[olympiaworkers] EZLN - call to action

A Call from the Zapatistas: Oaxaca Is Not Alone Shut-Down of Roads, Highways
and the Media on November
1; General Strike Called for November 20

By the Sixth Commission of the EZLN
The Other Mexico

October 30, 2006

Message from the
CLANDESTINE REVOLUTIONARY INDIGENOUS COMMITTEE-GENERAL
COMMAND
of the
ZAPATISTA ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION
MEXICO.

October 30, 2006.

To the people of Mexico:
To the people of the world:
To the Other Campaign in Mexico and the other side of
the Rio Grande:
To the entire Sixth International:

Compañeros and compañeras:
Brothers and sisters:

It is now known publicly that yesterday, 29th of
October 2006, Vicente Fox's federal forces attacked
the people of Oaxaca and its most legitimate
representative, the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of
Oaxaca (APPO).

Today, the federal troops have assassinated at least 3
people, among them a minor, leaving dozens of wounded,
including many women from Oaxaca. Dozens of detainees
were illegally transported to military prisons. All
this comes in addition to the existing total of
deaths, detainees and missing persons since the
beginning of the mobilization demanding that Ulises
Ruiz step down as Oaxaca's governor.

The sole objective of the federal attack is to
maintain Ulises Ruiz in power and to destroy the
popular grassroots organization of the people of
Oaxaca.

Oaxaca's people are resisting. Not one single honest
person can remain quiet and unmoved while the entire
society, of which the majority are indigenous, is
murdered, beaten and jailed.

We, the Zapatistas, will not be silent; we will
mobilize to support our brothers, sisters and comrades
in Oaxaca.

The EZLN's Sixth Commission has already consulted the
Zapatista leadership and the following has been
decided:

First: During whole day of November 1, 2006, the major
and minor roads that cross Zapatistas territories in
the southwestern state of Chiapas will be closed.

Consequently, we ask that everyone avoid traveling by
these roads in Chiapas on this day and that one make
the necessary arrangements in order to do so.

Second: through the Sixth Commission, the EZLN has
begun making contact and consulting other political
and social organizations, groups, collectives and
individuals in the Other Campaign, in order to
coordinate joint solidarity actions across Mexico,
leading to a nationwide shut-down on the 20th of
November, 2006.

Third: the EZLN calls out to the Other Campaign in
Mexico and north of the Rio Grande, so that these
November 1st mobilizations happen wherever possible,
completely, partially, at intervals or symbolically
shutting down the major artery roads, streets, toll
booths, stations, airports and commercial media.

Fourth: The central message that the Zapatistas send
and will continue sending is that the people of Oaxaca
are not alone: They are not alone!

Ulises Ruiz out of Oaxaca!

Immediate withdrawal of the occupying federal forces
from Oaxaca!

Immediate and unconditional freedom for all detainees!

Cancel all arrest warrants!

Punish the murderers!

Justice!
Freedom!
Democracy!

>From the North of Mexico.
For the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous
Committee-General Command of the Zapatista Army of
National Liberation.
For the EZLN Sixth Commission.

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos

Update on Oaxaca Teachers' Strike

TEACHERS VOTE ON RETURN TO CLASSES, SENATE SUPPORTS RUIZ

After a 14-hour debate that extended into the early morning hours on
Sunday, Section 22 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE)
rejected the results of a consultation carried out Thursday and Friday on
their possible return to classes after a five-month strike.  A second
vote is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of next week.  Enrique Rueda,
president of Section 22 and closely affiliated with the traditional
charro union structure, pushed hard for the vote even after at least five
previous ballots declared teachers would continue their strike until
Governor Ulises Ruiz is removed from office.  Rueda has been an unpopular
figure in Oaxaca City after negotiating with federal officials behind
closed doors for the past week and then announcing teachers would return
to class three days before the vote.  Leaders of the SNTE rejected the
results of the consultation after Rueda annulled thousands of votes that
weren't consistent with the "format." Rueda fled from the teachers' hotel
shortly after the vote, protected by bodyguards, after thousands of
residents and teachers called him a traitor.  The results reflect a
divided union.  Officials reported that 25,692 teachers voted to return
to classes no later than October 30 while 17,482 rejected the 17-point
plan negotiated recently by Rueda and Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal
that included an immediate return to classes.  Another 12,129 teachers
rejected the Abascal plan and voted to return to class five days after
Ulises Ruiz is removed as governor, and these are the votes that were
annulled by Rueda.  Abascal's plan does not contemplate the removal of
Ruiz.

