Tuesday January 26th at 4:30p
Main Plaza (in front of City Hall)
Rally & Press Conference
Two national coalitions, the Energy Action Coalition (EAC) and the Center for Community Change (CCC) join with Southwest Workers Union and local grassroots organizations to call on Mayor Castro to take real steps towards reducing energy consumption and generating good, green jobs for the City. Wearing green hard hats, young leaders of organizations from North Dakota to Florida, Washington to Arizona support the fight against expansion of the South Texas Project, phase out coal and dirty energy sources, create of a comprehensive free weatherization program for low-income families, invest in solar energy and a job creation programs in the green energy sector.
“It is time to get San Antonio back to work in clean, green industries. We call on Mayor Castro to listen to the people's voices and make San Antonio a leader in the transition to clean energy, and in the creation of green community jobs, developing a long-term, positive vision for the well-being of working families and the planet,” stated Guadalupe Alvarado, community leader of SWU.
The three organizations will present a letter to Mayor Castro requesting support for a Community Jobs programs, asking for a formalization of commitments expressed in Mision Verde, and supporting solutions to climate change that benefit the working-class people of the City. EAC and CCC support the community's call for a green jobs program to help communities make homes more energy efficient while also providing needed jobs. Specifically, EAC and CCC support:
Hire locally. At least 80% of employees used in all CPS and COSA efficiency and renewable programs should be hired from the local work force.
Green jobs should be living wage jobs. Workers participating in efficiency and renewable programs should not earn less than 180% of the state minimum wage.
Hire a diverse workforce. Historically disadvantaged or underrepresented people, including people of color, women, and low‐income residents of the city should perform no less than 30% of total trades & technical project hours.
Create a highly‐skilled workforce. Resources for continuing education and certification should be made available to those coming into the industry
Establish green job training programs in urban-center high schools as well as internship programs for young people.
Create a sustainability and environmental policy program in ACCD as a pathway to green careers, ensuring that young people from our communities have the opportunity to participate in the new green economy as thinkers and visionaries.
Labels: CPS, energy justice, nuclear power, protest
YLO celebrates raises at Bill Miller’s BBQ
Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 – 2:00 PM
Bill Miller Headquarters
430 S Santa Rosa Ave, San Antonio, Texas
Southwest Workers Union- Youth Leadership Organization (SWU-YLO) and members will be congratulating Bill Millers on their pay raises in the last year. One year ago, the YLO launched their campaign for “Equal Pay for Equal Work” after finding out Biller Miller’s was paying Southside, West, and Eastside workers up to $2.50 less an hour than Northside workers.
The restaurant chain has quietly increased wages by .50 to $1.50 at various San Antonio locations after receiving hundreds of postcards and a petition letter with over 1,100 signatures from customers. While the YLO commends Bill Miller’s on raising the pay at their lowest wage locations, we continue to demand that Bill Miller’s respect their workers by adopting a overarching policy of Equal Pay for Equal Work across San Antonio.
“Bill Miller partners continue to refuse to meet with us, the youth of the community. If the food costs the same, why do the workers who make it get less? They’ve never answered that question” said Julian Mendez, Jefferson High School.
“But with the raises we are seeing that our organizing and the public pressure has been working. The power of the people is awesome!” Elisabeth Solis, Edison YLO Vice-President
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Labels: labor justice, protest, youth
Union Leaders face Racial Harassment and Unjust Firings
June 6, 2007@12PM
Driscoll Middle School
17150 Jones Maltsberger
“I feel that I have been treated unfairly and feel it is a form of retaliation in an attempt to terminate my employment, because I am the President of Local #14”-
Marco Velasquez, NEISD employee.
North East Independent School District (NEISD) has been involved in union busting efforts at Driscoll Middle School, and at other campuses, violating worker’s rights to organize by unjustly firing and continually harassing members of the Southwest Workers' Union. Marco Velasquez, President of Local #14 and a custodian in NEISD, has received disparate treatment from the assistant head custodian who labelled him a ‘wetback’, a racist slur for immigrants from Mexico.
Marco Velasquez, who is a U.S. citizen, was also wrongfully accused of stealing in an effort to unfairly terminate him. Former NEISD Local #14 President Ken Kopcinzsky was also unjustly terminated in October 2006 for his participation with the Southwest Workers' Union.
NEISD has also denied the Southwest Workers' Union from reasonable access to its members and employees during their duty-free lunch. SWU organizes in five (5) other school districts in San Antonio, TX and none of these districts deny SWU the right to access members and employees. SWU members’ rights are being violated by denying them the right of freedom of assembly and association.
Southwest Workers' Union demands an immediate stop to the harassment of its members and denial of basic rights of access to members and employees.
Dignity and Justice for NEISD School Workers!!
Labels: labor justice, NEISD, protest, school workers
