AMERICAN LABOUR:

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 'GRINCH OF THE YEAR':

Nominations are now open for the 'Jobs With Justice' Grinch of the Year award. For the 7th year running the JwJ coalition is hosting the online nominations for the personage who has done the most harm to workers and their families in the past year. Here's the contest details.

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Nominate for National "Grinch of the Year"‏:
For more than a decade, JwJ coalitions across the country have held local 'Grinch of the Year' elections to determine the most deserving greedy Grinch in their hometowns. This year, national Jobs with Justice will sponsor the seventh annual online Grinch of the Year election to determine the national figure who does the most harm to working families.

Please submit your nomination for the national Grinch of the Year by Friday, November 30th. Be sure to include a few sentences on why you think your nominee is deserving. We will be announcing the nominees and beginning the election soon!

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE GREEDY GRINCH HERE

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/up_xDw71CPY-/

Check out past winners & nominees here:

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/j1_xDw71CPYJ/

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Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

http://www.unionvoice.org/join-forward.html?domain=jobswithjustice&r=Kp_xDw7qKY32

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Jobs with Justice at: http://www.unionvoice.org/jobswithjustice/join.html?r=Kp_xDw7qKY32E

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-THE PHILIPPINES:

HELP FREE JAILED LABOUR LAWYER:

The following appeal comes from the International Labor Rights Forum, a project of the Union Voice website.this concerns the arrest of labour lawyer Remigio Saladero in the Philippines. read on.

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Demand the Release of Labor Lawyer in the Philippines:
ILRF has just learned that on Wednesday Remigio Saladero, the chief legal counsel for the KMU (an independent labor federation in the Philippines) and the union representing Dole Philippines's workers, was illegally arrested by the Philippine government. Mr. Saladero is a close ally of ILRF and we are deeply concerned about his detention by the Philippine government.

Please take action now to tell the U.S and Philippine governments that the world is watching. We are asking the Philippines government to release Atty. Remigio Saladero, drop the charges levied against him as a pretext for his detention, AND create an independent investigating team to investigate the threats and intimidation to the Pro-labor Legal Assistance Center.

Mr. Saladero is being charged with conspiracy to commit rebellion and murder for allegedly participating in an undisclosed murder in Mindoro; charges such as these are becoming increasingly more common tactic used by the governments as it steps up its legal attacks against civil society organization in the Philippines, politicians, church leaders and labor activists, who speak out against the policies of President Arroyo.

ILRF is deeply troubled by Atty. Saladero’s detention because it further restricts the ability of both labor organizations, like the KMU, and the legal profession in the Philippines to exercise their rights and vigorously defend themselves and others against the Government of the Philippines, who is responsible for promoting a climate of violence and impunity, and companies like Dole Foods, who thrive in an environment where violence against trade unions is common and justice is rarely pursued.

About Remigio Saladero:
Atty. Remigio Saladero is a labor lawyer at the public interest law firm Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE) in the Philippines. Saladero is a graduate of the San Beda College of Law and was a law professor at the Lyceum and the Dominican College in the Philippines. He is a columnist for Pinoyweekly, a weekly newspaper based in Quezon City and he writes essays on various labor cases.

Tell me more

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Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to the authorities in the Philippines.

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Dear [ Decision Maker ],
(Edit Letter Below)

Given the recent arrest of Remigio Saladero, I am deeply concerned by the actions of the Philippine government in its choice to prosecute a labor lawyer that has defended the rights of workers for many years. I am troubled by the notion that this arrest is part of a broader effort by the Philippine government to silence those seeking justice for workers.

As you know labor lawyer Remigio Saladero, the chief legal counsel for the KMU (an independent labor federation in the Philippines) and the union representing Dole Philippine's workers, was taken into police custody on October 22 for charges that are considered completely false by labor advocates.

I am asking that you do everything in your power to:
- Release Atty. Remigio Saladero from custody.
- Drop the cases of arson, destruction of property, conspiracy to commit rebellion and frustrated and multiple charges filed against him.
- Create an independent investigating team to investigate the series of surveillances on PLACE law center.
Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your address]

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-BANGLADESH:


TELL WAL-MART TO STOP SWEATSHOP PURCHASING IN BANGLADESH:


Ducking into the local Wal-Mart in search of the lowest price (if not exactly the best quality) . It's a practice that many of us take part in, but what is behind the "lowest prices" offered at that chain store? One of the things is purchasing from sweatshops in the Third World where workers' rights are minimal to non-existent. The following appeal from the Union Voice's 'Sweatfree Communities' campaign tells the story nof one such case, in the country of Bangladesh, and appeals for your help to correct the situation.


