Press Release
Date: December 2nd, 2022
For Immediate Release

Press Release

Date: December 2nd, 2022

For Immediate Release

For More Information, Please Contact:

LAS VEGAS, NV – RWU General Secretary Jason Doering 202-480-0587 jason.doering@nvsmart-union.org

DES MOINES, IA – RWU Co-Chair Ross Grooters 515-689-3229 blet778lr@gmail.com

SPARKS, NV – RWU Co-Chair Gabe Christensen 775-682-0889 gabe.christenson@nvsmart-union.org

RENO, NV – RWU Organizer Ron Kaminkow 608-358-5771 ronkaminkow@yahoo.com

ATLANTA, GA – RWU Treasurer Hugh Sawyer 404-290-1961 hlsawyerjr@gmail.com

POCATELLO, ID – RWU Steering Committee Member Paul Lindsey 208-317-7379 mplindsey208@gmail.com

CHICAGO, IL – RWU Newsletter Editor Mark Burrows 773-486-7001 potashpuller55@gmail.com

MILWAUKEE, WI – RWU Steering Committee Alternate JP Johnson 406-491-1791 ironhorse8401@gmail.com

CHICAGO, IL – RWU Member Marilee Taylor 773-405-5246 marileetaylor@sbcglobal.net

FORT MADISON, IA – RWU Member Jeff Kurtz 319-470-9990 ia.chairman@gmail.com

SPARKS, NV – RWU Member Matt Parker 775-772-3675 mparker@bletnslb.org

TOLEDO, OH – RWU Member Matt Weaver 248-986-6079 bmweaver2624@frontier.com

BOSTON, MA – RWU Member Nick Wurst 508-335-8633 nick@w-sts.com

Democrats, Then Republicans Smite Rail Labor

While the Railroad Workers United (RWU) finds it despicable – but not surprising – that both political parties opted to side with Big Business over working people yesterday and vote against the interests of railroad workers – not once, but twice, within hours. We suffered a one-two punch at the hands of, first the Democratic Party; the second served up by the Republicans.

First, responding to the wishes of President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the House voted to legislate a contract that the majority of U.S. freight rail workers had previously voted to reject. The Senate would quickly follow suit. In effect, their actions simply overrode our voices and desires. Rail workers – like all workers – should have the right to bargain collectively and to freely engage in strike activity if and when the members see fit and when they democratically elect to do so.

Within hours of the Senate vote sealing our fate on Thursday afternoon, we would suffer a second defeat, this time at the hands of the other party of Big Business, the Republican Party. That bill – which would have mandated that all railroad workers receive seven days of paid sick leave – would receive just a handful of votes from Republicans in the House and, crucially, in the Senate, where it went down to defeat.

“This one-two punch from the two political parties is despicable,” according to RWU General Secretary Jason Doering. “Politicians are happy to voice platitudes and heap praise upon us for our heroism throughout the pandemic, the essential nature of our work, the difficult and dangerous and demanding conditions of our jobs. Yet when the steel hits the rail, they back the powerful and wealthy Class One rail carriers every time.”

Railroad Workers United understands that this fight for justice will continue in the coming months and years. “The rail carriers are too powerful and are a scourge to the national economy,” according to RWU Steering Committee Member Paul Lindsey, “They need to be taken into public ownership and run in the interest of workers, shippers, passengers, and the nation, not a handful of wealthy stockholders.”

RWU believes that railroad workers need to explore options other than the existing two political parties since neither appears to have our backs. RWU also believes that railroad workers need to consider doing away with the archaic and divided craft union system that hampers our unity and solidarity, and initiate the process of building a single and powerful railroad workers union that can win in future rounds of contract bargaining.

According to RWU Organizer Ron Kaminkow, “We have been played for well over a century by politicians and union officials alike. The fiasco of recent months will show that perhaps the time has come for railroad workers to push for a unified and powerful labor organization of all crafts,together with a political party that will better serve the interest of not just railroad workers but all working-class people.”

