Fwd: STAND WITH PUBLIC WORKERS WED. 10/27, 7PM

[Tom Fewel]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Miriam Thompson <mthomp...@nc.rr.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Subject: STAND WITH PUBLIC WORKERS WED. 10/27, 7PM
To: Tom Fewel <tfe...@gmail.com>

Our local HKonJ partners have been critical advocates and solidarity campaign organizers in the struggle for workers' rights to dignity and respect in the workplace (one of HKonJ's 14 points and a key legislative priority) - from Moncure to UNC Housekeepers and now Chapel Hill's Public Workers who work in Chapel Hill, but live in all our neighboring communities.

On Wednesday, October 27th at 7pm, we need all our sisters and brothers and social justice allies to gather at Chapel Hill Town Council on MLK, Jr. Blvd (parking in the rear) to support our Public Workers' demands to repair a broken system in which workers have few protections.  We will be gathering before the elected leaders of Chapel Hill - a town that prides itself on its progressive tradition. The Chapel Hill Public Workers struggle for justice puts a local and ugly face on the impact of PL 95-98 which denies public workers the right to collectively bargain.

We will petition the Council assure the return to work and compensation for workers who were suspended without knowing the charges brought against them, who were denied the right to face their accusers, denied representation, denied due process.  Two of the workers have been suspended from work for over a month.  All three workers have been active in representing other workers' grievances, trying to build a union, challenging unsafe working conditions and discriminatory and unfair supervisory practices and favoritism.  We will urge the Council to independently investigate conditions in our public workplaces, the role of managers and supervisors, and provide data about suspensions and from what departments they are generated.

We will ask the Council to explain why they have approved thousands of our tax dollars to hire corporate consultants to advise on employee matters and to review and rescind their multi year contract.  The Town already has its own well paid Town Manager, Human Resources Department and a well heeled supervisory and management staff. Even more egregious, the consultants come from Capitol Associated Industries (CAI) that has a national reputation for opposing collective bargaining for public employees and helping employers create a "union-free" environment, an agenda that violates the Town of Chapel Hill's historic political support for the repeal of Jim Crow Law 95-98.  We will ask the Council to reaffirm their support for repeal and rescind their CAI contract. 

SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!    JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, 7PM,  CHAPEL HILL TOWN HALL.  

BRING SIGNS: "WE ARE ALL PUBLIC WORKERS."

**P.S.  Stay tuned for upcoming solidarity events in support of our UNC Housekeepers, including an upcoming campus wide teach in.  And mark your calendars.  We have tentatively scheduled a joint rally for both the UNC Housekeeper and Chapel Hill Public Worker campaigns with Rev. William Barber, State NAACP President for Nov. 15th.