http://themilitant.com/2016/8001/800132.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 80/No. 1 January 4, 2016
—ON THE PICKET LINE—
Maggie Trowe, Editor
Militant/Janet Post
Marchers circle a Philadelphia McDonald’s Dec. 8 to protest firing of
two workers active in fight for $15 and a union. Nykeemah Dawkins, with
“I am a woman” sign, is one of those fired.
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; steel, Verizon and building 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
Phila. Fight for $15: ‘Reinstate fired McDonald’s workers!’
PHILADELPHIA — Fighters for $15 an hour and a union demonstrated at a
McDonald’s here Dec. 8 to defend two fired workers who are part of that
struggle.
Alicia Hamiel, fired for a uniform violation, and Nykeemah Dawkins,
fired for calling in sick, were part of the protest, along with
co-worker Safiyyah Cotton. Chanting, “We can’t live on $7.25!”
protesters went inside the restaurant and appealed to workers and
customers to support the fight.
“You have a right to a union, and we will stand with you,” Diane Mohney
of the Coalition of Labor Union Women told workers.
Dawkins was fired a couple of weeks ago, she told the Militant, for
calling off sick one day. The company refused to accept the note she
brought in from an area hospital. Dawkins, Hamiel and Cotton had
attended the Nov. 10 “Fight for $15 and a union” protest in
Philadelphia, part of a national day of action.
Gregory Holston, pastor of New Vision United Methodist Church and a
supporter of the $15 campaign, led a prayer inside the restaurant, while
workers behind the counter listened and business stopped. Then the
demonstrators marched around the building, giving leaflets to
drive-through customers explaining the protest.
— Janet Post
Chicago area Teamsters fight Coca-Cola threats, demands
ALSIP, Ill. — More than 300 members of Teamsters Local 727 at Coca-Cola
plants in this Chicago suburb and in nearby Niles went on strike Dec. 3.
After meeting with the company 12 times since Oct. 28, the union filed
unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
Disputed issues include pay, benefits and mandatory overtime.
Coca-Cola Refreshments forced the strike by bargaining with no intention
of settling the contract, intimidating workers and threatening union
members with job loss, a Local 727 statement explains. “Managers will
walk around carrying baseball bats asking workers about the status of
ongoing negotiations,” Will Petty, communications director for Teamsters
Joint Council 25, told laborpress.org.
“I’m with that $15 an hour fight at Burger King, McDonald’s and
especially at Walmart,” Don Prince, a maintenance worker here, told the
Militant on the picket line. “It is important so we can keep up with the
economy. Coca-Cola wants to give a small wage increase that will be
eaten up by increased health insurance costs.”
As Local 727 entered federal mediation with the company Dec. 14, more
than 300 strikers and supporters rallied at the Niles plant. The next
day the company handed the union a partial proposal for wage increases
of 50 cents a year for five years while increasing health care costs
from 10 to 37 percent, and demanded Teamster officials bring the offer
to the membership for a vote.
“Local 727 made it clear during the past eight weeks that it cannot and
will not recommend a partial proposal to members for a vote,” union
officials replied Dec. 15.
— Alyson Kennedy
Quebec public workers strike against cuts, concession contract
MONTREAL — Schools, health centers and most government offices were
closed across Quebec Dec. 9 as 400,000 public workers, members of the
Common Front of unions, participated in the largest strike in Quebec
since 1972. In addition, some 34,000 teachers organized by the
Autonomous Teachers Federation struck for three days across the
province. The strikers were protesting the provincial government’s
demands for budget cuts and contract concessions.
Several thousand members of the teachers federation gathered at Parc
Faubourg just east of downtown.
“Stop the quiet demolition,” read Patrice Gagnon’s placard. “During the
1960s and ’70s” — a period known in Quebec as the “Quiet Revolution” —
“we fought for better education and health care,” Gagnon told the
Militant. “Now the government is in the process of destroying it.”
The teachers marched downtown to join a rally of 40,000 organized by the
Common Front.
Picket lines were up at hospitals. Cars honked support as dozens of
placard-waving, horn-blowing strikers lined the sidewalk and the median
in front of Maissonneuve Hospital.
“The government is cutting jobs and demanding ‘flexible scheduling,’
which means losing overtime pay,” said union representative Johanne
Verret in front of the Jeanne Mance Community Health Center, where she
works.
“The unions have gotten weaker since I started here, but it’s important
to be out here today to show support for our fight,” Normand Beaudoin, a
cook for 22 years at the Jean Talon Hospital, told the Militant.
In Quebec City 350 buses from all over Quebec brought some 20,000
strikers to march to the Parliament buildings.
“We won’t give up as long as the government doesn’t commit to invest in
education,” Josée Scalabrini, president of the Federation of Teachers
Unions, representing 60,000 teachers, told the crowd. Issues such as
student-teacher ratios, salaries and retirement were far from settled,
she said.
Richard Goldfinch, president of the Quebec Provincial Association of
Teachers, which represents 8,000 teachers in the English schools, also
spoke.
— Josette Hurtubise and
Beverly Bernardo
Related articles:
Steelworkers locked out in fight over two-tier wages
Boss: ‘Once-in-a-generation’ chance to cut pay
NY union construction workers demand safety for all on the job
Construction deaths of Palestinians in Israel show need to organize unions
Demand SKorea gov’t free union president!
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