So you want to be a journalist, Martin Fishgold and SSEU Local 371 are looking for an entry level labor communicator

Got this from Martin through an e-mail:

SSEU Local 371 is looking for a communications assistant to work with the union newspaper and website. The job pays well and has full benefits. It's a great opportunity for a recent grad or anyone else looking for an entry level position, especially those with an interest in journalism, workers' rights, and social justice. Please pass this announcement along to anyone you think may be interested, and mention that you received the job announcement from me and that interested parties can contact me at mfishgold@earthlink.net

Please note that some computer skills are necessary. If you choose to take this job, you will be working directly with Mr.Fishgold and the staff of The Unionist

Martin Fishgold is a former President of the International Labor Communications Association, a Board member of the Association for Union Democracy and the editor of the Social Service Employees Union Local 371 of AFSCME newspaper "The Unionist", among quite a few other things. You can see more of his history by googling "Martin Fishgold labor", one of the highlights, in my eyes, is a letter in response to John Sweeney's request for proposals on the future of labor which was written in 2004, heres the first proposal from Chicago Media Actions "ILCA President Proposes Changes in Letter to AFL-CIO" (12/23/04):

1 - Together with the international unions and the ILCA, make a serious investment in national independent labor media during the next year. Stop using workers' money to buy advertising in corporate media, which systematically marginalizes and attacks workers. Instead, invest in the creation of national labor media in the form of at least one cable television station, at least one radio network, and at least one national weekly publication. Such ventures can be highly profitable, and the use of union pension funds to invest in them, rather than in our corporate opponents, should be considered. But there are sufficient funds in the current AFL-CIO budget and the budgets of internationals to take this step without using pension money.

Each media outlet created should be an independent organization committed in its constitution to the promotion of growth in the labor movement, and to accepting no funding or advertising from companies not approved by the AFL-CIO and the Union Label and Service Trades Department. But each must be independent and subject to no editorial control by any union or labor federation, control that could exclude debate and new ideas.

I think it's a great opportunity, for a socially conscience young person who wants to make it in journalism. Good Luck

Speaking of AFSCME

and I just had to add this little gem, lower the volume if your at work.

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Audio file of the week: Forty years since Memphis, struggling to keep King's legacy alive

Forty Years Since King: Struggling to End Racism, Sexism, Poverty, and War with Dr. Clayborne Carson,author & editor of several books about the civil rights struggle in the US, including "The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr."

*Click above to listen to story

Dr. Carson joins us to take stock of the legacy of Dr. King and how we, standing at the crossroads of change or regression in 2008 much as we were in 1968, can be informed by his prophetic understanding & activism.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., speech at the 30th Anniversary Rally of District 65 at Madison Square Garden in NYC in October 1963. A speech in which he addresses the issues of race and class.

for more information contact Ken Nash - knash@igc.org

Building Bridges is regularly broadcast live over WBAI, 99.5 FM in the N.Y.C Metropolitan area on Mondays from 7-8pm EST and is streamed, archived and pod cast at www.wbai.org, as well as many other stations across the country, check links below for more info

Find out more about Building Bridges at Internet Archive and BBR's archive of past shows.

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Updated 75% after 2 weeks of my readers are for a 1 day US and Canada strike and the poll just started

UPDATE: (4/30/08): I took the poll down after 3 weeks, as it was just hanging there for a while and I wanted to set up a new one, heres the results:



Heres the original Post, keep it in your mind, speak about it to others, we'll get the ball rolling if theres enough people who are interested in showing "them" who's boss.



Why a 1 days strike? Whats the reasoning?

A one day strike on what we can all agree on, they all have sold out the dream to do better for our children, to live a peaceful and private life, to one day be able to afford to retire and have enough to survive.

A one day strike where people of all jobs and backgrounds can unite together and say "We are not going to take it anymore"

A one days strike against taxable labor, taxable products and the damn TV. Fuck them and the brainwash machine. Say it with me, say it out loud "Fuck them and their "ask your doctor for ad's that we pay for with every prescription we buy"

A one days strike against the bureaucracy that is our governments handing our futures over to a select few corporations. Allowing the thought of "Free Trade" with the likes of Columbia who kills people who try to organize. "I don't want a Columbian Free Trade Agreement, I count"

A one day strike against the constricting noose around the necks of those whose labor made their corporations what they are today, while the government bails out mismanaged banks and airlines with our money, who's only claim to fame is how badly they have fucked our workers and citizens. Say it "Corporate responsibility, not corporate welfare"

A one day strike before there is a need for a revolution, a strike against the misinformed idea that there is nothing we can do about it. We can, we can stand together. Say it "Together we can change the world"

A one day strike against the 2 party system that bogs itself into partisan politics, like a sideshow, never accomplishing anything for us, but always making sure the corporations get everything on a silver platter.

