Submitted on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 2:51pm
Fellow workers,
Glasgow University IWW Job Branch and the Save Crichton Campus campaign in Glasgow are calling another phone lobby on the success of last week’s event, which saw the University implement a telephone protocol for complaints about Crichton and lay on extra staff to deal with the volume of calls.
See: http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/crichton-struggle/
The campaign is starting to score victories against the decision. The Scottish Executive, previously immovable in claiming Crichton’s closure had nothing to do with them (an article in a Dumfries paper alleges they knew about the decision 8 months ago and gave the University the OK) is now pressurising Sir Muir Russell, principal of the university to meet with them to discuss the issue. The campaign is building momentum on campus with flyposting and creative publicity stunts and resistance is planned, however time is very short as the University has accelerated its attempts to shut the facility down in light of the media exposure. Pressure however is starting to tell.
Submitted on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 2:14pm
SOLIDARITY WITH VICTIMISED STARBUCKS WORKERS - FIVE STARBUCKS WORKERS SACKED FOR FORMING A UNION
For almost 3 years workers in Starbucks have been organising in their franchises in the USA. Starbucks have responded by waging a war of intimidation against the unionising workers. Already 5 employees have lost their jobs – Joseph Agins, Charles Fostrom, Evan Winterscheidt, Daniel Gross (Founder of the Starbucks Union) and Isis Saenz. This is a warning shot towards anyone attempting to improve work conditions. However, Starbucks workers have fought back: winning 2 workers their jobs back and more than $2000 in lost earnings. In New York City, workers have gained a 25% wage increase in just over 2 years, with similar raises in other areas they have organised.
Submitted on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 3:38pm
Regional Organizing Committee
- Mail - PO Box 1158, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE99 4XL, England
- E-Mail - [email protected]
Bread & Roses Editor
Fellow workers, Glasgow University IWW Job Branch workers have asked me to circulate this to the wider union. Hopefully some of you might be able to lend a hand here. Solidarity, Nick Durie, (Central Scotland Organiser, Clydeside GMB)
Glasgow University is proposing to close its campus at Crichton in Dumfries and Galloway. This campus has been really important in widening access to higher education, particularly amongst mature women. All its students have or are really enjoying the experience and feel really good about what it has done for them. There is overwhelming support from the local community and massive anger at the proposed closure. Crichton apparently has a deficit of £800,000 per year. However, Glasgow University had a surplus of £2 million this year and the principal, Sir Muir Russell, has just awarded himself a massive increase. Crichton was also not properly funded from the start and lacks some of the facilities that other campuses make money out of. Most important, universities should not be about money and making a profit. Universities should be about education and research, about opening up opportunities and changing lives. Crichton is doing this - opening up opportunities for people, changing their lives and being a focus and source of pride to the local community and hopes to continue to do so.
Submitted on Thu, 02/22/2007 - 11:40pm
For Immediate Release - IWW Starbucks Workers Union February 22, 2007; Contact: [email protected]
New York, NY- The IWW Starbucks Workers Union has unveiled a new blog at http://www.StarbucksUnion.org/blog. With an emphasis on workers' own stories, the SWU blog will provide news and views on the reality of the Starbucks Corporation behind the brand. The initiative marks the first time that employees at a multinational retailer will amplify their voices together through a blog.
"When we hear from corporations, it's management speaking not workers," said Christine Morin, a Starbucks barista and union member in Chicago. "With the SWU blog, we can expose the reality of work across the Starbucks supply chain."
Submitted on Thu, 02/22/2007 - 11:37pm
Bushwick- In continued actions resulting from the illegal firing of IWW union organizers in five food distribution companies, hundreds of Wobblies, activists, and community supporters gathered on Feb 19, 2007, to demonstrate against the repressive tactics characteristic of bosses in the food industry. Prior to organizing, most workers received about $280 weekly for 60 hours of work without benefits, sick, or vacation days. Some workers have been organizing with the IWW since 2005. In response to the protest, at least three of the food warehouses closed for Presidents’ Day. IWW organizer Billy Randal estimates that due to the closing each distributor has lost roughly $20,000.
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