April 4 Call to Action: We are One

By , on March 25th, 2011

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: the right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. The workers were trying to form a union with AFSCME.

On April 4, 2011, join union members, community activists, people of faith, students, youth, LGBTQ, civil rights, and immigrant rights allies to stand in solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for: the freedom to bargain, to vote, to afford a college education and justice for all workers, immigrant and native-born. It’s a day to show movement with actions, teach-ins, worksite discussions, vigils, faith events – a day to be creative, but clear: We are one.

Visit www.we-r-1.org to find a local event, or add your own event to the growing list of activities. Some ideas for action:

  • Worksite actions.  Recruit co-workers to carry out a worksite activity – wearing red shirts, ribbons,

    Continue reading April 4 Call to Action: We are One

    • March 25th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Category: Campaigns, Unions | Comments are closed

    Students and Workers Organizing for Justice

    By , on March 10th, 2010

    From Florida to California, March 4th marked an exceptional moment for the student and worker movement in recent U.S. history. People took to the streets to demonstrate their frustration with the government’s failure to pass legislation that would benefit young people such as Student Aid Reform and the DREAM Act.  The mainstream media seemed taken by surprise of all these coordinated actions across the country – How could students and workers come together on one specific day? Was this an organized effort? Were people demanding change from the government and legislators?

    I got the opportunity to march along with students, staff, and faculty at U-Mass Amherst.  Being there reminded me about the power of organizing and strategic escalation. Students at this school provided a deadline for their administrators to accept their demands around fees, budget cuts, treating staff & faculty fairly, and improving the school’s climate.  We will be watching their administrations’ response and actions to come.  Check out video from the great actions at the University of Central Florida and the University of California system.  You can also go to Continue reading Students and Workers Organizing for Justice

    March 10th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Category: Alliances, Campaigns, Economy, Leaders | Comments are closed