And we need your help. We need your help to get Starbucks to the bargaining table, and to support workers, like myself, who were wrongfully fired for their union leadership.

We are asking for your support in these efforts:

1. ATTEND A STARBUCKS WORKERS UNITED RALLY AT A CITY NEAR YOU: On December 9th, we will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the first unionized Starbucks. We want you to celebrate with us. We need community support to put pressure on Starbucks to bargain with us. We will be hosting rallies in Arlington, VA, Buffalo, Seattle, NYC, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Boston.
2. DONATE TO THE STARBUCKS WORKER SOLIDARITY FUND: So many Starbucks workers across the country have stories similar to mine. Starbucks fired us for organizing, and now many organizers are struggling financially. The Coworker Starbucks Solidarity Fund is distributing $2500 stipends that will help these worker activists address urgent needs, no strings attached — from rent and health insurance to training and travel to events. 100% of your donation will be redistributed to a worker who applies for support.

Starbucks brands itself as a “progressive” company, and specifically recruits workers from the LGBTQ+ community by offering benefits like gender affirming care. When workers want to organize, Starbucks then weaponizes these same benefits, and uses our identity to threaten and intimidate us out of organizing.

Starbucks’ union busting is not only an attack on workers, but an attack on the entire queer community.

This fight is not just a fight for Starbucks workers – it’s a fight for the entire American labor movement. We need to tell Howard Schultz, and his billionaire friends, that union busting is not acceptable and won’t be tolerated.

I hope you will join us at a rally near you on December 9th.

In Solidarity,

Sam Amato

SAVE THE DATE: People Speak Out to Stop Racism, Poverty & World War III

Friday, January 13, 2023 – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location TBA, New York City

IN HONOR OF DR. KING’S LEGACY: We need jobs, housing, food and healthcare — not war!

NO WAR & SANCTIONS on the people of Russia, Donbass, China, Cuba, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Palestine, Philippines, Venezuela, Iran, Puerto Rico

STOP FUNDING white supremacy from Ukraine to the U.S.

SHUT DOWN NATO, the Pentagon & the CIA

STOP racism, transphobia, union busting, and attacks on women’s rights, LGBTQ+ people and immigrants

SPEAKERS (list in formation):

Rev. Annie Chambers, National Welfare Rights Union co-chair & public housing advocate;
John Parker, Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice & Socialist Unity Party, U.S. Senate candidate from California who traveled to Donbass;
Margaret Kimberley, Black Agenda Report executive editor;
David Clennon, actor & activist;
Melinda Butterfield, Struggle-La Lucha co-editor, author of “U.S. Proxy War in Ukraine & Donbass”;
Berta Joubert, Women In Struggle / Mujeres En Lucha;
Ellie McCrow, Pratt Workers United organizing committee
SPONSORS (list in formation):

Struggle-La Lucha newspaper; Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice; CovertAction Magazine; Women In Struggle / Mujeres En Lucha; Youth Against War & Racism; Socialist Unity Party; Peoples Power Assembly; Shut Down the Pentagon & CIA

For info or to sign on, email info@struggle-la-lucha.org or text 410-218-4836

“Revolt of the Railroad Workers”

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/2mTgmNt4O

3323 Kearney Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 – 2 P.M.

Strike Solidarity School!

• Sponsored by Building Unity, We Rise Fighting! Labor Podcast and UAW 180 _____________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022

UAW 180 Union Movie Night Fundraiser & Music (Bring Your Instruments!) 

All proceeds go to the strike fund! – 7-9 P.M.  (No one turned away for lack of funds.) 

