FW: Co-op Fund and Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops

Dear Friends,

 

For a variety of reasons, we have moved the Western Mass. Jobs with Justice Conference to Saturday March 6

 

And due to generous donations, we are able to make it free to all.  We will still be asking for donations for the dinner and dance.  Low income groups and individuals who need to may simply put “0” in the dinner and dance donation boxes on the form.

 

We hope you can come – please let us know soonNew conference and ad book forms are attached, along with a Membership Form which can also be used to join WMJwJ or to make a charitable donation.

 

The Conference is at Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke (easy off I-91). 

 

The schedule:

 

Noon-1pm:     registration, tabling, schmoozing

1-1:30pm:       Opening Plenary

1:30-3pm:       workshops:

Unemployment: Who Decides?” ~ “Education: Who Decides?” ~ “Good Green Jobs: Who Decides?” ~ “Health Care: Who Decides?”

The workshops are different vital starting points for discussing strategies and tactics to change Who Decides throughout society.

3-6pm:            Members’ Business Meeting; Non-Members’ Introduction to Jobs with Justice; then Plenary Report Back

6pm:               keynote: Rob Witherell, United Steelworkers, on “Mondragon in the US?”, and buffet dinner

            NOTE: You may email questions for Rob in advance – send to wmjwj@wmjwj.org.

Please visit http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0234.

You can also learn more about Mondragon here.

8-10pm:         dancing to DJ Dynamite Dave (Dave Levy)

            NOTE: You may email requests to Dave in advance – send to dynamiteparty@live.com.

 

The conference is in partnership with the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development at Holyoke Community College. Please return the attached form to Jobs with Justice, PO Box 296, Granby MA 01033, but make your check out to HCC-CBPD.  Deadline: postmarked February 19.  Questions? (413) 827-0301 or wmjwj@wmjwj.org.

 

In solidarity,

 

Jon

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

 

Founded in 1987, Jobs with Justice's mission is to improve working people's standard of living, fight for job security, and protect workers' right to organize. We believe workers' rights are human rights and to be successful, we have to be part of a larger campaign for economic and social justice.

 

To that end, "J with J" has created a national coalition and a network of local coalitions that connect labor, community, student, and faith-based organizations and activists on workplace and community social justice campaigns.  Western Mass JwJ – founded June 5, 1993 – is now a coalition of almost 60 organizations.

 

WMJwJ publishes the following mobilization emails:

 

[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".

 

[Health Care Action] posts events and information that support the large and vibrant Western Mass. movement for health care justice. Nationwide, Jobs with Justice (www.jwj.org) has prioritized Health Care as a basic human right. To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Subscribe Health Care Action".

 

[People's History] posts events and other information related to a people's history of Western Mass. To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Subscribe People's History".

 

[Solidarity Calendar] posts other events of interest to the Western Mass. coalition.  To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Subscribe Solidarity Calendar".