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Unions Talk Tough at US Social Forum

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Starbucks charged Chicago Couriers: doing Boycott Molson beer, IWW meets Bangladeshi again for firing IWW solidarity unionism support Alberta strike garment workers 5 6-7 9 11 INDUSTRIAL WORKER OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER O F T H E I N D U S T R I A L W O R K E R S O F T H E W O RLD August 2007 #1698 Vol. 104 No. 8 $1 / £1 / €1 Unions talk tough at US Social Forum By Jerry Mead-Lucero Big Labor’s involvement in the social nizers were forced to compromise with the ILO (International Labour Organi- “What is happening in America forum process, since the first few World police on a much less confrontational zation). In April, the ILO declared the to workers today is the result of a Social Forums in Porto Alegre, Brazil, route due to the opposition of much North Carolina ban on public sector thirty year sustained, intentional, has served as a way for the AFL-CIO and of Atlanta ’s business community. A collective bargaining a violation of strategic, assault on workers, unions, many of the union internationals to mix destination in the original plan was international labor standards and called our quality of life and our standard of and mingle with activists from a broad Grady Hospital, where the green-shirted for repeal of North Carolina General living. It has been a class war against range of social struggles. The same can members of Local 1644 had planned Statute 95-98, the basis of the ban. workers and it is time we engage that be said of the relatively impressive sup- to express their opposition to a recent Traditionally, social forum planners class war and fought back.” port given to the first USSF by organized decision by the Chamber of Commerce and participants will engage in a num- These words were met by a labor. to privatize this public hospital. Still, the ber of public protests to provide some standing ovation from the crowd and The role of the labor movement in march did pass nearby and the AFSCME level of direct action to the content of loud applause. But it is not an IWW the planning and organizing of the fo- contingent encouraged rally participants the forum. In the case of the USSF, a speaking. It might surprise you to rum was apparent at the opening march to join them in chants of “We are the key number of these actions focused on hear that Stewart Acuff, Organizing and rally on June 27. Though clearly out- to saving Grady” and “the community union or labor campaigns. Director for the AFL-CIO, said this numbered by anti-war, racial justice and has got the key to saving Grady.” United Food and Commercial at the Workers’ Rights in the Global environmental activists, union members Struggles of public sector workers Workers (UFCW) organized a picket Economy plenary of the first United were abundant among the thousand were a major theme of labor-focused outside of a nearby Publix grocery store States Social Forum (USSF). I don’t marchers who made their way through workshops at the conference. to demand the removal of union-bust- expect that Acuff’s speech was meant the streets of downtown Atlanta. The A number of panels featured public ing Smithfield Foods’ products from to announce the Federation’s deci- original march route was meant to take employees from North Carolina, one of store shelves. Supporters of trade sion to call for the abolition of the participants past a number of sites in only two states (Virginia being the other) unionists in Colombia took part in an wage system or that it will lead to the city at which workers are engaged in where collective bargaining for public action at Coca-Cola headquarters. any plans for a nationwide general struggles with their employers or local sector workers is explicitly outlawed. The National Day Laborer Organiz- strike. But his words are symbolic of government. The United Electrical, Radio & Machine ing Network held a rally protesting the mainstream labor’s continued and According to the Local 1644 Deputy Workers of America (UE) Local 150 re- political position of Republican Senator deepening interest in connecting Director Nancy Lenk of the American cently partnered with unions in Canada Johnny Isakson. The senator is advocat- with other social movements and less Federation of State, County and Munici- and Mexico to encourage an investiga- traditional forms of organizing. pal Employees (AFSCME), march orga- tion of the situation in North Carolina by Continued on 9 Colombia still a union death trap New York City IWW launches Colombian trade unionists con- From 1991 to 2006, 2,245 unionists tinue to be threatened and killed with were murdered, 138 disappeared, and impunity, said an Amnesty Interna- 3,500 had reported receiving threats. In ‘9 in 90’ organizing drive tional report released on July 3. 