Workers Resistance

Author: Fight Back

  • Black Friday picket line at Milwaukee Walmarts

    Milwaukee, WI – Pickets were held outside of two local Walmart stores, Nov. 29, in support of workers who walked out demanding a living wage. Dozens of union members, Walmart employees, students, and community members marched in front of Walmart on 27th Street on Milwaukee’s South Side chanting, “They say rollback, we say fight back!”

    A tow truck, a police van, multiple police cruisers and private security vehicles roamed the Walmart parking lot waiting to tow protesters’ vehicles. But out on the street, protesters received a flurry of honks in support from the Black Friday shopping traffic.

    The actions in Milwaukee were part of a national day of walkouts organized by worker group OUR Walmart. According to OUR Walmart, about 1500 actions were scheduled for this Black Friday.

  • Florida workers and activists unite against Walmart

    North Miami Beach, FL – Around 45 people stood outside of the Walmart here with signs and banners on Black Friday to protest the company’s unfair treatment of its workers. OUR Walmart and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) organized this event as part of a nation-wide call to action against the egregious working conditions faced by Walmart employees.

    Workers from Walmart throughout the area were joined by family members, community organizers and activists. They demanded living wages, benefits, vacation time and respect from the company that currently offers none of that to its workers.

    Most of the workers in attendance were immigrants from Haiti and Central America, and they most addressed the crowd with pride and anger in Spanish and Creole.

    “I’m standing here as part of the fight by Walmart associates,” said Walmart worker Theresa Charles in her native Haitian Creole. “Walmart does not give us good pay, it does not give us any rights and it does not give us any justice!”

    The message was one of international solidarity among workers, as those in attendance spoke also about the garment workers in Haiti and Bangladesh who work for Walmart and other major companies and who are in the process of striking for better conditions as well.

    “Walmart, Walmart you’re no good, treat your workers like you should,” the crowd shouted in unison, along with, “From Haiti to Miami, raise the wage!”

    Drivers, pedestrians and members of the community honked and waved in solidarity and many even joined the crowd. They were drawn in after hearing the words of the workers themselves through the megaphones.

    “The only real way to topple this company is from the inside! The only way to bring change to this company is from the inside!” said UFCW organizer Shannan Reace to the crowd. “So I am very happy to stand with workers here and throughout the world and put the money behind the people and not behind the rich Waltons!”

    Members of the People’s Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR), Rapid Response Network, South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice and other progressive organizations were present as well and addressed the crowd.

    “Every worker deserves a living wage, benefits and dignity,” said Kim Miller of POWIR. “And the billions that Walmart has made has not trickled down to the worker, and that has to change because without the workers there is no Walmart!”

  • PFLP: Iran agreement is a counterweight to advocates of aggression, war and occupation

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 25 statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

    The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine welcomes the agreement on the Iranian nuclear file, and views it as a step in support of security and stability in the region, countering the advocates of occupation, war and aggression.

    The essence of the conflict of the region is the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Zionist conflict, despite the efforts of the occupation and its supporters to replace these fundamental conflicts with the so-called “Iranian nuclear file” and the “Sunni-Shiite conflict.” There have been many attempts to blur this reality and to block the struggle for the Palestinian rights to return, self-determination, independence, and our capital in Jerusalem.

    The Front notes that this agreement confirms that resilience and rejection of imperialism and Zionism is the only way to protect legitimate rights and interests and to open the door before the solidarity and mutual progress of the people of the region, their freedom, development, justice and human dignity.

  • A thanksgiving message from Raices en Tampa

    Tampa, FL – The U.S. prides itself in having a day to ‘give thanks.’ They call this, ‘Thanksgiving’ and it’s supposed to be a time when the family unites and shares a home-cooked meal. This tradition, however, is not always shared by immigrant communities.

    For Alicia, a member and founder of Raices en Tampa, this year she will not be celebrating Thanksgiving with her family. Alicia’s family is split apart between two countries.