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Act Now: Tell Wal-Mart to Stop Sweatshop Practices in Bangladesh:
A recent SweatFree Communities report on a Wal-Mart school uniform and children's clothing supplier in Bangladesh reveals severe sweatshop conditions and exposes failures in Wal-Mart's factory auditing program.









Both Wal-Mart and the Bangladeshi government are responsible for improving conditions at JMS Garments. Wal-Mart has promised to turn JMS Garments into a "model for other factories in Bangladesh," but must be held accountable.









Take action now to support the workers by sending a letter of concern to Wal-Mart and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority.








Tell me more
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THE LETTER:
Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter:
A recent Business Week.com story, "Wal-Mart Supplier Accused of Sweatshop Conditions," cites a new study by SweatFree Communities which reveals multiple labor violations at Wal-Mart supplier JMS Garments in Bangladesh. Among other violations cited, workers toil up to 19-hour shifts; are made to stand for hours as punishment for arriving late to work; and are frequently subjected to verbal abuse and beatings. These working conditions are unacceptable.
SweatFree Communities has informed me that Wal-Mart has promised improvements in working conditions and in its own business practices. Yet Wal-Mart also tried to keep the report from becoming public. I welcome Wal-Mart's intervention in the factory, but Wal-Mart must work openly on improvements to have credibility.



The Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) should also hold JMS Garment accountable for improving working conditions. BEPZA itself must respect workers' referendum vote in favor of forming a Workers Association.



Workers' demands as reported to SweatFree Communities are clear: Improve the food quality and clean the canteen; abide by the referendum results and establish a Workers Association to negotiate on wages, hours, and working conditions; pay all the legal termination benefits, including benefits for the length of service, unpaid wages, and encashment of earned leave benefits; pay all workers the legal overtime rate for overtime work; provide transportation to and from the factory; and respect all worker rights under Bangladeshi law and Wal-Mart's code of conduct.



I expect these demands to be met rapidly. I also expect Wal-Mart to honor its commitment to address its own purchasing practices as one of the root causes of sweatshop conditions.

USA LABOUR:

TELL THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO QUIT STALLING AND ADOPT THE DSP !

The Designated Suppliers program is a joint effort of various labour, community and student groups in the USA. They aim to exert pressure on university and college administrations to purchase only from suppliers that uphold ethical labour standards. The following is one of their recent campaigns wherein they aim to pressure to University of Houston to adopt this policy. You can read more and join this campaign at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/uhdsp

Tell The University of Houston to Quit Stalling and Adopt the DSP!
For the past year and half, the University of Houston has ignored students demanding that the university adopt the Designated Suppliers Program. Today, students, faculty, and community members from throughout the US and Canada will be calling, emailing, and faxing President Khator to demand that the University of Houston make a real commitment to the rights of workers. Show your support for students and workers by participating today!

Renu Khator's phone: (713) 743-8820

Sample Script: Hello, my name is _______ and I am a _____ from _____. It is very disappointing to hear that an institution like UH, which claims to be a leader in the university community, has shown so little concern for its students and for the workers producing its apparel. It is extremely unfortunate that you are ignoring this issue despite students having proven the viability of the DSP and assured UH that it would face no legal or financial risk from it. I would urge you to address this situation by meeting with the students immediately and adopting the DSP. Thanks for your time. Tell me more

SUPPORT ARRESTED STUDENTS AT STANFORD:

On May 22 eleven students at Stanford University entered the office of the university president in a peaceful protest over the fact that their school has still refused to commit to the 'Designated Suppliers Program' which ensures that brands producing university apparel only source production to clothing manufacturers with ethical labour policies, not sweatshops. The response of the university administration was to call the police and have the students arrested. The Union Voice organization is calling for online solidarity with the students, demanding that all charges be dropped, that the university cease trying to silence students and that it take the issue of sweatshop free clothing seriously. To read more or to join this campaign go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/stanfordarrest/gi566wrzbkeddji?