A 1 day strike against the profiteers of the slave class and our government for allowing it.

A 1 day strike against the corporations who are killing the the good North American jobs and our kids with poisonous products.

A 1 day strike against the oil industry who has decided that we are going to pay 3 times as much as a few years back.

A one day strike where we can be with our families and friends and having a chance to enjoy what is really important, a life with dignity.

We will be heard, we will be united.

Spread the word.

sounds good? vote in your answer at the left.

Feel free to use the images

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Security officer campaign escalates; 17 arrested in act of civil disobedience

From Workday Minnesota (3/21/08)

Inside the lobby of U.S. Bancorp Center (above), a group of 17 linked arms and sat down in an act of non-violent civil disobedience. Javier Morillo-Alicea addressed the crowd outside the IDS Center: "We are here to protect and defend community standards..."

Minneapolis - Security officers and community allies filled the lobby of U.S. Bancorp Center in downtown Minneapolis late Thursday afternoon to support a fair contract and 17 were arrested in an act of civil disobedience. U.S. Bancorp was targeted by Service Employees International Union Local 26, which is seeking a new contract for 800 private security officers who work for five security contractors. Members voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to reject a contract offer because it failed to include affordable health insurance.

Katherine Blauvelt, Workers Interfaith Network (left) and Lisa Amman, ISAIAH, continued chanting after being handcuffed.

The employers' contract offer would have made health insurance even more expensive than the current contract.

"We are here today to protect and defend community standards and say people who protect multi-million dollar real estate ought to be able to provide for their families," said Javier Morillo-Alicea, addressing a crowd of about 100 union members and supporters outside the IDS Center at about 4:30 p.m.

The group marched across the street and rushed into the lobby of U.S. Bancorp Center, chanting, "What do we want? Health care. When do we want it? Now!"

A group of 17 sat down and linked arms. The crowd continued chanting. Police arrived within minutes. When the seated protestors refused to leave at the request of police, they were arrested. All arrested cooperated with police by presenting their wrists for handcuffing and by walking out of the building.

Outside, the crowd continued chanting while those arrested sat on the edge of a planter, awaiting police vehicles that soon would take them away.

"U.S. Bank, do the right thing!" the crowd chanted. Members of the group arrested also continued chanting.

The security officers' contract expired Jan. 1.

SEIU Local 26 staged a one-day strike Feb. 25 to put pressure on the employers to settle the contract.

"On that one-day strike, we said if it has to get bigger, it has to get bigger," Local 26 president Morillo-Alicea told the crowd Thursday.

The employers group termed the contract that was rejected as their "last, best final best offer."

"They're not prepared to move forward but we're prepared to do more," said Greg Nammacher, SEIU Local 26 program director, speaking to the crowd after police took the 17 people arrested away.

The 17 arrested included SEIU members and staff as well as community supporters from ISAIAH, Workers Interfaith Network, and TakeAction Minnesota.

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council.
Photo by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review

For more information
See the Workday special section on the Stand for Security campaign

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American Axle story response, what is it going to take? to get things back on track in this country?

700 page hits today, a new record for Joe's Union Review, we had OSHA visit checking out the petition and the stories that point to it, we had HealthNet checking out the story about how they lost $9 million to a woman they cut off with cancer, but heres one of the most important ones.

Found a link to my site regarding the American Axle strike, followed it and found some people's reactions to whats going on with the workers, firstly I was kinda pissed to see so much anti-union stuff around the net which portrayed these workers as $70 an hour workers. As far as I can tell they mad $23-$24 at top pay. The $60-70 is something to do with benefit packages., that is in line with the health care industry doubling the rates of insurance within the past few years. So the story I came across had a fellow named mrsleeve and he asked a question in his disgust of what is happening to us here in this country. So I registered and had to say something, something that has been on my mind for a while. Here goes from The Diesel Place:

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsleeve What is it going to take??? to get things back on track in this country???? I hate news like this.

Hi. MrSleeve, and everyone else for that matter.