    In the fall of 1998, Hurricane Mitch swept through the Atlantic Ocean. The rainfall that fell during Mitch’s travel through Honduras flooded over 2 million homes and killed about 11,000 people. The U.S. permitted the entry of some Hondurans during this time. Among them were Alicia and her other four family members: her father, mother and one older and younger brother. They arrived in Naples, Florida that year and attempted to rebuild their lives.

    Many Hondurans arriving at this time were extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS is much like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) which was given to young undocumented immigrants in June of 2012. TPS is only available for two years and those who have it must reapply, while paying hundreds of dollars for new applications while losing all of their documentation in the meantime. They can face harassment, stalking, arrests and even deportations while they wait for their renewal request for TPS to be approved.

    “Sometimes when I go to renew, if the person in Naples does not know what they are doing or if they want to be nasty, they will take my license and cut it in half,” says Alicia.

    Alicia’s family has each had their fair share of bad experiences while in the U.S. Alicia’s mother Irene was pulled over for driving without a license and the police officer threatened to jail her and have her deported. Knowing her responsibility as a mother to two minor children, Irene decided to never drive after that arrest. This quickly became a setback because, even to do a simple task like shopping for groceries, Irene had to ask someone to provide her with transportation.

    “As an immigrant and one with such a temporary status, you grow up quickly and learn that the law is used to terrorize us,” says Alicia.

    Irene was so afraid to drive that, in October this year, she decided to self-deport back to her native Honduras along with her youngest daughter. Irene put everything she had accumulated in 15 years up for sale. That which she did not sell she gave away to Alicia or friends and neighbors. In a week, everything this family had built with their own work, tears and struggles was only a distant memory.

    “I want President Obama to know there are over 2 million deportations, now. All of this is happening without him really caring or even trying to stop them from happening. During his Thanksgiving, I hope Obama thinks about all of us undocumented immigrants who are torn apart from our families and can’t share anymore meals with our families,” says Irene.

    Raices en Tampa, which is group in Tampa, Florida that Alicia help found, has decided to push for a way to stop these attacks on the approximately 1.5 million undocumented immigrants in the state of Florida. So far, DREAMers Moms Orlando and United Families in Miami have endorsed the action and many others are beginning to express support.

    Alicia is positive her work with Raices en Tampa will succeed. “No one deserves to be torn from their home or family for simply driving to work or going to school. We all need jobs, but how are we supposed to drive without a driver’s license? Florida should not deport anymore immigrants for driving without a license. Licenses for all now in the state of Florida!”

    Raices en Tampa is collecting public support for their campaign, “Driver’s Licenses for All Undocumented – Florida”. They ask that you take a picture of yourself with a sign that reads, “I support driver’s licenses for all in Florida! #DL4ALLFL!” and that you email it to raicesentampa@gmail.com.

    Marisol Márquez is a member of Raíces en Tampa

  • Chicago activists: No Thanksgiving for the imprisoned

    Chicago, IL – Community advocates from Chicago’s West and South Sides delivered a petition with 1000 signatures to the office of Governor Quinn in the State of Illinois Building, Nov. 27. The petition calls for shorter sentences and justice for prisoners in Illinois. In a statement read by Curly Cohen of Affordable Power & Justice, the group asked, “What kind of Thanksgiving is this, with 50,000 in Illinois prisons, and 10,000 in Cook County Jail?”

    Anabell Perez was there on behalf of her imprisoned son, Jaime Hauad, who was tortured by the Chicago Police Department. Darlene English came out for her nephew, Jason Samuels, to ask for a reduction of his 23-year sentence.

    The group also read the names of homicide victims in Chicago, including those killed by the police. They put the blame for the crisis in Chicago on the authorities, including the mayor.

    The lack of decent paying jobs, the closing of public schools and deportations breaking up families, combined with police violence and an unjust prison system, are tied together in the eyes of the activists. As Cohen said, “Is the only choice for Chicago youth either to be dead before they reach 21 or to spend 20 years in prison?”

  • South Florida Walmart Workers Walk Out!

