A NOTE ABOUT PUBLIC
MEETINGS & CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES: Please avoid wearing scented
personal products when attending public meetings. Scents trigger adverse
responses in those with chemical sensitivities. Note that many workers develop
chemical sensitivities on the job.
! Comprehensive article
on the YWCA’s anti-worker history and current bargaining: January 22 Valley Advocate
cover story. Updated info will be
posted at www.somethingaboutmaryjohnson.com.
! Special Event Below – Republic Workers’ Victory Tour comes
to Springfield February 3
Tuesday January 27
PVP
CLERGY & LABOR LUNCH
Noon-2:30pm,
Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Av, Springfield. The Pioneer Valley
Project is a membership organization of congregations, unions, and community
groups working to relieve conditions of poverty, racism, discrimination,
dependency, unemployment, and underemployment, and to prevent further
deterioration of communities in southern Pioneer Valley.
PVP is
coordinating an informational and planning meeting in the near future to shape
the economic stimulus. To be part of that meeting, for more info, and to RSVP
for lunch: Fred Rose, 827-0781, fredrose.pvp2@verizon.net.
MASS. HEALTH INSURANCE
LAW = HEALTH CARE REFORM?
7pm,
Florence Civic Center, 90 Park St, Florence (corner of Park & North Main
Sts next to the Lilly Library) (584-5048). Former health care administrator and
Northampton Mayor Mary Lavo Ford presents an update on the state of the Commonwealth
Connector Health Care System followed by a question and answer period. Info:
Osa Flory, Northampton Area League of Women Voters, 268-7522, ocflory@massmed.org.
Tuesday January 27 (Fourth Tuesday)
HAMPSHIRE/FRANKLIN
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
7:30pm,
Northampton Fire Station Community Room, 26 Carlon Drive at King St/Route 5,
Northampton (587-1148). Focus on Employee Free Choice Act. Community and labor activist guests are welcome, but RSVP
to Pres. Fiore Grassetti, 877-725-0357, org7@comcast.net.
Wednesday January 28
CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON
SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE – ASK REPS TO ATTEND
Noon-2pm, Room 2237 Rayburn
House Office Building, Washington DC. Lunch provided. Briefing by the
Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care: The National Single Payer
Alliance. This new coalition coordinates advocacy efforts for HR 676, the only
national healthcare reform bill that will guarantee comprehensive care to
everyone at less cost than our current system. The LCGHC was convened by the
California Nurses Association (CNA)/National Nurses Organizing Committee
(NNOC), Healthcare-NOW!, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) and Physicians
for a National Health Care Program (PNHP). More at www.pdamerica.org/leadership/.
LCGHC will brief Reps and their
staff on “Economic Solutions through Health Care Reform” –
how replacing private health insurers with a single-payer system will provide
comprehensive, quality care to all, and improve the US economy. Please ask
Representatives Neal (785-0325) and Olver (532-7010) to attend. They
received the LCGHC invitation on January 22.
Wednesday January 28 (Fourth
Wednesday)
WESTERN
MASS GREEN ECONOMY WORKING GROUP
5:30-7:30pm,
Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield (732-7970). This
Working Group consists of advocates for a Green Economy which serves local
communities; guarantees workers' rights to organize; and promotes
community-owned sustainable projects. State Sen. Ben Downing, from
Pittsfield, will attend. He has been instrumental in the passage of Green
Collar Jobs and Green Communities legislation. Subscribe to the WMGEWG
listserve (“GreenWork”) at http://lists.gaiahost.coop/mailman/listinfo/greenwork
or send an email to greenwork-subscribe@lists.gaiahost.coop.
Info: Jon Weissman, 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org,
or Eduardo Suárez, 335-6224, echonyc@hotmail.com.
Saturday January 31
PIONEER VALLEY PROJECT MICAH AWARDS DINNER
6-9pm, Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St , Springfield
(736-3619). $30; $250 for table of 10. MICAH stands for Ministry in Community
Action Honoree but also refers to the prophet Micah, who said, “He has
shown you what is good; and what does the Lord want of you but to do justice
and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Each
year the Pioneer Valley Project Member Organizations honor one of their members
for outstanding service. Info: 827-0781, cheryl.bldng@verizon.net or generalpvp@verizon.net.
Monday February 2 (Snow Date Monday February 9)
RAYMOND BRADLEY ON GLOBAL
WARMING
7pm, Second Congregational
Church, 16 Court Square, Greenfield (774-4355). Bradley is Director, Climate
System Research Center, and Distinguished Professor, Department of Geosciences,
UMass Amherst, internationally recognized for his work on climate change. Info:
Abbie Jenks, jenks@gcc.mass.edu.
REPUBLIC WORKERS’
VICTORY TOUR – COMMUNITY LUNCH & FORUM
11:30am, Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO
Hall, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield (732-7970). Armando Robles, President, UE
Local 1110, the Republic Windows & Doors strikers who occupied Republic
Windows & Doors in Chicago in December 2008, will speak. Light lunch
provided; donations requested. Info, to RSVP: 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org.
