Our Jobs Matter

I get one diary a day on here, damnit.  From Chokeholds in Detroit to Lock outs in Van Wert Ohio, there simply isn't enough time in the day to remind all of us that our jobs do matter. That work matters. That we matter.

So, this morning, I opened my e-mail and found that UNITE-HERE is struggling to make jobs in Canada matter at the Men's Warehouse.  You see, Men's Warehouse has decided to close their factory and move.

We told you last month about plans by Men's Wearhouse to close its Canadian factory and abandon nearly 600 of its loyal employees.

Since then UNITE HERE has launched a North American campaign to fight the closure -- we've reached out to thousands of consumers through leafleting in more than two dozen cities across the U.S. and Canada, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Orlando, Minneapolis, and Dallas; hundreds have rallied and nearly 2,000 concerned customers just like you have emailed CEO George Zimmer.

Men's Wearhouse has remained silent -- not even addressing the outcry -- and has not altered its plan to close the plant in July.

But there's still time and we're stepping up the campaign. This Saturday, 700 workers and their supporters marched in a funeral procession for the axed jobs in Montreal, where the factory is located. And on Monday, workers, student activists and supporters held a rally at Men's Wearhouse Headquarters in Houston, TX and reached out to their Men's Wearhouse coworkers in the U.S.

By taking action today, you will send the message to George Zimmer that you will not support a company that turns its back on its loyal workers. Join the OurJobsMatter Virtual Day of Action and TELL GEORGE ZIMMER -- OUR JOBS MATTER!

But, you can take action and do something about this.

I believe we can save jobs by letting the owners of industry know how we feel about these issues.  In fact, I think we should also tell municipalities and the Federal Government as well.  

If you live in New York, you can help the Teamsters draw attention to the continued assault on public housing this Thursday.

Most of you (especially in NY) know that during President Bush's tenure, the budget for the  New York City Housing Authority has been slashed by $611 million.

With the most recent cuts announced, the NYCHA will be foreced to lay off 190 more workers. The NYCHA is already working with a skeleton crew; and so, what gives?

According to friends at Teamster Local 237, "NYCHA members are stretched to the point of collapse." The workers and residents of public housing (some 500,000 New Yorkers) are threatened with losing core services.

For someone who has grown up in a City housng project, it is painfully hard to see the maintenance workers and others in the NYCHA endure this treatement.

Teamsters Local 237 represents 8,000 NYCHA employees, and it has called this rally to spotlight the Bush destruction of public housing in NYC.  If you are free on Thursday, please join me and thousands of workers and housing advocates as we march on to City Hall.

I also want to note that violence against union members and organizers isn't going away, it's growing.  From American Axle's chokehold on Thursday and the previous issues with Detroit police

to the attacks on building trades organizers in LA,

this is a growing problem

Ironworkers Local 433 President Robbie Hunter addresses a "Stop the Violence" rally of over 600 Building Trades and other union members in downtown Los Angeles Mar. 17. Hunter, along with four other organizers, was attacked by non-union contractors while picketing a jobsite...


>snip<<br>

"We are here to send a message to all of the non-union contractors in Los Angeles that we will not tolerate violence against union organizers or any other member of the Building Trades who are out here fighting for decent wages for construction workers," said Richard Slawson, Executive-Secretary of the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council. "We are prepared to use every legal means at our disposal to protect the rights of workers. These non-union contractors may use these violent tactics from 100 years ago, but we won't stand for it."

In addition to the injuries sustained by Hunter, IBEW organizer Larry Henderson was struck by a 2 x4, fracturing his arm. Ironworkers Local 433 organizer Rene Angeles was hit in the face with a 2x4 and suffered bruises. Kevin Norton and IBEW organizer Tommy Faavae also suffered bruises.

And this problem can be boiled down to 3 simple words,


Our Jobs Matter.  


It doesn't matter if you're in Montreal at a Men's Warehouse or an Ironworker in LA or even a striker from American Axle.  What all of these owners are trying to tell each one of us is that our jobs don't matter.  That anyone can do them, any where or from anywhere.  

That none of us matter.

Well, I'm here to say, hell no.  

WE MATTER

Now I'm asking all of you to take a minute and let the locals and the nationals and the media know that we do matter.

Write a letter to the editor in support of workers at Kongsberg Automotive in Van Wert and drop a line to the United SteelWorkers District 1 that you've written that letter:
USW District 1
777 Dearborn Park Lane
Suite J
Columbus, OH 43085
614.888.6052 - Telephone
614.888.9870 - FAX
[e-mail]

Send an e-mail to your TV station that chokeholds on 65 year old women aren't acceptable.

Take Action with UNITE-HERE to help the workers in Montreal

or Drop a line to the Ironworkers local 433 of LA and offer your support.
Ironworkers Local # 433
17495 Hurley Street East
City of Industry, CA 91744
626-964-2500 Phone
626-964-1754 Fax

Hell, you can even send donations to locals all over the country who are trying to help their membership currently out on strike like:

   

Local 262
   12432 ECKLES RD
   LIVONIA, Michigan 48150-1037
   Phone #: [phone]

   Local 235
   Address: 1840 HOLBROOK ST
   Detroit, Michigan 48212-3442
   Phone #: [phone]

   Region 1
   27800 George Merrelli Drive
   Warren, MI 48092
   TEL: [phone]
   FAX: [phone]

What seems most important to me today, isn't just that we matter, but that we can do something about it.  As this election has moved forward, one thing has become crystal clear to me, that there is one more phrase we need to remember here, 3 other small words that mean something and this phrase probably better summarizes it all, even better than Our Jobs Matter.  Can you guess what that is?


Yes We Can

So, get off your ass and do something!  We can all do something, so let's get to it!!

•  solidarity jar

  Now, I need to break up this diary and finish my postings on my site, sometime today!!

  I suppose I should say:

  Yes, I can!!

  by Bendygirl on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 06:12:22 AM PDT

•  Tipped and rec'd. Well done.

  by Jacques on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 07:38:57 AM PDT

  •  thanks

    now, if we could only get everyone else to pay attention.  Hmm, wonder how to do that.

    by Bendygirl on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 07:43:59 AM PDT

•  Men's Wearhouse has now been added

  to my personal blacklist.  Thank goodness there are other places to shop in my area.  This mistreatment of employees may be best addressed by taking our dollars somewhere else in addition to telling the executives why the choice is being made.

  Thanks, bendygirl.  I am sorry there so large a need for your stories.

  Peace.

  by possum on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:11:44 AM PDT