LGBTQ POLITICS
& THE LABOR & IMMIGRANT WORKERS' MOVEMENT
4:30pm,
308 Converse Hall, Amherst College, Rts 9 & 116, Amherst. Karen Brodkin, Professor
Emeritus in Anthropology and Women’s Studies at UCLA, speaks on "Making
the Personal Political: How LGBTQ Politics Can Strengthen the Labor and
Immigrant Workers' Movement". The author of Making Democracy Matter:
Identity and Activism in Los Angeles and How Jews Became White Folks and
What That Says about Race in America, Dr. Brodkin will consider what a Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered/Queer
political perspective can offer labor movements, and how we might go about
learning what those contributions could be. Drawing on her current research
collaboration with LGBTQ organizers, Dr. Brodkin will discuss this project in a
conversation about queer political insights on society, the political
alternatives they raise, and how they could enhance the visions of progressive
social movements. Info: Stonewall Center, 545-4824, stonewall@stuaf.umass.edu.
Friday April 10 (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; Postal job loss; Bank
of America; Your Organizing! Community and labor activists are urged to
attend. Info; send agenda items to: Jon Weissman, 732-7970, street_heat@pvaflcio.org.
Saturday April 11 (Second
Saturday)
SPRINGFIELD HEALTH DISPARITIES PROJECT ROUNDTABLE
9:30-11am, Tapestry Health, 365 Bay St, Springfield. Addressing disparities in
health care and outcomes, and the underlying racism, poverty, and homelessness.
Topic: Hunger, Nutrition and Food Policy. Info: Betty Agin, 627-4028, betagi7@verizon.net.
Saturday April 11
RALLY
AGAINST NAZI SHOW IN BOSTON!
1pm, Columbus Park,
South Boston. The racist white supremacist, neo-Nazi groups East Coast White
Unity and Volksfront are having a concert at a VFW post in South Boston. Send
them the message that they are not welcome! CALL THE SOUTH BOSTON VFW, 617-464-4301,
and tell them that Saturday's show at 2pm is a Nazi white power show - let them
know how you feel about that. Info: Anti-Racist Action, North-East
Anti-Fascists, thematch@riseup.net, http://www.antiracistaction.org/; local contact: benb@riseup.net.
Tuesday April 14
THE
EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT: CRISIS & NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR LABOR
6pm,
Campus Center Room 162-175, UMass Amherst. This panel will feature Labor
Studies Prof Stephanie Luce, Auto Workers Local 2322 President Ron Patenaude,
WMass Jobs with Justice Coordinator Jon Weissman, and other labor activists and
organizers. The panel will discuss recent labor history in relation to
neoliberal restructuring, connect labor organizing to the current economic
crisis, and present new possibilities for a strong labor movement(s). Info: Boone
Shear, bwshear@yahoo.com.
Wednesday April 15 (Third
Wednesday)
MASS
SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL – WESTERN MASS MONTHLY MEETING
1:30-3:30pm,
Independence House, 1475 Roosevelt Av, Springfield. MSAC was founded in 1981 to
promote the rights, well being, and dignity of all people, particularly
vulnerable senior citizens. Open to people of all ages. MSAC has a proud
history of effective community organizing and legislative advocacy on health
care, housing, transportation, and other issues. Info: 543-2334, mbewsee@masssenioraction.org, http://www.masssenioraction.org/.
Wednesday April 15 (Third
Wednesday)
PIONEER
VALLEY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
5:30pm,
AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Blvd, near corner of Osborne Ter, across the street from
the old Westinghouse, Springfield. Community and labor activist guests are
welcome, but RSVP to Jon at 732-7970, mail@pvaflcio.org,
or Rick at 374-1492, rbrown@pvaflcio.org.
Wednesday April 15
FREE FILM: FLOW
7pm, Amherst Community
Television, 246 College St, Amherst. Part of "Empowering Ourselves: Think
Globally - Act Locally" film series screening timely eco conscious films: FLOW: How Did A Handful of Corporations
Steal Our Water? Info: 256-6005, www.actvamherst.com.
Thursday April 16
(Quarterly)
SAGE
COMMUNITY SUMMIT
6-8:30pm,
Studio/Community Room, Amherst Community Television, 246 College St, Amherst.
