United Steelworkers: District 12 News

Bay Bridge contractor in line for bonus if new span opens on time

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Contra Costa Times

The contractor building the Bay Bridge's iconic suspension span will collect a $20 million bonus if it opens to traffic as planned on Sept. 3 -- an incentive state lawmakers fear will drive a risky rush to completion.

American Bridge/Fluor Enterprises and the three government agencies overseeing the construction agreed to the incentives in September 2010 as part of a plan to get the long overdue bridge back on track.

The extra cash is small potatoes relative to the $1.43 billion overall contract with the consortium of international mega builders. And the state, not the contractors, will make the final call about when the bridge opens ... more

Bay Bridge: Open new span with or without bolt repairs, experts say

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Contra Costa Times

Nothing should stop Caltrans from opening the new Bay Bridge on Sept. 3 as planned, say two of the three internationally renowned bridge and seismic engineering experts commissioned to review its construction.

The remaining punch-list items -- including the bolt-by-bolt examination that began in March when three dozen anchor rods snapped on the span -- are "minuscule compared to the overall seismic safety of the new bridge," said Frieder Seible, chairman of the Toll Bridge Seismic Safety Peer Review Panel. "There is no reason to keep traffic off the new bridge until after every last bolt has been 100 percent absolutely checked ... more

Medix Ambulance Workers Vote to Join USW

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

For More Information Contact: Maria Somma (412) 562-1992; (412) 478-5090

PITTSBURGH (June 14, 2013) – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that paramedics and emergency medical technicians employed by Medix Ambulance in Oregon and Washington have voted to join the union and its Health Care Workers Council.

In an election conducted June 13 by the National Labor Relations Board, 21 Medix employees voted for the union and 12 voted against with four ballots challenged. There were 45 employees eligible to vote.

“We are excited to welcome these new members to the union,” said USW International Vice President Fred Redmond, “and we look forward to working with other medical transport workers in the area.”

Medix Ambulance is located in Warrenton, Ore., and provides 911 and medical transport services to Oregon’s northwest coastal region as well as communities across the Columbia River in southwest Washington. The company deploys ambulances from Warrenton, Seaside and Astoria in Oregon and from Ilwaco, Wash.

Medix is owned by J.D. Fuiten, who operates other ambulance services in Oregon. Medix employees are the first Fuiten operation to vote for union representation. Fuiten also operates Metro West Ambulance Service in Hillsboro, Ore., Pacific West Ambulance, and Newport and Bay Cities Ambulance in Coos Bay.

The USW represents 850,000 members in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, including 46,000 health care and pharmaceutical workers. It is the largest private sector union in North America, representing workers in a wide range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, plus office, technical and service workers in health care, security, hotels and municipal governments and agencies.

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Behind Cry for Help From China Labor Camp

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

By Andrew Jacobs, New York Times

The cry for help, a neatly folded letter stuffed inside a package of Halloween decorations sold at Kmart, traveled 5,000 miles from China into the hands of a mother of two in Oregon.

Scrawling in wobbly English on a sheet of onionskin paper, the writer said he was imprisoned at a labor camp in this northeastern Chinese town, where he said inmates toiled seven days a week, their 15-hour days haunted by sadistic guards.

“Sir: If you occasionally buy this product, please kindly resend this letter to the World Human Right Organization,” said the note, which was tucked between two ersatz tombstones and fell out when the woman, Julie Keith, opened the box in her living room last October. “Thousands people here who are under the persicution of the Chinese Communist Party Government will thank and remember you forever ... more

1906 strike signaled change at the Cananea Mines operated by Col. Greene

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

William Ascarza For The Arizona Daily Star

Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series about the colorful "Colonel" William C. Greene, who is credited with developing mines in Cananea, Sonora.

The years 1899 through 1906 were profitable for "Colonel" William C. Greene, whose title was honorary and not bestowed by the military.

