Now
THOUSANDS OF
WALMART WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNITE TO CALL FOR A VOICE IN THE WORKPLACE
Walmart Workers for Change is a new campaign of thousands of
Walmart’s 1.3 million associates across the country who are standing up and
demanding a voice in the workplace. They released a new video that highlights
the sorts of anti-worker tactics they are facing from the world’s largest
retailer.
Monday April
27
STOP THE BUDGET CUTS: INVEST IN OUR FUTURE!
Noon-1pm,
State House Room 437, Boston. The House Budget makes well over a billion
dollars in cuts to essential services for our communities! We need to stop
these cuts so we can invest in our schools, infrastructure, and social programs
to rebuild our economy. The debate on the budget starts April 27. Be there to
tell the House: “We need to raise new revenue to invest in our future and stop
these cuts!” Info: Neighbor to Neighbor, 739-2951, lizw@n2nma.org; Harris Gruman, SEIU state
Council, 617-316-0443, Harris.Gruman@seiu.org.
Tuesday April
28
JUSTICE FOR JASON VASSELL: PETITIONS TO BOSTON; PRE-TRIAL HEARING
IN NORTHAMPTON
9am, State House, Boston. Justice for Jason Organizers from
Western Massachusetts and Boston will deliver information about Jason Vassell's
case, over 2600 petition signatures, and several letters in support of Jason to
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Governor Deval Patrick.
Organizers will also request a meeting with both Attorney General Coakley and
Governor Patrick, asking them to recognize the grave injustice occurring in
Western Massachusetts and to intervene in the case. Followed by a 10am press
conference announcing statewide support and solidarity for Jason.
2pm, Hampshire Superior Court, 15 Gothic St, Northampton. Jason’s
next Pre-Trial Hearing on his defense's discovery motion. Arrive early to be inside
the courtroom. Join the picketing outside. Contact Tristan.Brosnan@gmail.com to get in
on the carpool leaving from the UMass Student Union at 1:15pm or the van
leaving from Springfield.
Most recently Jason's lawyers
were granted access to the last 5 years of files from the Prosecutor's office
for all cases involving similar charges in which the defendant and the
"victim" are of different “racial backgrounds”. By contesting the
Judge's decision to grant the Defense access to these files, the Prosecution
would like to keep this history hidden. What does this say about justice in
Hampshire County? In Massachusetts?
Updates and Discussion to follow at First Churches, 129 Main St, Northampton.
Free food and coffee will be served. Info: justiceforjason@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 28
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES DISCUSS PRO-WORKER ORDINANCES
5pm, Mass Latino Chamber of Commerce, 1655 Main Street, Suite 201, Springfield.
The Veterans, Administration and Human Services Committee and the Planning and
Economic Development Committee of the City Council will jointly discuss
ordinance amendments initiated by the Pioneer Valley Building &
Construction Trades Council (734-7137, dandalma@gmail.com),
entitled "Springfield Residents Construction Employment",
"Living Wages", and "Responsible Employer Policy" (copies
available by email from mail@pvaflcio.org).
Info: City Council Aide Robert Arieti, 787-6170, rarieti@springfieldcityhall.com.
Tuesday April 28 (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). Community and labor activist guests
are welcome, but RSVP to Pres. Fiore Grassetti, 877-725-0357, org7@comcast.net.
Wednesday April 29
ELECTION
DAY REGISTRATION LOBBY DAY
10am-1:30pm,
State House, Boston. No previous lobbying experience necessary! Make your voice
heard on critical civil rights and liberties issues in Massachusetts: Increase
voting rights: Enable eligible voters to register to vote at certain polling
locations on election day. Info: www.aclum.org/events.
Wednesday
April 29
RALLY AT BANK OF AMERICA ~ PART OF
NATIONWIDE DAYS OF ACTION MONDAY & TUESDAY
Noon, 1 Monarch Place, at Boland Way
& Main St, Springfield. Tell Bank of America: FIRE KEN LEWIS! Stop
Fighting the Employee Free Choice Act! Stop Intimidating Your Workers! Stop
Foreclosing on our Communities. Stop Consumer Abuses. Provide Quality Health
Care for all of your employees and their families! Commit to Real Financial
Reform and Regulation.
Bank of America has received $45
billion in federal bailouts. That makes the government and us taxpayers BoA’s
largest single shareholder. CEO Ken Lewis is the poster boy for the CEO and
corporate excess that crashed the economy and continue to drain working
families’ finances. It’s time for Ken Lewis to go. And if we really want to
create an economy that works for everyone again, we need to pass the Employee
Free Choice Act to ensure that all workers have a voice on the job to protect
consumers. April 29 is BoA’s Annual Shareholders Meeting in Charlotte NC, and
we will be rallying here to support rallies there and
stockholders demanding justice from
Bank of America. Info: Chris Patterson, 508-791-1670, cpatterson@seiu615.org.
If you would prefer to rally at your
local BoA, we’ll get you the materials and publicize your event. Simply contact
Jon at WMJwJ, 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org.
ANTI-BULLYING COMMUNITY FORUM & VIGIL
6:30-8:30pm, American International College Griswold Theatre, 1000
State St, Springfield (http://www.aic.edu/visitors/directions).
