http://themilitant.com/2015/7947/794732.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 79/No. 47 December 28, 2015
—ON THE PICKET LINE—
Maggie Trowe, Editor
Militant/Tamar Rosenfeld
José Sánchez, second from left, speaking at Dec. 4 rally outside
Domino’s pizza in New York after 20 workers fighting for $15 an hour and
a union walked out in a one-day strike.
Help the Militant cover labor struggles across the country!
This column gives a voice to those engaged in battle and building
solidarity today — including workers fighting for $15 and a union;
locked-out ATI Steelworkers; autoworkers on strike against Kohler; steel
and Verizon workers opposing concessions. I invite those involved in
workers’ battles to contact me at 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York,
NY 10018; or (212) 244-4899; or themilitant@xxxxxxx. We’ll work together
to ensure your story is told.
— Maggie Trowe
‘No justice, no pizza!’ say New York Domino’s strikers
NEW YORK — “No justice, no pizza!” 70 people shouted outside a Domino’s
restaurant in Washington Heights here Dec. 4. The rally was organized to
support some 20 workers, more than half the workforce, who walked out on
a busy Friday evening in a one-day strike to protest discriminatory
treatment by management of those trying to organize a union.
Some neighborhood residents joined the action as did other fast-food
workers who have been part of the fight for $15 an hour, full-time work
and a union.
A giant cheer rose each time another worker punched out and joined the
rally.
“We are on strike now because it’s been two years since we started this
fight and the workers are retaliating,” José Sánchez, one of the leaders
of the fight, told the protest. “They cut our hours and show favoritism
towards those who are not for the union. When we try to meet with the
manager, he tells us everything is fine. We’re here to inform him that
the union is a force.”
In December 2013, 25 workers at this Domino’s were fired after
complaining about their wages. Several days later, after organizing a
picket line outside the store, they won their jobs back.
“Workers come first,” said Kenneth Brister, a Papa John’s worker who,
like many at the action, is part of the fight for $15. “We make the
business, it doesn’t make us.”
— Sara Lobman
Connecticut State University faculty oppose concessions
HARTFORD, Conn. — Some 150 faculty members and students from the four
Connecticut State University campuses rallied outside a meeting of the
Board of Regents for Higher Education here Dec. 3. Many members of the
American Association of University Professors are incensed by contract
proposals that include monitoring faculty email to enforce a rule
against using email to discuss union business, denying tenure rights to
newly hired librarians and counselors and allowing the transfer of
faculty members without their consent from one campus to another.
“They tell us to do more with less,” Rachel Siporin, chair of the Art
Department at the Central Connecticut campus, told the crowd. “Well, we
have been doing more with less for years. Students and faculty need to
stand together to fight the cuts.”
“We can’t let the Board of Regents mess up our education,” said John
Cannone, one of many students there to support the faculty. “Faculty and
students are in this together.”
“We want a university, not a website,” read the sign of one student,
opposing the administration’s move to have more courses taught online.
— Tim Craine, member of AAUP at Central Connecticut State University
Airport workers fighting for $15 and union conduct 24-hour fast
PHILADELPHIA — Airport workers in more than a dozen cities organized a
24-hour fast two days before Thanksgiving to call attention to their
fight for $15 an hour and a union. Service Employees International Union
Local 32BJ led the protests, which involved cleaners, skycaps,
wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers and ramp workers. The protests
took place in Atlanta; Chicago; Los Angeles; New York; Denver;
Minneapolis; San Francisco; Philadelphia; Boston;, Newark, New Jersey;
Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Cleveland and Columbus,
Ohio. This followed a national one-day strike Nov. 18-19.
In Philadelphia, workers ended the fast Nov. 25 at a banquet table in
front of the busy airport, sponsored by Local 32BJ and Philadelphians
Organized to Witness, Empower & Rebuild, a social justice coalition of
area churches.
“We appreciate all support as we continue our struggle to raise wages
and win the right to form a union,” said Onetha McKnight, a wheelchair
attendant. “We know that this fight is not over.”
Gregory Holston, pastor at New Vision United Methodist Church, welcomed
workers to the lunch. His church held an “Economic Dignity Teach-in”
earlier this year that included Fight for $15 speakers, and supports
suburban janitors organized by 32BJ who are fighting for a contract.
Debra Kleiss, a wheelchair assistant who came to the action during her
lunch break, told the Militant she can’t live on the $8.40 an hour she
makes. The bosses have no respect for the workers, she said. “They just
treat us any way they want.”
— Janet Post
Related articles:
NY building workers rally against concessions
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