2006 alone, 77 unionists were killed. The The report, “Killings, Arbitrary guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed By Stephanie Basile Detentions, and Death Threats: The Forces of Colombia (FARC) are accused In New York City, Reality of Trade Unionism in Co- of killing six trade unionists, while wobblies recently marched lombia”, denounced the use of terror the other 92 per cent are attributed to on HWH Trading Corp to tactics by the Colombian military, paramilitaries and the military. So far in demand fair pay and better pro-government paramilitaries, guer- 2007, 18 union members have died. working conditions for the rillas and criminals to intimidate, A high proportion of human rights company’s 15 warehouse hurt and kill union members in the abuses against trade unionists take place employees. last decade. during labor disputes which, according The July 1 march was the The report detailed the stark to the report, indicates they are targetted first public action of an am- reality of fighting for workers’ rights for supporting socio-economic rights. bitious organizing drive that in Colombia. In one example, union The violence affects workers in every the NYC IWW is undertak- leaders in the coastal city of Bucara- sector: education, health, public services, ing this summer. Dubbed “9 manga received paramilitary “death agriculture, and food processing, among in 90,” the IWW is hoping to certificates” that called for “a Colom- others. organize nine new shops in bia free of trade unionists and guer- Esteban Beltrán, director of Spain’s the next 90 days. The drive rillas.” Shortly afterward, gunmen Amnesty International in Madrid said kicked off in mid-June, and killed a union adviser as he drove his that being a union activist in Colombia is organizers have already had motorcycle through the streets of a one of the “most dangerous professions talks with workers from four city in the interior, Barranquilla. The in the world.” shops. HWH, a produce dis- Photo by Benjamin Ferguson incident demonstrated the deadly IWWs picket EZ Supply warehouse in New York. reach of anti-union killers. Continued on 8 tributor in Queens, is the first of the “9 in 90” whose About 30 people attended, along with Industrial Worker workers have gone public with their some flags and makeshift drums. At the Periodicals Postage IWW membership. march, the boss was informed that the PO Box 13476 PAID At HWH, workers are not only workers were demanding he respect Philadelphia, PA 19101 Philadelphia, PA expected to work extremely long hours, minimum wage laws. He agreed to pay ISSN 0019-8870 and additional but routinely travel up and down the workers minimum wage, to pay time and mailing offices Eastern seaboard. Workers come into a half for overtime, and to reduce the ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED the warehouse Sunday night, spend the workers’ weekly hours. night loading their trucks and head out In addition to gaining better working for long trips Monday morning. One conditions, the workers are looking to employee works 116 hours per week and finally collect what they rightfully earned makes weekly trips between New York while working below minimum wage. City and Maine, a seven hour drive one Two days before the march took place, way. Another worker makes routine runs workers met with a lawyer from the at- between New York City and Syracuse, a torney general’s office. As a result of the four hour drive one way. meeting, the attorney general is expected The march was held to show that to launch an investigation into HWH’s the workers have the support of fel- minimum wage violations. The workers low wobblies and to officially alert the are hoping that the investigation will Subscribers: The number (top line of label ) reflects the last issue due on your subscription. boss of their membership in the union. lead to a win in back-wages. Page • Industrial Worker • August 2007 pay, pay no medical health insurance. Make millions. I want no part of it. The 13th Amendment needs to be abolished, taking jobs from people out in society. Spring is a time of renewal. It is also the time of the two principal holidays of the international working class that are Slavery in the USA celebrated all over the world: Mayday (May 1, International Workers Day) and Comrade, IWD (March 8, International Women’s Day). Hello, my name is Brian. I am cur- Both of these holidays originated rently confined to this Missouri state with the struggle of workers in America. gulag. I would like to receive your news- Mayday grew out of the fight for the 8- paper. I am currently in hole and am hour day. unable to pay. IWD was first observed on 28 Febru- Possible you have any back issues, ary 1909 following a declaration by the could you send them? I saw your address Socialist Party of America.
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