In the wake of the recent tragedy that took the life of young Carl Joseph
Walker-Hoover, a forum is being held to create an opportunity for the community
to address the issues affecting all the youth of our city, and build solutions
together. This event brings together a broad array of perspectives on bullying
to highlight its severe impacts, as well as solutions to ending this epidemic
in our city, state, and country. At this special event, the community will have
the opportunity to voice their thoughts, ask questions, and offer solutions.
This event will culminate with a candlelight vigil remembering all those who
have been affected by bullying. Special Guest: Sirdeaner L. Walker, mother of
Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover. Musical Performances: Holyoke High School Madrigal
Singers; Shakira L. Hanley. Opening Speaker: Rev. Irene Monroe, Coordinator of
the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in
Religion and Ministry (CLGS) at the Pacific School of Religion, and a religion columnist.
Panelist(s): Jacob Smith Yang, Commission Chair, Massachusetts Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender Youth Commission; Jossie Valentin, Senior Bilingual
Academic Counselor, Holyoke Community College and Parent; OutNow member and
public school student. Info: Amaad Rivera, 617-840-1592, amaadr@gmail.com.
Wednesday April 29
FREE FILM: STIMULUS
ROADBLOCK?
7pm, Amherst Community
Television, 246 College St, Amherst. Part of "Empowering Ourselves: Think
Globally - Act Locally" film series screening timely eco conscious films: Stimulus Roadblock? Info:
256-6005, www.actvamherst.com.
Thursday
April 30
WARD REPRESENTATION HAS ARRIVED IN
SPRINGFIELD! WANT TO RUN?
5:30pm-8pm, Central Labor Council, 640
Page Blvd, Springfield (732-7970). Refreshments. Want to run for elected office
in Springfield? Want to help somebody else run? Arise for Social Justice with
Avi Green from MassVOTE present “Pathways to Elected Office”. What’s a
platform? How do you build a campaign? Recruit volunteers? Raise money? And more.
Info: 734-4948.
April 30 & May 1
AMERIVILLE by UNIVERSES
8pm, Bowker Auditorium,
UMass Amherst. Universes, the acclaimed Bronx-based quartet, bring their unique
brand of high-energy, hip-hop-based performance looking at the US post-9/11
through the prism of post-Katrina New Orleans. Info, tickets: http://www.newworldtheater.org.
May 1-2
CO-OP
POWER’S ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUMMIT
Campus
Center, UMass Amherst. More at www.cooppower.coop.
(If you register, please answer “WMJwJ” at “How did you find out about the
Summit?”) Lynn Benander promotes the Summit at http://springfieldinstitute.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/who-puts-the-social-justice-in-sustainable-energy-lynn-does/.
Friday
evening, after the May Day celebration (below) in the Campus Center Auditorium
at 7pm, there’s a dance with a great band from South America, MarKamusic. Saturday
has 2 plenary sessions and over 50 workshops, including: "Creating Win-Win
Solutions for Building Community/Union Sustainable Energy Partnerships"
– led by Joe Alvarez, leadership and organization development consultant and
former AFL-CIO Northeast Region Director; “What are Good Green Jobs?” –
led by the Green Justice
Coalition. And “Labor and the Green Economy” – led by Ragini Kapadia,
Program/Economic Analyst, AFL-CIO Center
for Green Jobs, and Jon Weissman, Coordinator, Western Mass. Jobs with Justice.
Friday May 1
CELEBRATE
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY & THE MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GREEN JOBS
7-9pm
{doors open 6:30}, Campus Center Auditorium, UMass Amherst (note room change
from original announcement) (maps & free parking info at http://parking.umass.edu). Join your hosts:
Western Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, Co-op Power, WMUA 91.1FM, UMass Labor
Relations & Research Center, UMass Labor/Management Workplace Education, UMass
Graduate Student Senate, UMass Student Government Association, University Staff
Association / Massachusetts Teachers Association, AFSCME Local 1776, Massachusetts
Society of Professors / MTA, and American Friends Service Committee, in a May
Day celebration and fundraiser for Western Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.
Music
by The Raging Grannies *
Verne McArthur * José Ayerve * Tom Neilson & Kat Allen * Red Valley Fog * Jay Mankita.
Rousing
speech by long-time community and labor organizer Stewart
Acuff, Special Assistant to the
President of the AFL-CIO; National Jobs with Justice Board Member.
Donation
Requested but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. $5 for School
Age, Seniors, Low Income. $10 for Everyone Else (or more if you can afford it).
At the door or by mail to Jobs with Justice, PO Box 296, Granby MA 01033. Free
for Co-op Power’s annual Sustainable Energy Summit Summit-goers. Register at
www.cooppower.coop. Please answer “WMJwJ” at “How did you find out about the
Summit?”
Sponsor a
Stanza: $100 includes listing next to one of the songs in the program book
(if received by Noon on April 28) and two seats.
Reserve a
seat by email: wmjwj@wmjwj.org. Donations
are to the Warren J. Plaut Charitable Trust Jobs with Justice Fund and are tax
deductible.
Wednesday May 6 (First
Wednesday) (new schedule)
FRANKLIN COUNTY WORKERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE
7-8:30pm,
Traprock Center for Peace and Justice, 24 Miles St, Greenfield (773-7427).
Organizing local solidarity for Franklin County workers and unions; nurses and
other workers at Franklin Medical Center; Greenfield municipal employees; and
statewide and national workers' rights campaigns, including People's
Bail-Out and Employee Free Choice Act. At this meeting,
singer-songwriter Tom Neilson will do
a musical presentation about “Why We Still Need Unions!” Info: 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send an email to
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