During that time, he amassed a fortune of more than $12 million through his many business ventures, including the Sierra Madre Land and Lumber Co., which supplied lumber to the Cananea Mines. He established the Rio Grande, Sierra Madre and Pacific Railroad with the dual intent of transporting timber and providing accessibility between Cananea and the West Coast. He also founded the Greene Cattle Co. in Arizona and the Cananea Cattle Co. in Mexico ... more

Courtesy of Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, Degolyer Library

Col. Greene put Cananea on mining map

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

William Ascarza For The Arizona Daily Star

Editor's note: This is the first part in a two-part series about "Colonel" William C. Greene. Read Part 2 next Monday.

"Colonel" William C. Greene is credited with having developed the mines in Cananea, Mexico.

Born in Duck Creek, Wis., on Aug. 26, 1853, Greene ventured west to Arizona in 1877 honing his mining experience in the ore-rich Bradshaw Mountains in Central Arizona. He finally settled in Tombstone, where he prospected, ranched and farmed in the San Pedro Valley.

Greene was known for being affable and having many friends in high places in Tombstone. This served him well when a dam on his property was blown up, drowning his 9-year-old daughter. His nearby neighbor, Jim Burnett, formerly a justice of the peace in nearby Charleston, was suspected of sabotaging the dam because of past water disputes with Greene ... more

Courtesy of Cosme Rodriguez Sesma

USW Local 338 Women of Steel Donates to MS

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Through collections and members who participated in the Walk For The Cure, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 338's Women of Steel collected $1000 to donation to the multiple sclerosis society. The WOS want to thank the membership for their generosity and the members who participated in the walk.

USW Women's Leadership Course Yields Donations to Shade Tree in Henderson

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Lisa Duran and Laura Comeau from United Steelworkers Local 4856 presented Shade Tree Shelter in Henderson, NV with a donation of $255 collected from from participants at the Women's Leadership Course held in Henderson, April 30 - May 3, 2013. In addition, they also delivered the toiletries that were collected.

Shade Treeis a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children in crisis and to offer life-changing services promoting stability, dignity, and self-reliance.

When the IRS targeted liberals

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Under George W. Bush, it went after the NAACP, Greenpeace and even a liberal church

By Alex Seitz-Wald, Salon.com

While few are defending the Internal Revenue Service for targeting some 300 conservative groups, there are two critical pieces of context missing from the conventional wisdom on the “scandal.” First, at least from what we know so far, the groups were not targeted in a political vendetta — but rather were executing a makeshift enforcement test (an ugly one, mind you) for IRS employees tasked with separating political groups not allowed to claim tax-exempt status, from bona fide social welfare organizations. Employees are given almost zero official guidance on how to do that, so they went after Tea Party groups because those seemed like they might be political. Keep in mind, the commissioner of the IRS at the time was a Bush appointee.

The second is that while this is the first time this kind of thing has become a national scandal, it’s not the first time such activity has occurred.

“I wish there was more GOP interest when I raised the same issue during the Bush administration, where they audited a progressive church in my district in what look liked a very selective way,” California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on MSNBC Monday. “I found only one Republican, [North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones], that would join me in calling for an investigation during the Bush administration. I’m glad now that the GOP has found interest in this issue and it ought to be a bipartisan concern ... more

USW Commends Hawaii Legislative Resolution to Expand Refinery Task Force Mandate and Include USW

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

United Steelworkers (USW) commends the Hawaii State Legislature for passing Resolution HCR99/SD1 that urges Governor Neil Abercrombie to add a USW Local 12-591 member to the Hawaii Refinery Task Force and to broaden the issues the task force will review.

“By passing this resolution, the state legislature has affirmed its commitment to working with a potential buyer to operate the Tesoro refinery in Kapolei,” said USW International Vice President Gary Beevers, who heads the union’s oil sector. “We are very appreciative of the legislature’s support to keep this refinery operating.”