THREE STUDENT APPEALS FROM CALIFORNIA:

Students at three different educational institutions in the state of California have initiated actions that they wish online support for:

A:Senior high school students in Petaluma, CA are waging a campaign to make the Petaluma School District sweat shop free. This means that the Board should adopt a Code of Conduct that states that all school clothing purchased should only from factories that respect workers' rights. To see more about this campaign or to join go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/petaluma_sweatfree/gi566w44btxktt?

B: Other students at the University of California in both the Berkley and the Santa Cruz campuses staged a sit-in in support of the right of campus custodians to a living wage. The University of California administration has long resisted calls for the release of monies that were actually allocated to resolve this problem. To support these students and the U. of C. janitors go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/uc_sitin/gi566w2pbt8b77?

C: In relation to the above campaign the University administration of the Berkley campus sent the campus police to arrest the students who were sitting in at the UC Berkley Poverty Center. 25 students were arrested and charged because of their peaceful protest. To show solidarity with those arrested and to protest the administration's actions go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/ucsitin_followup/gi566w4fbbitw3?

TELL VERIZON: RESPECT WORKERS' RIGHTS:

The labour solidarity site Union Voice has launched a solidarity campaign to pressure the communications giant Verizon to accept the decision of its employees to form a union. When Verizon acquired MCI in 2006 they formed a new subsidiary called Verizon Business. While over 85,000 members of the parent corporation are union members of either the Communications Workers' of America (CAW) or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) the workers in the subsidiary have been denied union representation even though a clear majority of them in New England and New York have signed authorization cards for the CAW and the IBEW. Verizon has responded not by bargaining in good faith but by an attempted union busting campaign. Union Voice is asking people to learn more about the situation and to sign as being in solidarity with these workers. To learn more or join the campaign go to:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/verizon_business/wukd?sd40twn58n?

Molly

CAVITE PROVINCE, THE PHILIPPINES: ATTACKS ON UNION MEMBERS CONTINUE:

The government of the Philippines, its institutions the Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) have long been in collusion with employers in the Province of Cavite who are waging what amounts to an undeclared war against workers trying to establish the right to unionize in that province. Amnesty International released a report in August of last year that estimated 51 activists had been murdered in the first 6 months of 2006. This followed a previous 66 murders in 2005. Amnesty expressed concern that the police and military might be involved in some of these killings. President Arroyo commissioned an inquiry into the killings late last August headed by retired Supreme Court justice Jose Melo. Even though the commission was hand picked by the government it apparently didn't deliver the "verdict" the President wanted as its report was submitted in late January of this year, but Arroyo refused to make the findings public.

A member of the Commission, Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos has leaked the information that several parties were implicated in the killings. Not just the Maoist NPA but also members of the military and private armies hired by employers. President Arroyo finally caved in to pressure both internal and international and released the report at the end of February. As expected it put the blame for many of the killings at the feet of the army, though it stopped short of directly implicating the government.

This campaign of intimidation and violence continues up to this day. Some of the more outstanding attacks include the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento, chairman of the board of the Workers' Assistance Center on Oct. 3rd, 2006, the gunning down of two dismissed union activists from the Solidarity of Cavite Workers, along with a fellow worker from the firm that they were dismissed by, Yakazi-EMI. The police officers assigned to "investigate" this case were the same ones implicated in a previous attempted murder of another union activist, Gerardo Cristobal. A report on the suppression of labor rights and human rights in the Philippines in 2006 can be seen from the 2006 annual report of the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights. .

Violence on the picket lines of striking factories and other illegal union busting tactics are an increasing common event in Cavite. Molly has reported on some of this previously. The Clean Clothes Campaign has launched an international solidarity effort to pressure the government of the Philippines to respect its own law, guarantee workers' rights to freedom of association, properly investigate previous violence and immediately take action to halt violence against labour activists and striking workers. To participate in this campaign go to http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/07-04-04.htm .

As has also been mentioned here on Molly's blog both the Union Voice and the Labour Start organizations have online solidarity campaigns to pressure one of the main buyers from the Chong Won (recently renamed as C. Woo) plant, Walmart, to put effective pressure on their supplier to recognize democratic rights in Cavite. These campaigns can be seen at

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/chongwon2?rk=Y712wLd1X4aDW

and

http://www.laborstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=222

A good source of independent news from the Philippines is the weekly online journal Bulatlat at http://www.bulatlat.com

Molly

SOLIDARITY REQUESTS FROM HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE:

Here's a "full house" of solidarity requests from a number of different people.