    Hialeah, FL – In coordination with other Walmart workers across the nation, fourteen Walmart workers walked out of their workplace in Hialeah, Florida on Monday, November 25, 2013. They were joined by a group of around 50 demonstrators rallying in solidarity with the workers.

    Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) is gearing up for larger walk outs planned for Black Friday on November 29. Last year, about 300 workers walked out, and this year 1,500 workers are expected to participate. This activity marks the first organized labor resistance to Walmart’s employment practices.

    Workers are demanding wages of $25,000 a year, full time positions for those who want them, and an end to retaliation against striking workers.

    OUR Walmart points out that the Walton family heirs own more wealth than the bottom 40% of Americans put together. To demonstrate their frustration with income inequality, demonstrators in Hialeah broke open a golden Walton turkey.

    Energy was high as workers and supporters chanted, “Who’s Walmart? Our Walmart!”

    Supporters can join demonstrations on Black Friday in their area by searching the action network list of events: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/black-friday-near-you

  • Armed Forces of the Philippines interferes with Typhoon recovery efforts

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 26 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

    Denounce Aquino regime’s relentless offensives amid disaster, ceasefire declaration

    The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounces the Aquino regime and its armed forces for waging relentless armed offensives and brutal campaigns of suppression in Eastern Visayas, Panay, and Negros, in outright contempt of the broad masses, and in complete disregard for their demand for a temporary cessation of armed hostilities in order to give full attention to relief and rehabilitation work.

    “The Aquino regime and its armed forces are treacherously taking advantage of the ceasefire declaration of the CPP in order to wage relentless offensive operations against the New People’s Army and the peasant masses in the revolutionary areas,” said the CPP.

    Two days ago, the Central Committee of the CPP announced a one-month extension of the ceasefire declaration issued to the New People’s Army (NPA) commands in Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Panay and Negros islands. The extended ceasefire period aims to allow all revolutionary forces to concentrate on the urgent task of rehabilitation, and asserting the people’s economic rights amidst the disaster.

    “The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ massive offensive operations are impeding the people and their revolutionary forces from carrying out disaster relief and rehabilitation work, and make the task of resuming economic production more difficult,” said the CPP.

    The CPP issued this statement even as the AFP claimed that a firefight ensued after a unit of the NPA supposedly fired shots at soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pitogo, La Libertad town, Negros Oriental last Sunday. The CPP said that in accordance with the ceasefire declaration issued by its leadership, NPA units will fire only as an act of active defense against the offensive units of the AFP.

    “Even as the people seek urgent relief from the economic devastation brought about by the supertyphoon, the braggart mouthpieces of the 3rd Infantry Division have publicly declared over the past few days that their forces are not letting up in their military offensives, and are focused on waging war against the NPA. The AFP offensives resulted in an armed encounter in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental last weekend with a unit of the NPA engaged in rehabilitation efforts,” pointed out the CPP.

    “Despite the ceasefire declaration, armed encounters are bound to erupt if the AFP continues to insist on waging offensive operations against the people and their people’s army and militia units, compelling the people’s armed revolutionary forces to defend themselves,” added the CPP.

    “The supposed participation of AFP soldiers in disaster relief is being carried out only in urban centers and highways where they are covered by the media. In reality, despite the urgent need to mobilize all possible resources, the bigger part of the AFP’s resources is still currently being geared towards so-called counter-insurgency operations under the brutal Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression against the people,” said the CPP.

    “The high-profile disaster relief operations being conducted by the central headquarters of the AFP serve only to camouflage the continuing brutal war being waged by more than 11,000 ground troops of the AFP’s 8th and 3rd Infantry Division in the interior and coastal areas of the islands of Samar, Leyte, Panay and Negros,” pointed out the CPP.

    “The people demand urgent economic relief in the face of the grave difficulties resulting from the devastation wrought by the recent supertyphoon,” said the CPP. “By waging relentless offensives and suppression campaigns, the AFP is displaying gross disregard for the people’s welfare.”