Hear what progressive activists are doing in the area. Support the good work
that is being done. Find a place to learn about and get involved in the work.
Info: Rick Last, r.last@comcast.net.
Thursday April 16
CAPITOL
CLIMATE ACTION REPORT BACK
7pm,
Unitarian Society, 220 Main St, Northampton. Jill Stein, Eli Beckerman, and Dave
Dionne are coming to Western Massachusetts for a conversation with local
activists; to report back on the March
2 DC action, to listen, and to help plan next steps toward a secure green
future. Info: Peter Vickery, 549-9933, peter@petervickery.com.
Thursday April 16 (Third
Thursday)
NORTHAMPTON
LIVING WAGE COALITION
7pm,
Western Mass Legal Services office, 20 Hampton Av #100, Northampton (enter near
Pleasant St, south of, right angle to Sylvester’s). The NLWC is organizing for
a City Council resolution updating the 1998 Northampton Living Wage Resolution
for employees with health insurance to $9.52, and to $11.44 for employees
without health insurance. Collecting petition signatures supporting the
resolution. Asking local business owners to commit to paying a living wage or
at least commit to working toward a living wage. Publicly recognizing them if
they do. Info: Kitty Callaghan, kcallaghan@wmls.org.
WMASS
JOBS WITH JUSTICE HAMPSHIRE WORKERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE meets with the
NORTHAMPTON LIVING WAGE COALITION. Info: 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org.
Friday April 17
PIONEER
VALLEY AFL-CIO CONFERENCE & WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATION
8:15am-3pm,
Teamsters Local 404 Hall, 115 Progress Avenue, Springfield (781-6326). $35. Registration
deadline April 7. Info: 732-7970, mail@pvaflcio.org.
Saturday & Sunday
April 18 & 19
OSHA-10
CLASSES OFFERED IN SPANISH
9am-3pm,
Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council Hall, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield. The
Western Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health will begin
offering OSHA-10 classes in Spanish. OSHA-10 classes teach people in the
construction industry how to work safely, and certification is often required
at work sites. The classes are widely available in English, but not in Spanish.
The new program will fill a real need in the community. Participants must
attend both days for the required 10 hours of training. The instructor is
Eduardo Suárez. To register for the class, email Eduardo at director@echosd.org or call (413)
731-0760.
Sunday April
19
CLIMATE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
1pm-4pm, McConnell 103, Smith College, Rt 9, Northampton.
Suggested donation $15 but all are welcome, regardless of what you can afford
(free to Smith College faculty, students, staff). At this workshop you will
receive training, background information, and electronic access to a
Sustainability Institute PowerPoint presentation that you can use as you wish
with strategies for reaching different populations. The resources and the
training have been developed to help community leaders:
Describe the latest climate science and what it means for our
lives and the world.
Summarize criteria for solutions that can sustain human
civilization and earth’s ecosystems.
Identify common emotions and reactions people have to the science,
and share experience on how to respond effectively.
Engage more people in education and action.
Presenters:
Philip Rice, PhD, directs
Our Climate Ourselves program at Sustainability Institute (www.sustainer.org).
Tina Clarke, Consultant, Sustainability Institute, previous Campaign
Director for Clean Water Action, certified Transition Towns Trainer (www.transitiontowns.org). Info, RSVP:
workshop@pvclimate.org; www.pvclimate.org; Tina is at 863-5253, tina@pvclimate.org.
More events at http://www.westernmassafsc.org/calendar/calendar.html
& http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/SustEvents.htm.
A NOTE
ABOUT PUBLIC MEETINGS & CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES: Men and women are
requested to avoid wearing scented personal products when attending public
meetings. Scents trigger adverse responses in those with chemical
sensitivities, allergies, and asthma. Note that many workers develop chemical
sensitivities on the job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Unsub Workers' Rights".
[Workers' Rights] posts opportunities for you
to learn about and show solidarity with workplace and working class struggles.
And these events are opportunities for JwJ members to fulfill their pledge: "I'll
be there for workers' rights at least five times a year!" This is the core mission of Jobs with Justice (www.jwj.org), affirming that workers' rights are
human rights. To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of
"Subscribe Workers' Rights".
Western
Mass Jobs with Justice
640 Page Blvd #101
Springfield MA 01104
(413) 827-0301