First, from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, whose work Molly has often featured on this blog comes a request for donations to help them fly representatives to Mexico to meet with the Frente Popular Francisco Villa, a grassroots organization that dates from 1968 in Mexico and which mobilizes poor people to fight against neo-liberalism in that country. The FPFV has invited OCAP to their quadrennial convention, and OCAP hopes to raise funds to send a couple of delegates. Housing and food will be provided by the FPFV, but air fair is estimated at about $1,000 for two people. OCAP is looking for donations for this travel which will hopefully lead to joint campaigns and other coordinated action. Consult the website or write cheques to OCAP at:

OCAP

10 Britain Street

Toronto, ON

M5V 1R6

Second, the Labour Start online solidarity site, whose efforts have also been featured previously on this blog has launched a new campaign to further pressure Wal-Mart to urge their suppliers at the Chong Won factory in the Philippines to not just reinstate fired workers (international pressure has already achieved this) but also for the management of that factory to negotiate in good faith with the union representing employees at that plant. This campaign has also been mentioned previously on this blog. To join the latest effort at pressuring Wal-Mart go to http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforver/show_campaign.cgi?c=222

Speaking of Wal-Mart, the WakeUp WalMart site has launched a new campaign to pressure the US Congress to investigate what they call the "Wal-Mart spy scandal". Wal-Mart has hired ex-employees of the CIA, the FBI and the Justice Department to spy on efforts to both unionize Wal-Mart and to make the company more accountable to communities and the general public. Wal-Mart calls their spy team the 'Threat Research and Analysis Group' . This "group" has already intruded on the privacy of numerous people, Wal-mart employees and otherwise, and the threat of this sort of private spy agency is equal to that of the growth of private armies of mercenaries in the employ of both the US government and private US business. To see what this is all about and join the campaign against it go to http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/bigbrother . Defend your freedom while there is still time.

Finally, from the Union Voice site comes two more appeals. One is from students at the University of Southern California who have discovered that their "licensed apparel" is manufactured in sweatshops. They are asking for emails to demand that the President of the USC adhere to the Designated Suppliers Program that they have constructed to ensure that the University clothes are produced by free labour that can earn a living wage. To join this campaign go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/uscdsp/gi566w44t5nt8k? . The Union Voice people also have another campaign demanding that American family Insurance pressure its contractor CleanPower to allow the janitors that it employs to form a union in the state of Wisconsin. To add your voice to this campaign go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/madison-janitors/gi566w2ot5nt58? .

Molly Note: When I try to type the links above for Union Voice the final "?" is left out of the link. If the links don't transfer you from this blog try typing the link in a search engine with the "?" added.

Further Molly Note: Some may question the "efficacy" of the sort of online campaigns listed above. In actual fact organizations like Labour Start have more than once listed their "successes" on their websites. Such campaigns sometimes win and sometimes lose. In this they are different from "militant" set piece confrontations such as the necromancy often tried to revive the moldering corpse of the "Black Block". This actions ALWAYS lose. They NEVER accomplish any goal beyond the personal psychology of the participants. Even if the success of online campaigns was only "rarely" it would be better than "never". Of course, I know that the definition of "success" used by ideologues who try and revive these failed tactics is quite different from that used by ordinary people and has nothing whatsoever to do with actually helping people to gain a better life. That's their goal. Molly has other goals, and she says that the tactics used by organizations such as those listed above at least sometimes win.

Molly

SOLIDARITY REQUESTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES:

Two solidarity requests have come in from the Philippines. The first is from the Union Voice organization and concerns workers at the Chong Won Fashion Inc plant where workers are presently in the 6th month of a strike which has been marked by violent attacks on the part of the police. Union Voice is calling upon people to protest the continued intransigence of management, the obliviousness of Wal-Mart who buy the products, and the use of police as goons in the service of the company on the part of the Philippine government. to join this campaign go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/chongwon2/gi66w2rtn63n6?

Also from the Philippines, an Info-Shop has opened in Davos City, a community in greater Manila. The "As a Whole Family" Infoshop claims to be the only infoshop now operating in the Philippines, and they are looking for donations, both financial and to their library. to get in contact with them via the following ways:

email: asawhole_family@yahoo.com

phone # 09-10-784-3814

#09-18-511-7233

Donations can be made to "As a Whole: Alternative Culture, Art Resource Center"

#386 Makiling St. (Lower)

Bangkai, Davao City

Philippines, 8000

Molly