It takes people who are so pissed off that all the dreams of ALL American workers, union, nonunion, blue collar, white collar, bus drivers, pilots, mechanics, soup kitchen workers, teachers, bank tellers, truck drivers, computer programmers, Wall Street workers, etc., are fading away. It's time to to realize that there is a War on the American worker. Once we realize that we are all in jeopardy, once we realize that we are all just one step away from being broke, once we realize that these multi-national corporations have the politicians in their pockets, have the media as one of its own, give us our choices on who we can vote for. When we realize all of this, we can overcome our separatist ways which are further beaten into us through divisions between race, language, citizenship, politics, etc, we then can focus on what make us similar, what makes us all the opponents on this very War against the American worker i speak of. When together we can focus our energies onto corporate and political responsibility, holding those that poison us, get corporate welfare and using our tax monies for their dire means, and flourish above the laws of our nation and all of mankind for the lowest price and the highest profits for such a small few. That my friend is what it is going to take. If we do not band together before it is to late, even I fear the worst.

For now I just have a website, please feel free to say hello.

Joe from Joe's Union Review - The Anti-Union Blogspot

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Re: History is written by the winners of war, the truth lies in music. Union songs on YouTube

After my post"History is written by the winners of war, the truth lies in the music. Labor songs from MySpace" made it's way onto TeamstersOnline.com, the unofficial Teamster message board, I got some nice responses from a user Moosesteaks, who cordially added some YouTube videos into the mix, heres his reply:

I have this song on my kids mp3 players , every so often i will hear them singing it, i just have to sit back and smile.


heres couple more i found on youtube

this is billy bragg


(Solidarity Forever sung by Pete Seeger & The Weavers)


(Tom Morello shows his support for the WGA strike in front of Fox Studios, 11-09-07)


and of course Dropkick Murphy

Thanks Moosesteaks

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Douglas A. Fraser, Former UAW President, Dies at 91

Douglas A. Fraser 1916-2008

By DAVID RUNK - Sunday, February 24, 2008 5:45 PM EST

DETROIT - Douglas A. Fraser, who led the United Auto Workers union through dark hours in the U.S. auto industry in the 1970s and '80s, has died. He was 91.

Fraser died late Saturday at Providence Hospital in Southfield, his wife, Winnie, said Sunday. She said he had emphysema and went into the hospital with breathing problems, but a cause of death wasn't determined.

With his mischievous smile and gregarious, easygoing manner, Fraser was popular with the union's rank-and-file, who appreciated his candor and accessibility. Everyone called him Doug. "Everybody thought he was wonderful," Winnie Fraser said. "He was a good guy, and he really was (wonderful)." He also was a shrewd and pragmatic negotiator who won the respect of Big Three executives. In the 1960s and '70s, he helped win such benefits as comprehensive health care and improved working conditions. But he faced challenges as UAW president from 1977 to 1983, a period of severe financial hardship for the industry that forced the union to make unprecedented concessions.

"Doug was a friend, a mentor and a counselor to so many within the UAW and the larger labor movement," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement. "His integrity and his enduring commitment to protecting the rights of workers will continue to inspire us." Fraser considered his finest achievement the UAW's campaign to obtain $1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for Chrysler Corp. in 1979, which saved the automaker from bankruptcy. "At the time, he was probably the most respected labor leader in America and he had great political charm, as well as substantive commitment," said former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard, who knew Fraser for more than 30 years and as a U.S. House member worked with Fraser on the efforts to guarantee Chrysler's loans.

"He was really key in everything that happened to save Chrysler."

Fraser's decisions to give contract concessions to Chrysler in 1979 and to Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. in 1982 were opposed by many UAW members but contributed to the U.S. auto industry's recovery.

As part of the agreement for concessions, Chrysler gave Fraser a seat on its board, making him the first major union chief on the board of a large corporation. He donated his board salary to Wayne State University in Detroit.

A lifelong Democrat, Fraser proudly called himself a liberal. He marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s. He supported school busing to achieve racial integration, a position strongly opposed by many of his fellow UAW members. He pushed an often reluctant UAW and the Big Three to recruit more minorities and women. And he fought for national health insurance.

Full Story

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History is written by the winners of war, the truth lies in the music. Labor songs from MySpace

"History is written by those who have hanged heroes" - Braveheart opening narration

"The history of a nation is, unfortunately, too easily written as the history of its dominant class." - Kwame Nkrumah

"Memory says, 'I did that.' Pride replies, 'I could not have done that.' Eventually, memory yields." - Nietzsche

Music is written by the people. Heres some labor songs from MySpace I have grown fond of


War on the Workers - Anne Feeney
The ultimate rally song.