The strike began on May 22 and includes some 70,000 teachers responsible
for 1.3 million students.  Initially the demands focused on increased
salaries, but when Governor Ruiz tried to put down the strike with police
violence, teachers joined with more than 200 community organizations to
form the APPO.  The principle demand of the united organizations is the
removal of Ruiz.  Negotiations last week with Interior Secretary Abascal
never addressed this key issue.

Violence continued in Oaxaca City.  Panfilo Hernandez, a popular
indigenous teacher, was assassinated on Wednesday as a left an APPO
meeting in Oaxaca City, becoming the third teacher to die from
paramilitary violence organized by the governor.  Early Sunday morning,
the APPO reported shots fired at a barricade in the center of the city,
though no injuries were reported.  And also on Sunday morning, at least
nine shots were fired at the home of Francisco Toledo, Oaxaca's most
famous living artist.

On Thursday, the Senate rejected a finding of “disappeared powers” in
Oaxaca by 74 to 31, with the PRI, PAN and Green Party voting to maintain
Governor Ruiz in power, though Senators also found that the state is
currently "ungovernable."  In negotiations last week in Mexico City,
Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal left the final decision on Ruiz in the
hands of the Senate.  In anticipation of the vote, on Monday Abascal
criticized Ruiz: "the local authority does not have the capacity to
control peace, order and security.  That's why we are in this situation."
Yet the leadership of Abascal's own party rejected a finding that would
have removed the Oaxaca governor.  The Senate decision rekindled a
politically damaged Ruiz, who renewed his call for the use of federal
forces to dislodge protestors from the historic center of Oaxaca City,
which has been virtually closed for the past five months.  With teachers
apparently prepared to maintain their strike and with the APPO firm in
their commitment to remove Ruiz, federal authorities are under increasing
pressure from the business community and the PRI to use force.  The
Federal Preventative Police and the army are reportedly prepared to move
at any time.  The PAN finds itself in a complicated political position.
President-elect Felipe Calderon is anxious to resolve the situation
before assuming the presidency on December 1.  His campaign revolved
largely around law and order issues and he repeatedly called for the
"mano dura" in speeches, a strong indication that he supports the use of
force in Oaxaca.  He is also anxious to preserve the PRI-PAN alliance
that brought him to power in a fraudulent election, yet the PAN does not
want to assume political responsibility for a local situation created
largely by a corrupt PRI governor.  With Abascal's negotiations ending in
failure and with no ther federal initiatives on the immediate agenda, the
use of force becomes more probably every day.  Ruiz has well-armed
paramilitary groups ready to move in Oaxaca, and he will likely try to
murder APPO leadership under cover of a federal police action.  But the
APPO is not backing down.  On Sunday, the leadership called for a
mega-demonstration and a national meeting to evaluate the performance of
all state governors.  There is no shortage of official corruption at the
state level throughout Mexico, and presumably those governors who don't
meet popular approval would be targeted for removal, which could quickly
extend the Oaxaca actions to a national level.

OTHER CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OAXACA PROTESTS

Subcomandante Marcos called on the Other Campaign to support protests in
Oaxaca led by the APPO and striking teachers: "The people of Oaxaca have
given the rest of the country a heroic and organizational example.  And
Oaxaca will find in the Other Campaign a movement that gives
unconditional support, without looking for political advantage. If
[authorities] mess with the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca and
with Oaxaca, they mess with the Other Campaign and the EZLN."  Marcos
clarified the position of the Other Campaign during remarks in Mexicali,
part of a national tour of Mexico that will end in Mexico City on
November 30.

Source:

MEXICO SOLIDARITY NETWORK
WEEKLY NEWS AND ANALYSIS
OCTOBER 16-22, 2006
http://www.mexicosolidarity.org

Houston Janitors go on Strike

Houston Janitors go on Strike

Tuesday, October 24 2006 @ 06:30 AM PDT
From Houston Indymedia:

The janitor's strike is on. After about a week of daily protests about 500 janitors marched downtown Monday night instead of going to work. More janitors are expected to walk out each day this week. See videos from the 10/23 walkout, hear a report, see pictures and more video.

From the Open Publishing Newswire: Bargaining for the janitors broke down last week so a strike was inevitable. This is unfortunate because no one wants to strike, but when all other options have failed, there is no other choice.

Janitors have been winning livable wages and health care now for years across the country in many major cities. Now it's Houston's time and there is no question that this is an historic fight and the best chance low wage service workers in Texas have to win a union contract.

We have learned over the years that in today's world, it takes the whole community of people of conscience standing together to win our rights and respect from these rich corporations. There are many ways you can help this weekend and in the coming weeks!

