Volume 1., Issue 239

Tuesday: Take Action to Bring Jobs Home in San Francisco

Corporations have been outsourcing millions of middle class jobs for far too long; shipping manufacturing, technology, and even service jobs overseas to exploit cheap labor. In the process, these corporations have taken advantage of all the benefits of having corporate headquarters based in the U.S.A. They use their ample profits to lobby politicians, while at the same time denying millions of Americans good, steady jobs.

This practice of rewarding companies who ship jobs overseas has got to stop. On Thursday, GOP senators blocked the federal Bring Jobs Home Act by filibuster. But the fight to bring jobs home and stop outsourcing is far from over. It’s time to put jobs before politics. Stand up for good American jobs and say No to corporate outsourcing by joining the rally on Tuesday beginning at 4:30pm at Union Square in San Francisco.

Learn more.
 

Thursday: Join the Airport National Day of Action at LAX

On May 1st, hundreds of LAX airport workers took to the streets to demand dignified wages, affordable family health care and basic workplace protections. On Thursday, July 26, the LAX workers are once taking their fight to the streets, this time in conjunction with airport workers in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, New Jersey, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and other airports across the country.

Show your support for the airport workers and their fight for justice by joining the LAX action on Thursday at noon (meet at the T2 Departures level).

Learn more.
 

Thursday: Rally for Justice at Grand Hyatt in San Francisco

The Hyatt hotel chain is widely known to be most abusive employer in the hotel industry. All across the state and country, thousands of Hyatt hotel workers are fighting for justice in the face of increasing hospitality and overt abuse from the management.

Now more than ever, these workers need your support to continue their fight and ultimately end up victorious. Join the rally and picket on Thursday, July 26 at 4:30 PM at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco (corner of Sutter and Stockton).

Learn more and RSVP.
 

San Diego Labor Council Unites With Non-Union Taxi Workers

Under current California law, taxi drivers are termed "independent contractors," which means they are technically not employees, and subsequently fall victim to frequent exploitation. Despite the fact that taxi drivers don’t have collective bargaining rights or other workplace protections, they are still banding together to speak out for themselves, and this week, the United Taxi Workers of San Diego and the San Diego Labor Council announced a historic new partnership – the first of its kind between the labor council and a non-union group.

“As our economy evolves, it's important for the AFL-CIO to continue taking the initiative in reaching out to workers who are traditionally unable to organize under a union,” San Diego Labor Council’s Lorena Gonzalez and United Taxi Workers’ Mikaiil Hussein wrote in a joint op-ed yesterday. “We are excited to welcome workers into the AFL-CIO with a shared commitment to help forward the workplace rights of all workers including taxi drivers, and look forward to this dynamic partnership that will help to improve the lives of all San Diego taxi drivers and their families.”

Learn more.
 

Saturday: Protest Cuts and Layoffs at KPFA in Berkeley

The paid and unpaid staff at Berkeley-based KPFA Radio have been fighting off attacks and cuts from the management at their parent company, Pacifica, for years. Now, the management is trying to impose $300,000 in new cuts, which would mean eliminating nearly every single daily program the radio station produces, leaving a large percentage of the workers jobless.

This weekend, for the first time in three years, the Pacifica board will be meeting once again in Berkeley, and the KPFA workers, listeners and supporters are taking action to make sure the Board knows where the community stands on saving KPFA. Join the action on Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm the Durant Hotel (2600 Durant in Berkeley). There’s also an open reception this evening from 7-10pm at KPFA (1929 MLK Way in Berkeley)

Learn more.
 

This Week on “Labor’s Edge”

Daniel Villao of California Construction Academy detailed the how green careers can rejuvenate the hard-hit construction sector.

Barbara Materna Ph.D. of the California Department of Health shared new data on occupational health, injury and illness among California workers.

UC Berkeley economist Sylvia Allegretto exposed the shocking wealth disparity between the Wal-Mart Waltons and working-class families.

We celebrated the signing of the new high-speed rail bill and all of the jobs it will create.

Author Christina McCale opined on the need to address the aggressive increase in the number of U.S. families living in poverty.

Lorena Gonzalez of the San Diego Labor Council and Mikaiil Hussein of the United Taxi Workers of San Diego shared news of their organizations' unique new partnership.

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