According to the Anne Feeney MySpace page:

I'm an activist, organizer, songwriter, folksinger, troublemaker and hellraiser from Pittsburgh, PA. I graduated from high school in 1968 and worked for a year to save up enough money to buy the beautiful Martin D-28 guitar that I still play. The Vietnam war and the Civil Rights Movement shaped my conscience and consciousness. My musical influences are pretty varied, but I love Phil Ochs, Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger, Jimmy Collier, Brian MacNeill, Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary, Billy Bragg, Jon Fromer, Rosalie Sorrels, Hazel Dickens, Utah Phillips, David Rovics, Leon Rosselson, Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, Pam Parker, Anais Mitchell, Evan Greer, Pat Humphries, Rebel Voices, Chris Chandler and so very many more. I worked for a dozen years or so as a trial attorney and served as President of the Pittsburgh Musicians' Union. I have two great kids, Dan and Amy Berlin. ...Now, I'm on the road 200+ days a year... all over the US and Canada, and more recently, Sweden and Denmark. If you're on strike, or in an organizing drive, or doing community organizing for women's rights, the environment, human rights, anti-poverty or anti-racist work, I want to be there. You can donate to her cause there.

We Can't Make it Here - James McMurty
It's really a no brainer, especially when you could go cross country and see the devastation that NAFTA, WTO and the unending corporate driven government has done to the American people.

Heres a snippet from the James McMurty MySpace page:

The Texas native long has been known as an astute, clear-eyed observer and concise, no-holds-barred chronicler of the human condition, but a growing socio-political edge fairly exploded just prior to the 2004 elections when his scathing, palace-rattling “We Can’t Make It Here” was made available online as a free download. The seven-plus-minute diatribe against social injustice and the Administration’s hypocrisy and deceptions repercussed wildly across the Internet and the airwaves, igniting a grassroots firestorm that has brought legions of new fans to the singer/songwriter’s work. As of this writing, fan-made videos of “We Can’t Make It Here” have been viewed more than 150,000 times on YouTube.

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Online Labor Activism Works, 3 global victories thanks to people who helped support Eric Lee's Labourstart E-Activist campaign's

Eric Lee's Labourstart is the world premiere news source for international Labor headlines, his news feeds are found on news, labor and social injustice sites around the globe. Just adding a pertinent link to Labourstart helps spread information, information which is usually ignored by the main stream media. After reading some global campaigns, you can see how much we have in common with the struggling working man around globe. Nowadays when all the corporations are going with the lowest bidders in the cheapest nations, it's even more important that we all get involved in making it better for those people. Think of it as a hand up which can help ourselves too, eventually the price to relocate will be nullified if the demand by the workforce makes steady gains.

Eric also makes it his personal business to get us involved in the global movement by sending out correspondence explaining the situations and asking us to take further action via E-Activist e-mail campaigns and by getting the word out. I took one of his campaigns to heart, the Russian Ford strike. The greatest strike in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Through the ups and downs of their picket, Labourstart followed the story, with some very reminiscent factors such as an anti-union police force and government getting involved. Ford has since met the majority of the workers demands. This also comes on the heals of another win from Eric, getting Blackadder, the Union Organizer back onto Facebook. You can and should join Eric's e-mail list. We do make a difference.

So without further ado, heres the E-mail I opened today:

In the last few weeks we've asked for your backing for online campaigns in support of a jailed activist in Bangladesh, striking workers in Russia, and baristas in a Tel Aviv cafe. You responded magnificently, and today I want to report on three bits of good news.

Mehedi Hasan, the workers rights activist in Bangladesh, was released from detention on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to the 4,000 of you who sent messages and spread the word. Bangladesh remains a concern for all of us, and you can continue to follow these issues on the website of Labour Behind the Label and on LabourStart's Bangladesh news page.

And as we reported earlier, your generous donations to the striking Ford workers in Russia have produced some concrete results -- today a majority of workers at the plant voted to accept the agreement on a pay increase and additional benefits which was reached following the historic 20-day strike, the longest-ever in recent Russian history.

The lowest paid workers are getting a 21 percent increase, and on average the factory workers will earn US $1,030 per month. According to reports we're getting from Russia, "the conflict is over with a great victory of workers, whose courage and international solidarity made the company engage in serious negotiations, leading to the setting up of new pay standards for the whole booming Russian auto industry."

We recently asked for your support for the IUF's global online campaign backing striking workers at the Coffee Bean cafe in Israel. According to reports in the media today, the trade union federation (Histadrut) and management have agreed to end the two-week strike and begin negotiations.

Three campaigns - three victories. This has been a good week. Thank you!

Eric Lee

No, Thank You, Eric Lee, you are an inspiration to us all.

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