http://tinyurl.com/orars89

More than 300 Teamsters Local 727 members are initiating an unfair labor practice strike against Coca-Cola Refreshments at 5 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, after the beverage industry behemoth intimidated workers and engaged in bad faith bargaining during negotiations for a new contract. View photos from the strike, here.

Local 727 represents 319 production and warehouse workers and transport drivers at Coca-Cola Refreshments facilities in Niles and Alsip, Ill. The union’s bargaining committee of rank-and-file members and Teamster representatives met 12 times with management since Oct. 28 to try to reach an agreement. During the process, Coca-Cola Refreshments committed numerous unfair labor practices to force the strike, including surface bargaining with no intention of settling the contract, intimidating workers with baseball bats and threatening union members with job loss.

Contact: Will Petty, Communications Director, Teamsters Joint Council 25, (312) 613-5250

Supporters can send or drop off monetary contributions, solidarity resolutions and non-perishable goods to:

• UAW 833 Kohler Strike Fund
  Emil Mazey Hall
  5425 Superior Avenue
  Sheboygan, WI 53083
  (Supplies can also be dropped off at Email Mazey Hall)
• SIGN THE WI AFL-CIO PETITION telling Kohler to return to the negotiating table, give fair and equal treatment to their employees, and to scrap the unequal two-tier wage structure.
  wisaflcio.typepad.com
• Join the picket line anytime at the Clock Tower, 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, and stand in solidarity with UAW Local 833 members and their families.
• Vehicle Transport. Volunteer to transport Local 833 members and supporters to and from picket locations and the union hall. If you have access to a larger vehicle such as a minivan, a bus etc. call the union hall for time slots where you can help.
• Call the union hall to see how else you can help: (920) 458-2173

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A growing list of labor, community and faith-based organizations are in solidarity with Local 833: https://www.facebook.com/Local833local/

Here’s just a few of the solidarity actions since the first day of the strike November 15, 2015:

ATU Local 998 stands with striking workers at Kohler. ‪ATU Local 998

Fight for $15 Wisconsin stands with Kohler workers as they fight for a fair contract! ‪Fight for $15 Wisconsin

Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement stands with the fighting members of UAW Local 833: facebook.com/wibailoutpeople.org / wibailoutpeople.org

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SOLIDARITY STATEMENTS:

TO UAW LOCAL 833 FROM AUTOWORKER CARAVAN

As an organization of rank-and-file autoworkers, we want to salute you for rejecting Kohler Company’s insulting contract offer. Two-tier wages and benefits sap worker solidarity, which is absolutely vital as we work side-by-side.

In the recent contract negotiations with FCA, GM and Ford, it was clear that ending two-tier was the primary issue on the shop floor. Now you have rejected the notion that union members would vote for a $10 an hour difference in pay for 400 second tier workers! We also note the employer tactic of throwing workers the bone of a bonus when there will be higher health care costs.

We encourage you to stand strong in your strike in Sheboygan. We will do our part to spread word of your fight by sending this message to rank-and-file autoworkers and urging united support. Solidarity!

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TO UAW LOCAL 833 FROM AFSCME Local 526

AFSCME Local 526 (Milwaukee Public Museum Employees) stands in solidarity with the 2,000 Kohler workers who are on strike to win higher pay and an end to the two-tier wage system. As trade unionists we believe in the principles of equal pay for equal work, the right to a living wage, and the power of solidarity.

UAW 833 is fighting against a two-tier wage system that betrays future workers and undermines those principles. The strength of UAW 833 is in their unity and determination as evidenced by the fact that 94 percent of the union’s members voted to strike.

Past struggles of Kohler workers, including the longest strike in U.S. history, have inspired the labor movement for generations. The current action by UAW 833 will play an important role in the post “right to work” era in Wisconsin, showing labor unions once again how to bring back the fight and win for working people.

(Passed at AFSCME Local 526 November 17, 2015 membership meeting )

This statement posted to the facebook group: Defeat “Right to Work” in Wisconsin, https://www.facebook.com/defeatrighttowork/

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SCHOOL OF THE AMERICA’S WATCH LABOR CAUCUS SOLIDARITY STATEMENT WITH UAW LOCAL 833

On Saturday, November 21, as part of the weekend of activities calling for the closing of the School of the Americas (now renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security and Cooperation; go to soaw.org for more information about SOA/WHINSEC and its role in training military and paramilitary forces who murder trade unionists) about 75 union and worker rights activists met at the Labor Caucus workshop. We reached unanimous agreement to pledge our support to your strike for a just contract and the basic union principle of equal pay for equal work.

UAW members & allies march in the “Jobs, Justice, Peace” protest August 2011, Detroit

Stop the Takeover of MPS

http://stopmpstakeover.com/

Stand up for the public schools our students deserve! Save the date!

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), 700 W State Street, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Join us on Saturday, December 5 as students, parents, educators, and community allies collaborate to build a longterm strategy that both defeats the proposed Takeover of MPS, while also laying the groundwork for a new vision that embraces the successful public community schools model.

This meeting, which is being organized and planned by concerned MPS parents will both educate and activate those willing to take the necessary steps to do this reach these goals. Parents, educators, community members, students are all invited!

[Photo: Joe Brusky]

https://www.facebook.com/mooreheadlilly2016/

2016 Workers World Party Election Campaign: Real people. Real struggles. Real socialist revolution.

https://twitter.com/wwpnatl

http://www.workers.org/wwp/

Baltimore People’s Power Assembly Video Solidarity Message: http://tinyurl.com/zpg8jpm

http://www.bhbanco.org/

From BANCO:

With some relief, we can report that Mrs. Pinkney has heard from her husband, Rev. Pinkney, by email. He reported that after supporter David Sole from Detroit visited him on Nov. 20, Rev. Pinkney was arrested and placed in segregation (solitary) in the Level V (maximum security) section of the prison. He was kept there in segregation until Nov. 25. Now he is back in the Level I sleeping area that is contaminated with mold which already negatively affected his health.

He can receive letters and books. Please send cards, letters, and books to:

Marquette Branch Prison, Rev. Edward Pinkney N-E-93 #294671, 1960 US Hwy 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855

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Detroit Emergency Conference To Save Rev. Pinkney, Dec. 12:

http://www.iacenter.org/actions/trump-120215/

MEDIA ADVISORY / CONTACT: TONY MURPHY 347-602-1584

WE SAY NO TO FASCIST TRUMP AND HIS ACCOMPLICES IN THE CORPORATE MEDIA

No to Muslim & Immigrant-Bashing, Racism, War & Police Violence!

 NEW YORK CITY PROTEST

 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20TH – 2:00 PM AT TRUMP TOWER

5^TH AVENUE BETWEEN 56^TH AND 57^TH STREET

“Whenever fascism rears its ugly head, it is the duty of all progressive forces to unite in solidarity and struggle against it,” said Sara Flounders of the International Action Center. http://www.iacenter.org/

“New York is well acquainted with Trump’s racism, going back to 1989 when he called for reinstating the death penalty to kill the Central Park Five, who have since been proven innocent,” Flounders said. “This demonstration will reclaim New York as a No-Trump Zone, with zero tolerance for fascism, bigotry and racism of any kind.” http://www.iacenter.org/

#‎noMPStakeover‬ ‪#‎NotOneStudent‬

Stop the Takeover of MPS

May 27, 2015 Auer Elementary, Milwaukee

[Photo Credit: Joe Brusky]