>> We are setting up a Food Bank in order to provide striking janitors at least one bag of food a week. You can help set up a collection site or bring food to the office. Once our sites are set up we will let you know where food can be donated.
>> Join us on for a picket line any day this week at 4:30 at 1100 Louisiana Ave.
>> March on Saturday, October 28th. We will be assembling in Grady Park in the Galleria area. It is on the corner of San Felipe and Yorktown, a few blocks west from the 610 exit onto San Felipe. Our permit has been denied but we are marching anyway even if it is on the sidewalks.
>> Mobilize - send information out to your families, friends, organizational allies, local listserves about the strike and the march on Saturday!
[read the full article with ways to support the janitors]

Previous Coverage from HIMC: Hundreds of Janitors to Vote Whether to Strike Over Poverty Conditions

Wal-Mart Employees Self-Organize

Wal-Mart Employees Self-Organize First Ever 200 Plus Employee Protest Outside a Wal-Mart Store in Florida

Contact: Chris Kofinis of the WakeUpWal-Mart Campaign, 202-486-6422

MIAMI, Oct. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, over 200 Wal-Mart employees, at the Hialeah Gardens, Fla., Wal-Mart store (near Miami), self-organized the first-ever large scale employee protest at a Wal-Mart store.

According to Wal-Mart workers who contacted WakeUpWalMart.com, over 250 Wal-Mart associates are currently outside the store protesting the negative effects of Wal-Mart's open availability policy, hours being cut, scheduling changes, and a new, punitive attendance policy. These Wal-Mart employees say they have had enough of executives in Bentonville, Ark., ignoring their concerns, and they are willing to take to the street to counter Wal-Mart's changes which are pushing out hard-working, loyal Wal- Mart employees.

The following statement is attributable to Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com:

"For too long, Wal-Mart has ignored the serious workplace concerns of over 1.39 million Wal-Mart associates. Since the beginning of this year, Wal-Mart has essentially declared war on its employees by cutting hours, reducing the number of full-time workers, imposing salary caps, instituting an open door policy, cutting health care benefits, and even instituting a new, punitive attendance policy. Wal-Mart's changes negatively impact its workers and are all a sinister attempt to push out loyal employees who Wal-Mart believes cost them to much. It is wrong and it must stop.

"As we can all see from this incredible protest in Hialeah, Fla., Wal-Mart workers, having been pushed to the point of no return, are standing up to Wal-Mart executives and fighting back. Contrary to Wal-Mart's heartless changes, employees are not commodities or products on the shelf and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. These employees are hard- working people with real families and they deserve our support.

"Once again, we call on Wal-Mart to realize that there is a better path. The American people, Wal-Mart associates, and elected leaders are demanding that Wal-Mart end its war on its workers and change into a more responsible employer. In the end, Wal-Mart should not doubt for a moment that this is just the beginning of workers speaking out and their calls will continue to get louder. We can only hope for Wal-Mart's sake and its employees, that Wal-Mart hears these calls for change and does what is right."

------

Editor's Note: Wal-Mart employees at the protest are available for comment.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

STARBUCKS INFAMY: IWW Organizer Daniel Gross

TAKE ACTION NOW!

www.starbucksunion.org
August 5, 2006

The Starbucks "investigation" of IWW member Daniel
Gross concluded today with his termination after more
than three years of organizing at the company.
Daniel's expression of solidarity at a union picket
line with co-worker and fellow union member, Evan
Winterscheidt, was deemed threatening by Starbucks
despite multiple eyewitnesses who confirm that Daniel
merely asserted to District Manager Allison Marx that
Evan should not be fired. With the termination of IWW
members Daniel Gross, Evan Winterscheidt, Joe Agins
Jr., and Charles Fostrom in less than a year,
Starbucks has demonstrated conclusively its intense
hostility to the right of workers to join a union.


To provide additional cover for the unlawful
termination, Starbucks issued Daniel a blatantly
discriminatory performance review today with negative
ratings for things like, "not communicating partner
morale issues to the Store Manager." The manager
confirmed that morale issues included complaints about
wages and working conditions. Last we checked, an
employer may not mandate an employee to engage in
surveillance of co-worker's protected activities.

Far from breaking our campaign, Starbucks has done the
opposite. The current and former Starbucks workers who
proudly carry the red Industrial Workers of the World
membership card vow to redouble our efforts to achieve
an independent voice on the job. The right to free
association at work is fundamental and not subject to
compromise. But to vindicate our right to union
membership, we need support from you, the working
class; the class that built this society with our
sweat and indeed with our blood.