The USW sent a letter to Governor Abercrombie on May 6, 2013 that requests the governor abide by the state legislature’s resolution and appoint a Local 12-591 member to his Hawaii Refinery Task Force ... more

San Francisco's Bay Bridge revelations just keep coming

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Opinion - Bee Editorials, Modesto Bee

Fund-raising for the opening bash planned for the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge — scheduled for Labor Day weekend — has been suspended. That's the clearest indication yet that the new span's cracked bolts and other problems pose serious risks to a safe opening of this bridge.

As The Sacramento Bee's Charles Piller reported several weeks ago, 32 of 96 giant bolts used to support seismic safety equipment cracked when tightened in March. That's a failure rate of more than 30 percent, alarming, to say the least.

Then over the weekend, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Bay Bridge's new eastern span has more than 1,200 bolts made, like the bolts that cracked, from a type of galvanized steel that a nationwide group of transportation officials banned from bridge use because it was susceptible to cracking over time ... more

USW Local 12-8850 WOS Participate in the Earth Day Celebration - Corrected

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

United Steelworkers (USW) Women of Steel (WOS) members at Local 12-8850 decided to participate in the Earth Day Celebration in Flagstaff, AZ as an initial project for their committee. Their assignment was to judge entries for SCA Tissue environmental education grants.

Since 2007, SCA Tissue North America has promoted education initiatives through funding grants to help teachers and local schools inspire students to support environmental projects.

Alpine Leadership Academy, a magnet program within Mount Elden Middle School, was chosen the winner of the $$2500.00 cash awardfor a rain water catch system for their garden.

"Once again, Women of Steel in District 12 have shown a commitment to assist their communities," said District 12 Director Bob LaVenture. "I applaud them for the work they do."

Below (left to right) are Local 12-8850 WOS members Lisa Jaramillo, Jamie Woodbeck, Cindy Breitling, and Joanna Maestas.

Story submitted by Lisa Jaramillo

Steelworkers Honored at State Convention

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

At the California State Federation of Labor convention held in Sacramento, four United Steelworker (USW) members were honored for work they had done. A special award was presented to Linda Doppe, Martin Nuno, Ben Salazar and Dave Celaya at the conference dinner held on April 15.

They worked tirelessly and endlessly showing true dedication to defeating Prop 32 in California and also helped in electing a super majority in the California legislature. Catherine Houston led a great charge by building that USW army for success.

"In August, we were down by almost 23 points in our fight on Prop 32, but after a tremendous education program with our membership, and against all the money the Koch Brothers could put into the state, we prevailed," said USW District 12 Director Bob LaVenture. "It just points once again that when we educate and talk to our members there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Just handing them a flier without talking to them has no effect."

USW President Local Union 474, Dave Celaya said, "On behalf of Linda Doppe, Martin Nuno, Ben Salazar and myself, we are proud and honored to accept this award for the USW for being a top preforming union for 2012. It was very easy for all of us to represent the USW, first we are all friends and second we belong to clearly the best damn union out there."

USW Study Warns Public about Dangers of Hydrofluoric Acid Use in Refinery Alkylation Process to Produce Clean-Burning Gasoline

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

More than 26 million are at risk of a Hydrofluoric Acid Release

A United Steelworkers (USW) study released today—“A Risk Too Great, Hydrofluoric Acid in U.S. Refineries”—warns that refiners that use hydrofluoric acid (HF) in their alkylation process to make clean-burning gasoline do not have adequate safety systems in place and are not prepared to handle a release.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate HF as a highly toxic chemical. Exposure to HF can cause deep severe burns and damage the eyes, skin, nose, throat and respiratory system. The fluoride ion enters the body through a burn or by the lungs and can cause internal damage throughout the body. At high enough exposures, HF can kill.

If released into the atmosphere, HF rapidly forms a dense vapor cloud that hovers near land and can travel long distances. HF releases from U.S. refineries range from three to 25 miles, depending on the amount stored. More than 26 million people live within this range, many in urban areas such as Philadelphia, Memphis, Salt Lake City and Houston that are impossible to evacuate quickly should there be a major HF release. No other chemical process puts as many people at risk ... more

Shutting Tesoro Refinery Will Hurt Hawaii's Residents

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Closing Tesoro’s Kapolei refinery will hurt the wallets of Hawaii’s residents, give the state’s economy a black eye, threaten our national security and make the state dependent upon renewable sources that will take years to develop before they are economically viable.

