrators have since moved their protest to outside the headquarters of the Turkish union confederation, where they hold daily demonstrations.  Some have gone on hunger strike.

The IUF has launched an online protest -- please take a moment to send off your message today.

This long struggle is also breaking the union's treasury and they've issued an urgent appeal for funds.  If your union can help, please contact the IUF (iuf@iuf.org)  and they'll tell you how.

Please share this message - forward it to other members of your union, to your co-workers, to family and friends.

Thanks very much.

Eric Lee

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From: ericlee@labourstart.org
Date: Thu, January 7, 2010

More than 10,000 workers in Turkey are now in their fourth week of
protests in near-freezing temperatures and they're asking for our help
<http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/157>
.

They are employed by Tekel, the former tobacco monopoly, and are
protesting against a snap government decision to close their
workplaces at the end of this month. They face either unemployment or
work at lower wages and fewer benefits.

Their protests began last month when over 100 buses brought them to
Ankara to demonstrate in front of the ruling party's headquarters. But
police drove them away, forcing the workers into a nearby park.

Police then put up barricades around the park and used water hoses
and tear gas against the workers. Police violence escalated, workers
were beaten with clubs, and many were hospitalized.

The demonstrators have since moved their protest to outside the
headquarters of the Turkish union confederation, where they hold daily
demonstrations. Some have gone on hunger strike.

The IUF has launched an online protest
<http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/157>
-- please take a moment to send off your message today.

This long struggle is also breaking the union's treasury and they've
issued an urgent appeal for funds. If your union can help, please
contact the IUF (iuf@iuf.org) and they'll tell you how.

Please share this message - forward it to other members of your
union, to your co-workers, to family and friends.

Thanks very much.

Eric Lee