In December 2008, 260 workers at Chicago's
Republic Windows occupied their plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in
response to the closing of their plant with only 3 days notice. Jobs with
Justice coalitions along with other community, faith, and labor activists from
across the country mobilized in support of these workers, helping them win a
settlement from Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and
compensation for unpaid earnings. As the economic crisis deepens, millions of
people face job loss and foreclosures. Join Jobs with Justice and other groups
in celebrating the successful resistance at Republic and launching the broader
campaign for an economic recovery that puts Main Street before Wall Street. See
www.jwj.org.
Thursday February 5
Free film: DETAINED: THE
NEW BEDFORD IMMIGRATION RAID
4-6pm, Stoddard Hall Auditorium, Smith
College, Rt 9, Northampton. On March 6, 2007, US Immigration officials raided a
New Bedford MA factory that makes vests and backpacks for US soldiers. Many of
the 361 immigrants who were detained were women with small children, from
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Portugal, and Cape Verde. Come learn about
the impact of the raid on the women and their families, and on efforts to
organize for immigrant rights in Massachusetts. Screening followed by a
discussion with filmmaker Jenny Alexander, workers who were detained, and
allies, including Alexandra Pieros Shields, Director of Immigrant Programs at
the Irish Immigration Center, Boston, and Corinn Williams, Director of the New
Bedford Community Economic Development Center. Info: Prof. Jennifer Guglielmo, jgugliel@email.smith.edu.
MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH CARE
REFORM: MIRACLE OR MIRAGE?
7-9pm, Lower Level, Jones Library, Amherst.
Amherst League of Women Voters Health Care Committee will present the program
that they have given to organizations and community groups around the state.
The program explores three major topics: What is the state of US health care
delivery and financing compared to other countries? Is the Mass. Health Care
Reform Act of 2006 meeting its expectations? Why single payer is a solid model
for health care reform for our state and nation. Plus comments on other
national proposals and Q&A. Info: Alice Swift, acswift@comcast.net.
Thursday February 5 (First Thursday)
MASS CITIZENS AGAINST THE
DEATH PENALTY
7-8:30pm, Unitarian Society, 245
Porter Lake Drive, Springfield (736-2324). Planning Sacco Vanzetti 2009 (annual
commemoration of the August 23, 1927, execution of Nicola Sacco &
Bartolomeo Vanzetti) at Bishop Marshall Center, St Michael's Cathedral, Elliott
St off State St, Springfield, on August 23 at 5-7:30pm. Info: 567-3451, CAJOWL66@aol.com.
Friday February 6
PIONEER VALLEY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
8:30am-10:30am, Tony &
Penny’s Restaurant, 18 Canterbury Street, Ludlow. $18 per person. Our
Legislators are invited to confer with us on Labor’s Agenda, presented by
Mass. AFL-CIO Pres. Robert Haynes. RSVP by Wednesday, January 28 to
PVCLC, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield MA 01104; 732-7970; fax 732-1881, mail@pvaflcio.org.
Saturday February 7
HEALTH CARE REFORM IN 2009:
the Massachusetts Model vs. Single Payer
10am-2pm, Harvard Medical
School, Tosteson Medical Education Center Room 227, 260 Longwood Ave, Boston.
Mass. chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) invites you to a free health reform
conference and speakers' training. Lunch provided. Featured speakers: Benjamin
Day, Director, MassCare; David Himmelstein, MD, Associate Professor of
Medicine, HMS, Chief of the Division of Social and Community Medicine,
Cambridge Hospital; Deborah Richter, MD, Family Practice, VT, Former president,
Physicians for a National Health Program; Steffie Woolhandler, MD, MPH,
Associate Professor of Medicine, HMS. Info, to RSVP: Dr. Rachel Nardin,
617-667-4382, rnardin@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Saturday February 7 (First & Third Saturday of each
month)
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK!
Noon-4pm, ADP Workers
Center/Casa Obrera, 130 Union St, Springfield. Registration required.
Comprehensive know your rights training. Also serves as orientations that are
mandatory for people who want to join the Workers Center. The ADP Worker Center
has a number of programs and benefits for members, including a food co-op, ESOL
classes, democracy school, leadership training, and a legal clinic. Info,
to register: William Cano, 739-7233, william@a-dp.org.
Friday February 13 (Second Friday)
STREET HEAT - THE AFL-CIO
MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE
9:30-11am, AFL-CIO Hall, 640
Page Blvd, near corner of Osborne Ter, across the street from the old
Westinghouse, Springfield. This meeting will focus on the campaign to win
the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, including meetings with
Congressmen and Sen. Kerry. Also on the agenda: the YWCA; Bank of America; the
Economy; Your Organizing! Community and labor activists are urged to attend.
Info; send agenda items to: Jon Weissman, 732-7970, street_heat@pvaflcio.org.
Saturday February 14 (Second Saturday)
SPRINGFIELD HEALTH DISPARITIES PROJECT
9:30-11am, Tapestry Health, 365 Bay St,
Springfield. Addressing existing disparities in health care and outcomes, and
the underlying racism, poverty, and homelessness. Deciding organizational
structure and funding. Info: Betty Agin, 627-4028, betagi7@verizon.net.
More events at http://www.westernmassafsc.org/calendar/calendar.html
& http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/SustEvents.htm.
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human rights. To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org
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Western
Mass Jobs with Justice
640 Page Blvd #101
Springfield MA 01104
(413) 827-0301