Tesoro announced in January it had not found a buyer for the Kapolei refinery and would turn it into a terminal to import fuel. The refinery plans to lay off about 210 employees on or around May 1.

Tell the Governor and your elected officials you don’t want the Tesoro refinery closed. Send an Email to savetherefinery@gmail.com.

The Kapolei refinery processes up to 94,000 barrels per day of crude oil to make gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ship fuel, asphalt and fuel oil for electrical generation. The Tesoro and Chevron refineries in Hawaii enable the state to mostly be self-sufficient in energy. Imported fuel is relied upon to a lesser degree. This will change when the refinery is shut down and the state becomes dependent on foreign sources of fuel.

Higher Costs, Uncertain Supply

Being dependent on imports will make Hawaii vulnerable to major disruptions in the global oil market. One international oil consultant said that if there is a global crisis, Hawaii is more vulnerable than anywhere on the mainland.

These imports will likely come from Asia. One independent oil consultant told the media that the jet fuel Tesoro produced would be imported mostly from Asia and that would boost prices.

Currently, Hawaii is self-sufficient in residual fuel, which is used as bunker fuel for powering ships and as fuel for the state’s electric power plants. If the state has to import this fuel it will be costly. It sells for about a $90 per ton premium (about $13 per barrel) over the rest of the world for shipment into Pacific Island ports. Imagine how this will affect electric prices.

Ultimately, the increased cost for imported fuel will lead to higher prices for all goods and services.

Local Economy Hurt

The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 591 represents the majority of workers at the Tesoro refinery. Union refinery jobs pay high wages and are known to have a multiplier effect on the local economy. Each of these family-supporting jobs is thought to support seven to 10 other jobs. This means that up to 2,100 other jobs could be lost if the Tesoro refinery closes, affecting those who work for Tesoro’s suppliers and for businesses that the workers and their families patronize.

Closing the refinery also means less tax revenue coming in to support local and state government and schools. Laid-off workers also will increase the burden on local, state, and federal budgets, and they also will pay fewer taxes.

National Security Interests

The Tesoro refinery supplies as much as 70 percent of the fuel needed for Hawaiian military bases. With North Korea acting up, our military needs to have a ready supply of fuel in case it is called to action.

Do we really want our military to be dependent on fuel produced outside of the U.S.? Even if the fuel is obtained from the U.S. mainland there will be extra costs to ship it.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is important, but it could take decades in order to create a system that will capture, store and transmit this energy efficiently and at a reasonable cost.

Switching to LNG is not an immediate solution, and it does little or nothing to provide fuel for cars, trucks, ships, ferries and aircraft. The infrastructure to import large quantities of it is lacking, and Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) will not be able to fully convert to LNG until 2019 or 2020. Meanwhile, HECO likely will request environmental waivers until its equipment can be modified.

Importing fuel also does not help the environment. Overseas refineries operate under fewer environmental regulations than U.S. facilities like the Kapolei refinery. Also, having more ships unload refined fuel increases the chances for an oil spill.

Does This Make Sense?

The Kapolei refinery was built 41 years ago in 1972 because imported fuel cost too much and there were supply problems.

Governor Abercrombie and other elected leaders need to ask themselves: Does it really make sense to let the Tesoro refinery shut down and throw 2,100 residents out of work in favor of high-priced fuel imports produced overseas and without a guarantee there will be no supply problems?

Tell the Governor and your elected officials you don’t want the Tesoro refinery closed. Send an Email to savetherefinery@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support!

Women of Steel Display the USW Colors at Pioneer Days

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Pioneer Days is an annual event in Kearny, AZ. The four day event is filled activities such as a carnival, a men's softball tournament, the Pioneer Queen contest, music, food and information booths, plus many more vendors and events. And what would an event be without a parade. United Steelworker (USW) members representing Women of Steel (WOS) from Locals 915, 886 and 5252 and family members joined the Saturday morning parade to display the Steelworker colors.