The multinational retailers like Wal-Mart, Starbucks,
and Borders seek totalitarian control of the
workplace. The way forward to reign in these massive
corporations is a social movement of workers and
community members. The Wobblies at Starbucks have
proven that by taking direct action against the
company over issues of concern to workers and by
avoiding the skewed certification process of NLRB
elections, baristas can improve their lives on and off
the job. This strategy only works however, if the
company incurs significant economic, political, and
social costs when it violates the right to organize by
terminating workers for union activity.

Take action with us sisters and brothers. Together we
will win:

1) Do not spend your hard earned money at Starbucks
until the company respects the right of workers to
organize and reinstates Daniel Gross and the rest of
the IWW baristas. Let the company know you are taking
a stand by participating in the email action:
http://starbucksunion.org/node/1015

2) Obtain a resolution or pledge from your community
group, labor union, or house of worship agreeing to
stay way from Starbucks products until justice is
done. Please send copies to starbucksunion@yahoo.com.

3) Hold a rally or leafleting action at Starbucks in
support of the right to organize and in defense of the
fired union baristas if you feel that's appropriate in
your local community. Please check in with the
baristas at the store before hand to involve them in
the action.

4) If you are a student, join the Justice from Bean to
Cup! campaign launching this Fall to ensure Starbucks
doesn't operate on campuses without reinstating the
IWW baristas, respecting the right to organize, and
making a meaningful commitment to Fair Trade. Get
involved by e-mailing starbucksunion@yahoo.com.

5) Make a financial contribution to the IWW Starbucks
Workers Union to ensure a continued independent voice
for employees at the world's largest coffee chain.
Send checks made out to "IWW Starbucks Workers Union"
or well-concealed cash to:

IWW Starbucks Workers Union
347 Maujer St. Apt. #C
Brooklyn, NY 11206

www.starbucksunion.org

"the work of the theater is the liberation of dreams, the
transformation of ideas into working acts" Julian Beck

Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity August 8

July 30, 2006

Dear labor activists,

The next meeting of OWLS, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity,
will be on Tuesday, August 8, 7pm, at 6726 Corson Ave. S., Seattle.
This is in Georgetown, at the home of Bernadette Logue, SEIU member
and activist. (Take the southbound I-5 Michigan St./Corson Ave. freeway
exit. Once you exit just stay on Corson Ave and continue to her house.
Her phone number is 355-9156 if you need further directions.

At our last OWLS meeting we worked on and adopted a resolution in defense
of immigrant rights. We want to take this resolution to the labor movement
for education, organizing, and  adoption. At this meeting we will discuss
ways to do that.

We'll also talk about plans for Labor Day and labor struggles in the Puget
Sound area. Folks are welcome to bring news of their own activities and
issues taking place in their unions. We hope you can make the meeting!

And for those who may want a refresher, below is what OWLS is about:

OWLS is a multiracial group of labor activists who are dedicated to
strengthening solidarity across union lines, and to reviving the fighting
spirit of the labor movement.

We believe that democracy is essential to making our unions and labor
councils strong, proactive forces for workers' rights. We promote the
organizing of immigrant and unorganized workers, especially the lowest paid.

Oly APWU presents Triple Trouble Friday, June 30th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT:  The Triple Trouble Tour, featuring hell-raising singer Anne Feeney, satirical
sharp-shooter Dave Lippman, and singing C.I.A. agent George Shrub

WHEN:  Friday, June 30th, 7:30 pm

WHERE:  Labor Temple, 119-1/2 Capitol Way, Olympia

COST:  $10 general, $5 low income

WHY:  Presented by Olympia Local, American Postal Workers Union, to kick-off the
“Keep the Mail in Olympia!” letter-writing campaign to the Postal Rate Commission.
For more info: http://www.lunewsviews.com/Olympia

DESCRIPTION: 

The Triple Trouble Tour, a fair and balanced brew of satire and songs to stir the
soul, features these unbalanced performers:

Anne Feeney has lived her life on the frontlines, comforting the afflicted and
afflicting the comfortable with songs like “Have You Been to Jail for Justice?”
"Anne Feeney is the best labor singer in North America..." -- Utah Phillips

Dave Lippman is fired up about weapons of mass distraction, SUVs, and wars to defend
SUVs. Lippman has just filed suit in Miami against the FBI and Miami Police for
violation of his civil liberties at the Free Trade Area of the Americas
demonstrations in 2003. See http://davelippman.com/suit.html "Lippman is a national
treasure," --  L.A. Herald-Examiner. "Viciously funny" -- The Guardian.

The world’s only known singing CIA agent, George Shrub, will be provided equal time
to present the hidden charms of torture, conquest and lies.

Visit http://davelippman.com and http://annefeeney.com for audio and video samples
of the show.

