Jobs with Justice volunteers

Mass. Jobs with Justice needs volunteers starting December 4th to phone bank for their end of the year fund appeal and Dec. 10th Human Rights Day Action. Contact Jennifer at 617-524-8778 or jennifer@massjwj.net.

Kids’ Sweatshop Protest—Dec. 10

Join the Children's Sweatshop Protest led by the children of the Workmen's Circle and Smithfield Packing's Tar Hill Plant to demand justice for Smithfield workers. Bring your children out for a fun afternoon of justice, standing up to grown ups, and solidarity as we demand that products made in the Tar Hill plant be taken down until human rights violations are fixed. 1-2:30 at Johnny's Foodmaster, Alewife Parkway- Route 16, Somerville.

Kendall Solidarity—Dec. 15

Join United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791 for a Union Solidarity March in support of the Kendall Cinema Workers fight for a fair Contract! 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M at the Kendall Square Cinema. Call the Local 791 union office at 1-800-535-2752

Stop Goodyear strikebreakers

Your efforts are critical in helping to maximize the exposure of the United Steelworkers' Goodyear advertisement featured on Youtube and helping to spread the word about our strike far and wide. Please be sure to view our Goodyear ad, then register on the site, give it the highest rating possible, and share/forward it your friends, family, and others: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDKGJu5eMZo

RNs tentative deal averts strike

After a final 14-hour negotiating session, nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital reached a tentative agreement averting a strike planned for Nov. 29th. The Mass. Nurses Association reports that the contract “includes a number of provisions nurses sought to increase the recruitment and retention of staff to ensure safe patient care, including landmark contract language to protect newly licensed nurses and the union rights of nurses. It also includes pay increases that will make BWH nurses among the highest paid in the state.”

Latino Harvard employees keep jobs—for now

Under pressure from workers and student groups charging discrimination, Harvard has reversed a decision to lay off four Latino workers in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. “Thanks to the help of [Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers] representatives Bill Jaeger and Randi Ellingboe, of the CREW [Coalition for Respect and Equality at Work] and the student organizations, we’re heading in a good direction, but the struggle isn’t over yet,” said Jaime Moreno, one of the workers whose job was threatened.

Harvard guards win union vote

Workers at AlliedBarton, the firm to which Harvard “outsourced” its security guard positions two years ago, has won the right to vote on union representation. “This is a decision that the guards, the union, SLAM, and the student body have fought very hard for,” said Adaner Usmani of the Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM). “It is...something that neither Allied nor the administration granted easily, and not something that they deserve credit for.”

Convert JP school despite teacher opposition

Despite a recent vote by teachers at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School against conversion to a “pilot school,” Boston city officials announced that they will proceed with the plan. Teachers are concerned about changes to working conditions and union rights. “We do support pilot schools,” said Teachers Union president Richard Stutman, “but we also support our members’ rights to make an informed decision.”

Unions sue Turnpike board

Unions representing Massachusetts Turnpike workers have accused the Turnpike Authority of violating the state Open Meeting Law by voting in a closed session to eliminate tolls west of Route 128. Union leaders say the move would cost more than 500 jobs, in addition to having a negative economic and environmental impact on the state.

for links to the latest labor news from around the state, visit Jobs with Justice

www.massjwj.net