Workers’ Rights Spoken Here

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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. Note that many workers develop chemical sensitivities on the job.

Wednesday December 17 (Third Wednesday)

MASS SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL – WESTERN MASS MONTHLY MEETING

1:30-3:30pm, 1124 Berkshire Av, Springfield. Massachusetts Senior Action Council 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 December 17 (Third Wednesday)(note new time)

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 December 17

PIONEER VALLEY ADVOCATES FOR COMMUTER RAIL

7:30-9pm, East Longmeadow Public Library, 60 Center Square (off Maple Street), East Longmeadow. Commuter rail will help EVERYONE in the region, riders and non-riders alike. Info: pvacr@yahoo.com.

Thursday December 18 (Third Thursday)

NORTHAMPTON LIVING WAGE COALITION

7pm, Western Mass Legal Services, 20 Hampton Ave, Northampton, enter near Pleasant St. Drafting a City Council resolution updating the Northampton Living Wage to reflect the cost of living increase since 1998, bringing the living wage from $7.49/hour for employees with health insurance to $9.52, and from $9 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. Info, to help get signatures: Kathryn Collins, kathryncollins52@yahoo.com.

WMASS JOBS WITH JUSTICE HAMPSHIRE WORKERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE meets with the NORTHAMPTON LIVING WAGE COALITION. Info: 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org.

Thursday December 18

PEACE & TRUTH FOR REEL – FREE DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES

7pm, Traprock Center, 24 Miles St, Greenfield. The U.S. vs. John Lennon focuses on the time in John Lennon's life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist and the response of our government. Cosponsored by the Peace and Social Justice Club of Greenfield Community College and Traprock Center for Peace and Justice. Discussion follows. Refreshments. Donations accepted to support Traprock. Info: 773-7427, info@traprock.info.

Thursday December 18

REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES IN ISRAEL & THE WEST BANK

7:30pm, Pathways Co-Housing Common House, Mountain Laurel Path off Florence Road, Florence. Two Brit Tzedek members, Carolyn Toll Oppenheim and Stephanie Schamess, just back from Israel will give a report from on their November tour with Rabbis for Human Rights. Refreshments. Info: 530-6484, ctollopp@gmail.com.

Friday December 19

IRAQ MORATORIUM & FREE FILM: THE U.S. vs. JOHN LENNON

4pm Stand Out, corner of State St and Federal St, across from STCC; 5:30pm Film, Arise Office, 467 State St, Springfield. The U.S. vs. John Lennon focuses on the time in John Lennon's life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist and the response of our government. Info: 734-4948, arise@riseup.net.

Saturday December 20 (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.

Monday December 22

HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

7:30pm, Media Education Foundation, 60 Masonic St (side entrance), Northampton. The Obama-Biden Transition is asking people to give their thoughts and ideas for how to fix the system at Health Care Community Discussions all across the country. See http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/daschle_asks_americans_to_help_reform_health_care/. Info: jrickball@yahoo.com.

Tuesday December 23 (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.

More events at http://www.westernmassafsc.org/calendar/calendar.html & http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/SustEvents.htm.

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[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 Worker's Rights".

Western Mass Jobs with Justice
640 Page Blvd #101
Springfield MA 01104
(413) 827-0301