- # -

Colombian workers strike against Alabama based mining company

STRIKE AT US COAL MULTINATIONAL DRUMMOND

As from 22 May 2006 a strike has commenced at the coal mine and loading port of the
US multinational Drummond that works the ‘La Loma’ concession in Cesar department.

3, 500 workers affiliated to SINTRAMIENERGÉTICA stopped work to demand a reponse to
their petition of demands. Drummond has refused to accept extending the Collective
Agreement to 2, 000 comrades working in contracted and sub-contracted activities at
the mine and the port. The incidence of work related illnesses and accidents is
extremely high, [the workers demand] an improvement in working conditions.

This strike has a similar motivation to the one already started on 17 May by the
comrades at Carbones La Jagua, both of which have fulfilled legal requirements.

We demand that the National Government and the corporation respect this just protest
and that a solution is found through dialogue.

Send messages of support to CUT Human Rights Department, e-mail:
derechoshumanos@cut.org.co

HUELGA EN LA DRUMMOND LTDA

A partir de hoy 22 de mayo de 2006, se inició la huelga en la mina de carbón y el
puerto de embargue de la multinacional norteamericana Drummond, que tiene el
contrato de concesión de la Loma-Cesar.

3. 500 trabajadores afiliados a Sintramienergética, paralizaron las labores para
reclamar solución al pliego de peticiones. La Drummond se niega a aceptar la
extensión de la Convención a 2. 000 compañeros de las firmas contratistas y
subcontratistas que laboran en actividades de la mina y el puerto, mejoramiento de
las condiciones de trabajo pues el índice de enfermedades y accidentes con ocasión
de la realización de las actividades es altísimo.

Esta huelga tiene similares motivaciones a la adelantada, desde el 17 de mayo, por
los compañeros de Carbones La Jagua e igualmente aquí se cumplió con todos los
requisitos establecidos en la ley.

Reclamamos del Gobierno Nacional y de la multinacional que se respete esta justa
protesta y se procure una solución por la vía del diálogo.

CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ DÍAZ
Presidente    BORIS MONTES DE OCA
Secretario General    GUSTAVO TRIANA SUAREZ
Secretario de Asuntos Energéticos

Bogotá, D. C., 22 de mayo de 2006

"the work of the theater is the liberation of dreams, the transformation of ideas
into working acts" Julian Beck

Olympia Workers Association Statement on the Militarization of the Port of

May 30, 2006

In solidarity with workers worldwide, The Olympia Workers Association condemns union labor loading military machinery onto ships to Iraq. Dock workers in Seattle began the General Strike of 1919 when they refused to load weapons to fight workers in Russia. We urge local dock workers now to refuse to load military equipment to fight workers in Iraq. Only when local workers stand in solidarity with workers worldwide will we earn the true value of the work we produce.

Hundreds Mark Historic May Day in Olympia

Reports from 2008 May Day

Olympia, WA-- Hundreds of community members celebrated International Workers Day on Monday May 1st, 2006. People in Olympia assembled in Sylvester park for a “Day Without an Immigrant” and joined in solidarity with millions of people across the US and workers around the world.

People gathered while speakers from various community groups talked about immigration, Zapatistas, cross border organizing, local worker solidarity and other ways for people to get organized. When the speeches ended, people took to the streets toward the State capitol to voice their views.

The doors to the State Capitol building were locked. No politician came out to greet the May Day participants. People made speeches from bullhorns calling for immigration reform and the need for more worker solidarity. At many times people chanted “¡Sí, Se Puede!”

The May Day Parade reassembled at the base of the capitol stairs, approximately a half hour later, and then proceeded down Capital Way toward downtown. Some stores along the parade route were closed for the day in solidarity. The Parade took a right on 4th Ave. and ended at the Artesian Well in the parking lot by Jefferson Street.

Bike police officers, a half block away, guarded Pizza Time. Pizza Time became a focal point of the local labor movement last year when all 10 workers went on strike for better working conditions in February 2005. Those workers were locked out by the current owner Heath Flores in August. A boycott of Pizza Time still remains in effect although Pizza Time was not made an issue this May Day.

People took turns hitting a piñata made to look like a Border Patrol SUV. A mobile sound system broadcast Free Radio Olympia 98.5fm and a dance party started in the parking lot. The IWW Banner “Capitalism cannot be reformed” got duct taped to a bank billboard overlooking the parking lot on 4th Ave.

Hundreds of people in Olympia answered the call to not work or go to school on May 1st and gather to support immigrant and worker rights. Many people talked about taking their May Day experiences back to their workplaces and asserting their rights on the job.