USW Members Deliver Petition to Governor Abercrombie Requesting Help to Keep Tesoro Refinery Operating

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

United Steelworkers Union (USW) activists from Local 12-591 delivered 5,000 petitions this morning to Governor Neil Abercrombie, requesting his help in finding a buyer for Tesoro’s Kapolei refinery.

The activists also requested that the governor appoint a USW representative to his committee that is examining the effect of a Tesoro refinery closure on the Hawaii economy. The USW represents the majority of workers at the refinery.

The USW expects a response from the governor ... more

Hey District 12, Here's a Women of Steel Heads-Up Conference Activity

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Stuffed Purse Collection
United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3657 Women of Steel WOS will be collecting purses to benefit sisters impacted by Hurricane Sandy and other tragedies. The collection will only take place March 9 and 10 at registration for the USW International Women’s Conference in Pittsburgh … click here to read more

Here’s a box of those items collected by USW Local 338 WOS who are participating in the project and shipping them to the Women’s Conference.

United Steelworkers Demand Justice for the Pasta De Conchos Mine Disaster

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

On February 19, 2013, United Steelworkers (USW) members from Local 937 joined with brothers and sisters from Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE), Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) at the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, AR, to demand justice for the 65 mine workers who were killed in an explosion at Grupo Mexico’s Pasta de Conchos mine six years ago.

The peaceful participants carried leaflets and signs under the watchful eye of the Tucson Police. The leaflet contained the name of all workers who died that day. USW Local 937 Secretary Treasurer Angel Morales spoke to the group and all observed a minute of silence in respect of the fallen workers.

The bodies of 63 workers have never been recovered, the families have received inadequate or no compensation and those responsible for the incident have never been investigated or charged by the authorities.

USW District 12 Announce Today the 2013 Philip Murray Memorial Scholarships

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

United Steelworkers (USW) District 12 Announce Today the 2013 Philip Murray Memorial Scholarships for sons and daughters of active members in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Hawaii.

One scholarship, each with a value of $1,500.00, is to be made available for use in the freshman year at any accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. Scholarships will be awarded in May 2013 by the Existence and Educational Council, United Steelworkers (USW), District 12. Winners of the scholarships will be selected by Selection Committees composed of professional educators.

Click Here for Eligibility, How to Apply and Award Conditions

Click Here for an Application Form

USW Urges Governor Abercrombie to Include Union on Committee Examining Tesoro Refinery Closure in Kapolei, Hawaii

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

USW Represents Majority of Workers at Refinery

The United Steelworkers Union (USW) today called on Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie to include the USW on a committee being formed to examine the closure of Tesoro’s Kapolei refinery and its impact on the state. The committee will also examine coordinating efforts to save the refinery and other issues related to Hawaii’s economy.

“We believe that it would be a huge mistake for your administration to exclude the United Steelworkers from this process,” wrote USW International Vice President Gary Beevers and USW District 12 Director Robert LaVenture.

The USW represents some 250 production and maintenance workers at the Kapolei refinery who are likely to lose their jobs if the facility is shut down.

“It doesn’t make sense to exclude the USW on the governor’s committee when we represent the majority of workers who will be affected by the refinery closure,” Beevers said ... more

Steelworkers Need Support at Local 591 in Hawaii

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The members of USW Local 591 at the Tesoro oil refinery in Kapolei, Hawaii are fighting to save their jobs and protect their state’s economy and they need our help.

In January, West Coast oil refiner Tesoro announced plans to shut down its refinery in Kapolei, eliminating a majority of the 250 jobs. The problem isn’t that the refinery is unprofitable—Tesoro acknowledges that the refinery is making money. But it’s more profitable to operate the facility as a terminal and import refined gasoline and other petroleum products.

As the oil companies increase profits, the people of Hawaii will pay! A majority of the 250 jobs will be lost at the refinery and 2,000 or more additional jobs could be lost in the community because of the shutdown. Meanwhile, consumers in Hawaii are likely to pay more at the pump and in their electric bills as energy prices spike.

