Put pressure on Wells Fargo and support HartMarx workers

On Wednesday, May 20th Mid-Willamette Jobs with Justice will be picketing the downtown Salem branch of Wells Fargo Bank (580 E. State St, across from Marion County Court House). Informational picketing will happen at 12 noon to 1:00pm.

This informational picketing is in support of 3,000 HartMarx workers who have unanimously voted to stage a sit-down strike should Wells Fargo Bank continue to refuse credit to HartMarx. HartMarx, ex Hart, Schafner and Marx, has for over 100 years been a manufacturer of quality men's suits. As with many firms, the economic depression has severely cut into HartMarx's sales. In order to weather this crisis, HartMarx has asked for credit from Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo has however refused credit and instead is looking to liquidate this company.

HarMarx workers have refused to be victims of the economic collapse and have voted to engage in a factory seizure and sit-down strike should Wells Fargo continue to refuse credit. In should be noted that Wells Fargo Bank has received 25 billion dollars in TARP money from the Federal Government.

Please attend...

Event in Salem: workers from Republic Windows & Doors

A union leader from the Republic Windows & Doors struggle in Chicago will be with us at the Salem SEIU Local 503 office (1730 Commercial St. SE., Salem) on the afternoon/evening of Friday, May 15 to do a special presentation. This inspiring struggle took place late last year and ultimately prevented a plant closing by winning support from the new Obama administration and by pulling bankers kicking and screaming to the negotiating table. The workers’ successful non-violent direct action tactics made international news. We do not have all details worked out yet, but we are confident that we will have the speaker and be able to integrate this into a union training scheduled that evening.

Everyone is invited. We hope to start the presentation at 6:00 pm in the MLK room in the union’s Salem headquarters. There will be a short video presentation, the activist-speaker will give a rap and then there will be plenty of time for discussion.

New York State: Domestic Workers United

In the wake of the economic crisis, the conditions facing domestic workers have worsened. Facing alarming rates of lay-offs, cut wages and extended hours, without notice, severance pay or any safety net, now more than ever - domestic workers need the Bill of Rights.

For 5 years, domestic workers have come together across communities to organize for dignity and respect, and demand the passage of a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in New York State, which would include:

* Notice of termination
* Severance pay, sick days and holidays, and
* An annual cost of living wage increase.

In the last two months, both the New York Assembly and Senate Labor Committees have passed the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights out of committee. This is the moment we've been waiting for.

The National Domestic Workers Alliance, an alliance of domestic workers organizations in 10 cities across the country, will co-sponsor the week of action and send delegates to stand with New York's domestic workers. Join the week of action and support domestic workers to reverse a long history of injustice and exploitation, and chart a future based on respect and dignity for all work.


For more information, contact:



DOMESTIC WORKERS UNITED

1201 Broadway Suite 907-908

NY, NY 10001

212.481.5747 (ph)

domesticworkersunited@gmail.com

www.domesticworkersunited.org


Campaign Expiration Date:
May 27, 2009