    “The AFP’s imposition of martial law policies in the countryside and mountainous areas impedes the people’s economic and commercial activities, making efforts at rehabilitation more difficult,” said the CPP. “Thus, the people demand that AFP soldiers withdraw their forces from the interior areas and commit them to their barracks so that the people’s rehabilitation efforts can proceed unencumbered.”

    “The AFP knows full well that many of the areas hit by the supertyphoon are within the scope of operations of the New People’s Army, and are under the jurisdiction of the duly-constituted

    revolutionary organs of governance,” said the CPP. “Many of these areas have been the least of the Aquino government’s priorities in the past and remain so, as these have yet to be reached by the regime’s slow and highly inefficient disaster relief operations.”

     

  • U.S. B-52 bombers carry out anti-China provocation, say reports

    Minneapolis, MN – According to widespread reports in the Western press, the U.S. sent two B-52 bombers into China’s newly established East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone on Nov. 26. According to the reports, the U.S. provocation involved ignoring the Air Defense Identification Zone regulations, which require aircrafts to make their presence and flight plans known.

    Air Defense Identification Zones are a common international practice. More than 20 countries have them. Japan established its Air Defense Identification Zones in 1969.

    The creation of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone comes at a time of growing tension between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, which lie within the new zone. Historically, the islands are a part of China. Japan has physical control over the islands.

    If reports on the U.S. military aircraft ignoring zone regulations are accurate, this move would indicate that the U.S. is upping its support for the Japanese occupation of China’s Diaoyu Islands and would mark an escalation of the U.S. push against China.

    In recent years, an important element of U.S. foreign policy has been a ‘pivot’ towards Asia. Key elements of this policy are to surround China with U.S. military bases and to reach military agreements with China’s neighbors. The overall goal is to maintain U.S. domination over the Pacific region.

    In recent weeks, the U.S. has taken advantage of the massive typhoon that hit the Philippines as a means to create the climate for a greater presence in that country.

  • Great response to online petition demanding ‘Drop charges against Rasmea Odeh’

    Chicago, IL – More than 2500 people have signed the online petition demanding the federal government drop the charges against longtime Palestinian community leader Rasmea Odeh. Odeh is facing a trumped up immigration charge that could lead to imprisonment, the stripping of her U.S. citizenship and deportation.

    Jess Sundin, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression states, “The online petition is a powerful tool in two ways. First, each signature generates direct messages to those in power who will decide whether and how to proceed with Rasmea’s case. The decision to prosecute an immigration case 20 years after Rasmea entered the U.S. is politically motivated. It’s important that we pressure them to stand down, making it clear that the world is watching this case and standing behind this important Palestinian community leader.”

    “Second, we are trying to build a base of support that Rasmea can count on. Everyone who signs on can be contacted again as the need for new actions arise. This is a concrete way to lend your support today and to stand by for whatever is needed next to defend Rasmea Odeh in the days ahead,” said Sundin.

    Fight Back! readers can sign the petition by going to http://www.stopfbi.net/sign-petition-rasmea-odeh

     

  • Great response to online petition demanding ‘Drop charges against Rasmea Odeh’

    Chicago, IL – More than 2500 people have signed the online petition demanding the federal government drop the charges against longtime Palestinian community leader Rasmea Odeh. Odeh is facing a trumped up immigration charge that could lead to imprisonment, the stripping of her U.S. citizenship and deportation.

    Jess Sundin, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression states, “The online petition is a powerful tool in two ways. First, each signature generates direct messages to those in power who will decide whether and how to proceed with Rasmea’s case. The decision to prosecute an immigration case 20 years after Rasmea entered the U.S. is politically motivated. It’s important that we pressure them to stand down, making it clear that the world is watching this case and standing behind this important Palestinian community leader.”

    “Second, we are trying to build a base of support that Rasmea can count on. Everyone who signs on can be contacted again as the need for new actions arise. This is a concrete way to lend your support today and to stand by for whatever is needed next to defend Rasmea Odeh in the days ahead,” said Sundin.

    Fight Back! readers can sign the petition by going to http://www.stopfbi.net/sign-petition-rasmea-odeh