Last year, USW activists across the country took action to save refining jobs in Philadelphia, Marcus Hook and Trainer, Pa. Now we need to come together to save refining jobs in Hawaii. Sign our petition calling on state and federal officials to work with Tesoro to find a qualified buyer to operate the refinery and remove any unnecessary barriers to the sale and operation of the refinery!

To see the United Steelworker letter sent to the Honorable Neil Abercrombie, Governor of Hawaii, Click Here

Unions prepare for Mexico Days of Action

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The IndustriALL Global Union is mobilizing internationally for trade union rights in Mexico during the week of February 18-24, 2013.

The date marks the terrible Pasta de Conchos mine accident in 2006 that killed 65 miners. The refusal of the Mexican government and employer Grupo Mexico to recover the bodies of 63 miners who remain entombed is widely known to be an effort to cover up the real causes of the disaster and the inadequacy of rescue efforts.

In the Mexican capital, national unions will march with international and North American trade unionists on 19 February and further actions are planned throughout the country during the week.

During the Days of Action IndustriALL affiliated trade unions, together with transport workers and others, will revisit the Mexican Ambassador to their country and push for action on:

The outstanding ILO complaint no. 2694 on Protection Contracts
Pasta de Conchos justice
Rejecting the recent regressive labour law reforms

IndustriALL Global Union appreciates and thanks our USW members for their support in this week-long event.

Click below for an information letter: In English In French In Spanish

How Unions Help all Workers

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Unions have long been part of our nation's history, fighting for better pay, safer working conditions, health care and retirement benefits, education and civic participation. Unions have brought diverse voices together, and their struggles have elevated the working conditions, the standard of living and the recognition of not just their members, but of all who labor.

Here are just a few benefits that have been fought for by unions.

Weekends
All Breaks at Work, including your Lunch Breaks
Paid Vacation
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Sick Leave
Social Security
Minimum Wage
Civil Rights Act/Title VII (Prohibits Employer Discrimination)
8-Hour Work Day
Overtime Pay
Child Labor Laws
Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
40 Hour Work Week
Worker's Compensation (Worker's Comp)
Unemployment Insurance
Pensions
Workplace Safety Standards and Regulations
Employer Health Care Insurance
Collective Bargaining Rights for Employees
Wrongful Termination Laws
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
Whistleblower Protection Laws
Employee Polygraph Protect Act (Prohibits Employer from using a lie detector test on an employee)
Veteran's Employment and Training Services (VETS)
Compensation increases and Evaluations (Raises)
Sexual Harassment Laws
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Holiday Pay
Employer Dental, Life, and Vision Insurance
Privacy Rights
Pregnancy and Parental Leave
Military Leave
The Right to Strike
Public Education for Children
Equal Pay Acts of 1963 & 2011
Laws Ending Sweatshops in the United States

Informative articles about unions

How unions help all workers

Labor History Timeline

Join Days of Action for Worker Rights in Mexico, February 18-24!

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Courtesy of the US Labor Education in the Americas Project

North American unions and worker rights supporters are joining together to support worker rights in Mexico during the week-long international Days of Action from February 18-24.

Actions in the U.S. will vary from protests to delivering letters to Mexican government consulate offices. Activities are currently being organized in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New Orleans, New York, Ottawa, Portland, Raleigh, Seattle, Tucson, Vancouver, and Washington, DC.

In Mexico City, representatives from labor organizations from the United States, Canada, Quebec, and several Global Unions will join the independent Mexican unions at a press conference, several mass actions and in delegations to embassies.

The actions in the U.S. and Canada are being organized by the Tri-National Solidarity Alliance with labor groups including the AFL-CIO, United Electrical Workers, United Steelworkers, the United Auto Workers, CSN, CEP, CAW and other unions as well as NGOs, including Austin Tan Cerca, the Cross-Border Network, National Guestworker Alliance, and the National Lawyers Guild ... more