Celebrate International Human Rights Day
Dec. 10th - *Workers’ Rights are Human Rights* Events
WRB Hearing Bellingham Seattle
“It takes compliance to be oppressed, and we refuse to do that any longer!”
–Maribel Martinez, OPEIU 8 & Immigrant Workers’ Freedom Rider (taken from testimony at 9/11 Workers Rights Board Hearing)
The law says we have the right to join a union. The law also says we have the right to make that decision free from intimidation, harassment and coercion from your employers.
December 10th is a national day of actions in cities throughout the U.S., to take back our freedom to organize in the workplace. That day marks the anniversary of the United Nations' adoption in 1948 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes international labor rights to join unions that are binding in many countries, but not the United States. According to a recent Human Rights Watch report: "Legal obstacles tilt the playing field so steeply against workers' freedom of association that the United States is in violation of international human rights standards for workers."
This month, historic legislation called the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in Congress. This bill is intended to articulate the kind of labor law reform that will ultimately be necessary to level the playing field for American workers. But this campaign must involve much, much more than passing (or not passing in the case of this anti-union Congress) more laws to protect our rights. It will involve taking those rights back on our own.
For more information about actions happening around the country, check out the National JwJ or the AFL-CIO websites.
Rally in Seattle from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Jackson Federal Building – 2nd & Marion, downtown Seattle
Our Workers Rights Board participants will give voice to whether local employers and the multi-billion dollar union-avoidance consulting industry routinely fire, harass and intimidate local workers who express interest in joining unions. Join us to begin taking back our rights from big business and the anti-worker Bush Administration. There will be music, theater – including a visit from Billionaires for Bush - and speakers.
The Dec. 10 rally in Seattle is co-sponsored by the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Washington State Jobs With Justice; King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Pierce County Labor Council, AFL-CIO; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; and many other labor organizations.
Forum in Bellingham at 7:00 PM
First Congregational Church – 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham
Several community leaders and workers will give voice to whether local employers and the multi-billion dollar union-avoidance consulting industry routinely fire, harass and intimidate local workers who express interest in joining unions. Join us to begin taking back our rights from big business and the anti-worker Bush Administration. Speakers include:
- Rosalinda Guillen, La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) - immigrant workers and upcoming legislation
- Betsy Pernotto, Whatcom County Rainbow Coalition & JwJ Whatcom Organizing Cttee Co-Chair – attacks on workers’ right to organize
- Vicente Jiménez, Laborers 276 – former Montigo del Rey employee
- Craig Jones, IBEW – former Alpha Technologies employee
The Dec. 10 forum is co-sponsored by the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force; WA State Jobs with Justice; NW WA Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Western WA Peace & Resource Center; Whatcom County Rainbow Coalition; and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center.
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