Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Happy May Day From Memphis DSA



Happy May Day from Memphis DSA (Democratic Socialists of America)!  It is a perilous time for American workers.  Our political leaders have forced austerity budget cuts upon us to spare the corporate rich from necessary tax increases and the already weak social "safety net," including Social Security and Medicare, are under attack.   Labor Unions are facing mounting obstacles blocking their ability to organize and defend workers.  Now is the time to unite and fight back!

Join DSA and other progressive/left and labor groups on this May Day to celebrate the achievements of the labor movement and unite to fight for the rights of all workers to living wages and benefits earned from their labor.

Visit DSA's Talking Union Website to learn more about labor issues and organizations to support and join.

Born in the USA

Building Workers' Power: ITUC May Day Statement

How Unions are Getting their Groove Back

It's Time for a Worker's Movement in the USA

Some recommended labor organizations and Web Sites:

Jobs With Justice

Working America

Workers Interfaith Network

Worker's Independent News

Labor Notes

Join us at Memphis United's  Memphis May Day Celebration!




Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Austerity or Prosperity? U.S. Capitalism in Crisis




More than 122 million jobs lost..
10 million homes foreclosed..
Student debt tops $1 Trillion..
Poverty rate at 30 year high..
Corporations paying little or no taxes…
Social Security and Medicare being cut..
TIME TO FIGHT BACK!




MEMPHIS DSA PRESENTS A GETUP WORKSHOP
(Grassroots Economics Trainining for Understanding and Power)
AUSTERITY OR PROSPERITY?
U.S. CAPITALISM IN CRISIS AND SOCIAL MARKET ALTERNATIVES
With Bill Barclay

Tuesday, April 16th, 6:30-8 PM
AFSCME Local 1733
485 Beale Street, Memphis, TN




Sunday, April 14, 2013

Marriage Is Great, But Many LGBT People of Color Need Job Safety


An important look at poverty in the LGBT community, especially among LGBT racial minorities, and why we cannot let the fight for marriage equality divert attention from the main issue--economic justice.

Marriage Is Great, But Many LGBT People of Color Need Job Safety - COLORLINES

Monday, April 1, 2013

Activists Gather in Memphis to Commemorate MLK's Life



Activists Gather in Memphis to Commemorate MLK's Life
AFSCME Local 1733 and activists from across the nation will gather in Memphis this week to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.


Memphis Commemorative Events April 3-4, 2013

Please join members of AFSCME Local 1733, Martin Luther King III, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, MSNBC “PoliticsNation” Host and National Action Network President Al Sharpton

as we commemorate the 
45th Anniversary of 
Dr. Martin Luther King’s work
on behalf of AFSCME Local 1733’s 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike:

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Dr. King’s final act of solidarity. In commemoration of his life and his solidarity, union members, civil rights leaders and community activists are again gathering in Memphis for a series of historic events.
On April 3, the community will gather from 7-10 p.m. in the historic Mason Temple at 930 Mason St., Memphis, Tenn. Highlights a panel discussion on economic and racial justice including Karen Finney of MSNBC, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Benjamin Todd Jealous of the NAACP, Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream and Terry O'Neill of the National Organization for Women. Civil rights leaders the Rev. Al Sharpton, AFL-CIO Exec. Vice Pres. Arlene Holt Baker, AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders and Martin Luther King III will also give special remarks.
On April 4 at 8:30 a.m., we will rename a local street 1968 Strikers Lane, then march from AFSCME Local 1733 (485 Beale St.) to the National Civil Rights Museum (450 Mulberry St.) and end with a rally.
The invitation from Martin Luther King III, AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders and Rev. Al Sharpton reads, “We look back this year and remember, because we know that the foundation laid in the most triumphant and tragic days of the civil rights movement – of our economic justice – must inspire and guide us in the struggles we now face.”
For more information and to RSVP, please visit www.memphis2013.org.

Celebrating Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta

Celebrating Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta


Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta recognized for their life long contributions to organized labor and social justice.
Cesar Chavez at the Delano UFW rally.
Cesar Chavez at the Delano UFW rally. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Cesar Chavez Day is a state holiday in California – one of eight states to recognize the  date, and one of the few holidays  in the nation  dedicated  to a labor leader.   Sacramento and dozens of cities, counties and labor federations will celebrate the life of Cesar Chavez on March 31, 2013.
The  year  2012 was the 50th. anniversary of the founding of the U.F.W.  by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Philip Vera Cruz and others.  The   celebrations focused  on  the struggle for union rights and justice in the fields of California.
The United Farm Workers  (UFW) was the  first successful union of farm workers in  U.S. history.  There had been more than ten prior attempts to build a farm workers union.   Each of the prior attempts  were destroyed by racism and corporate power. Chávez and Huerta  chose to build a union that incorporated the strategies of social movements and community organizing  and allied itself  with the churches, students,  and organized labor.  The successful creation of the UFW changed the nature of labor organizing  in the Southwest  and contributed significantly to the birth of Latino politics in the U.S.
Today, under the leadership of UFW president Arturo Rodriguez, only about 25,000  farm workers enjoy benefits on the job. Wages and benefit in farm labor have again been reduced to the pre union levels.  The UFW has shown unions that immigrants can and must be organized.
Both Chavez and DSA Honorary Chair Dolores Huerta have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and  in the California Hall of Fame for their work.
Dolores Huerta remains active as  a  staunch advocate for women’s rights and reproductive freedom.  Huerta is a founding board member of the Feminist Majority Foundation and serves on the board of Ms. Magazine as well as her service as an Honorary  DSA Chair.  She is active in the Democratic Party Conventions and campaigns  and  she frequently speaks at universities and organizational forums and union halls  on issues of social justice and public policy. Dolores  continues working to develop community leaders and advocating for the working poor, immigrants, women and youth as President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Duane Campbell is a Professor (emeritus)  of Bilingual/Multicultural Education at Calif. State University-Sacramento, the author of Choosing Democracy; a practical guide to multicultural education.