Submitted on Tue, 07/03/2007 - 9:34pm
The Industrial Workers of the World recently marched on HWH Trading Corp to demand fair pay and better working conditions for the company’s 15 warehouse employees. The July 1st march was the first public action of an ambitious organizing drive that the NYC IWW is undertaking this summer. Dubbed “9 in 90,” the IWW is hoping to organize nine new shops in the next 90 days. The IWW has already made waves in the NYC foodstuffs industry by organizing five of the most exploitative warehouses in the city.
The current organizing drive kicked off in mid-June, and organizers have already had talks with workers from four new shops. HWH, a produce distributor in Queens, is the first of the “9 in 90” whose workers have gone public with their IWW membership. At HWH, workers are not only expected to work extremely long hours, but routinely travel up and down the Eastern seaboard. Workers come into the warehouse Sunday night, spend the night loading up their trucks, and head out for long trips Monday morning.
Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 3:50am
New York, NY- Less than three months after the National Labor Relations Board hit Starbucks with a 30-count legal complaint, the federal agency has once again accused the coffee giant of breaking the law in a continuing effort to undermine the IWW Starbucks Workers Union [StarbucksUnion.org]. Based on an independent investigation into the company’s conduct, the Board has alleged that Starbucks fired outspoken union barista, Isis Saenz, for protected organizing activity.
“It’s beyond dispute now that Starbucks is waging one of the most relentless anti-union operations in the United States today,” said Stuart Lichten, the IWW’s attorney on the case. “If Wal-Mart has a soul mate in the union-busting arena, it’s Starbucks.”
Submitted on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 4:06am
New York, NY After walking at the Pace University undergraduate commencement on May 23rd, Lauren Giaccone and John Cronan have been notified by the Pace Administration that their degrees will be withheld pending the resolution of charges stemming from a November 2006 campus protest. The peaceful protest, calling for the resignation of embattled President David Caputo, was broken up by police who were called to campus by Pace administrators citing a permit requirement for student gatherings. President Caputo has since resigned under a hail of criticism.
Pace University Withholding Two Student Degrees Over Free Speech Fight
Outgoing President Caputo's Tenure Stormy Until the End
Submitted on Fri, 05/18/2007 - 4:03am
New York Police Department files released as part of a lawsuit stemming from the 2004 Republican National Convention reveal that the police engaged in unlawful surveillance of the Industrial Workers of the World. The IWW took to the streets with Rev. Billy during the RNC in front of an NYC Starbucks store to condemn the Bush Administration's support for Starbucks' union-busting.
While it's not surprising that with Capital in distress the State came to the rescue, it's nonetheless appalling that the police used the coercive power of the government to serve the interests of union-busting.
The New York Times has an article on the document release.
Submitted on Tue, 05/15/2007 - 3:31am
I’m an Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) member. I worked hard to start the union strong, so that we would be strong in the end. And just like when we started, we’ve grown and become strong. Because in union there is strength.
– Eliezer Maca Gallardo
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Warehouse workers in New York City need your help in their fight against employers who have stolen their wages, thumbed their noses at labor laws, and vigorously fought against unionization. These workers have built the IWW Food and Allied Workers Union - I.U.460/640 against incredible odds, and still stand strong in the face of mass firings. They've shown how immigrant workers can fight sweatshop conditions to build a better future.