• Strikers and Children under 18 free 
• $5 Students over 18 & $10 Suggested Donation for Adults 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

• 9-11 A.M. Art Build Set Up 
• 1-5 P.M. Art Build (Make signs and banners for Solidarity Day!) 
• 5-7 P.M. Dinner & Music (Bring your instruments!)
• 7-9 P.M. Corporate Research Presentation by We Rise Fighting!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022

• 9-11 A.M. Picket Line Vehicle Caravan Class by Building Unity
• 1-5 P.M. Art Build (Make signs and banners for Solidarity Day) 
• 5-9 P.M. Dinner & Music (Bring your instruments!)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022 

• 8 A.M. – 12 NOON – Solidarity Day Set Up 
• 2 P.M. SOLIDARITY DAY RALLY followed by PICKET LINE SUPPORT

ALL EVENTS AT: UAW LOCAL 180 Hall, 3323 KEARNEY AVENUE, RACINE, WI

More information:

313-559-7074 (We Rise Fighting! – facebook.com/werisefightinglaborpodcast) or

262-631-5980 (UAW180 President Yasin Mahdi) or

buildingunitywi@gmail.com / https://www.facebook.com/buildingunitywi

Leaflet and All Labor Power and Supplies for the Solidarity School Union Labor (Active and Retiree) Donated

https://tinyurl.com/StrikeSolidarityInfo

Building Unity and other labor-community members will be at the Labor Temple in Madison December 17, 2022!

They are leading a vehicle caravan to Racine for Solidarity Day!

Gather at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 17, 2022 at:

Madison Labor Temple

1602 S Park Street

Madison, WI 53715

Depart at 11:30 a.m. for the Solidarity Day in Racine

– Feel free to outfit your vehicles with solidarity slogans for the strikers.

– If you’re a member of a union, bring solidarity signs such as “Educators Support UAW Workers!”

– And please bring non-perishable goods, gift cards, winter gear and holiday gifts for the children of the strikers.

UAW 180: https://www.facebook.com/uawlocal180

Questions about the Madison vehicle caravan or for more information,

contact Tim Cordon of Building Unity: 608-630-3633

buildingunitywi@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/buildingunitywi

November 28, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Bryan G Pfeifer: 313-559-7074

Ric Urrutia: 720-207-8313

https://www.facebook.com/werisefightinglaborpodcast

We Rise Fighting! Labor Podcast to Join UAW Locals 180 and 807 in Racine, Wisconsin for a Solidarity Day to Support Strike at CNHi (Case Holland)

Members of the media team for We Rise Fighting! Labor Podcast will be joining a diverse array of UAW members on strike and their supporters for a Solidarity Day in Racine, Wisconsin Saturday, December 17. Some We Rise Fighting! members will be in Racine the week leading up to the strike to cover developments and assist with organizing work.

A 2 P.M. rally at 3323 Kearney Avenue in Racine, followed by vehicle caravans to the UAW 180 picket lines at CNHi (Case Holland) will take place December 17. About 1,100 members of UAW Locals 180 and 807 have been on strike against the multi-billion dollar corporations for seven months.

Momentum is growing for the Solidarity Day in Racine. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine tweeted out the December 17 flyer to his almost 1 million followers, the Wisconsin AFL-CIO sent out a statewide email and is sharing the information on its social media, labor federations and unions in many cities or regions in Wisconsin are sharing the information and a variety of community and faith-based organizations such as Building Unity are also helping to organize.

(https://www.facebook.com/wisaflcio) (https://www.facebook.com/mkelabor) (https://www.facebook.com/uaw578)

Vehicle caravans are now being organized across Wisconsin and the Midwest to travel to Racine December 17. Participants will leave from various locations and are bringing supplies for the strikers including non-perishable food items, gift cards, winter gear and strike fund donations. 

For interviews with UAW 180 leaders, contact President Yasin Mahdi at: 262-498-8217or president@uawlocal180.com.

For those that want to donate to the strike fund mail a check written out to “UAW Local 180” and mail to UAW 180, ATTN: President Yasin Mahdi, 3323 Kearney Avenue, Racine, WI 53403.Supplies such as non-perishable food items, gift cards, holiday gifts for the striker’s children and winter gear (hand and foot warmers, socks, hats and gloves) can be dropped off or sent to this address.

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