Stagehands serving the PNW
activism
Occupy Seattle – and Hallowe’en
Oct 28th
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Occupy Seattle is once again asking for everyone who can to join them:
Saturday, October 29th
12:00 Noon
Chase Bank Robin Hood March & Teach-In
BAIL OUR OUR SCHOOLS, NOT OUR BANKS
As you may know, two days ago, Oakland (CA) police attacked Occupy Oakland with tear gas and clubs. A decorated Iraq veteran, with two tours of duty with the Marines, was badly injured, requiring brain surgery. Labor throughout the country, led by the AFL-CIO (and locally by the Washington State Labor Council and the Martin Luther King County Labor Council) are rallying to support the creative and courageous young people of the Occupy movement. Our Local has, I believe, had quite literally the strongest participation of any Union in Seattle. If you can make it on Saturday, please wear your colors – Local 15 jackets, caps, shirts buttons or signs.
In addition, Occupy Seattle will have an “Occupy Hallowe’en” event on Sunday. They need pumpkins, carving tools and tea candles for jack o’lanterns. If you can help with donations of these supplies or of food, water and other necessities, please call Max Brown at the Labor Council, 206-441-7102.
Finally, there will be a meeting of the Labor Caucus of Occupy Seattle at 6:00 pm this Wednesday, November 2nd in the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Avenue. Everyone is welcome.
In solidarity,
Paul
Occupy Seattle update: Rally Saturday 10/22
Oct 20th
Labor support for Occupy Seattle is continuing, and growing – as is happening throughout the country.
Local 15 has had proportionately one of the strongest showings of support for Occupy Seattle. We have members going down to Westlake Park every day, and for the major labor mobilizations we’ve had 10-20 people out each time.
Occupy Seattle is asking that we come out this Saturday, October 22nd, to join with communities of color for a noon rally and 2:00 march to express concern about police misconduct. If you can be there, please show your colors: wear an IATSE t-shirt, jacket, cap or button, and carry a Local 15 sign.
In addition, labor is helping to bring supplies to Occupy Seattle. The Boeing Machinists are working on getting Occupy Seattle a generator, as well as medical supplies. If you can provide food, water, blankets or other supplies, please bring them to the office of the Labor Council (Room 206 in the Labor Temple, 2800 1st Avenue in Belltown – just down the hall from Local 15), Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm; or the Seattle/King County Building Trades Council, 6770 E Marginal Way S, Building E, Room 360 (South Seattle Community College, Georgetown Campus), Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 11:30 am or 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm; or the Teamsters, 14675 Interurban Avenue S, lobby, in Tukwila, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. They particularly need: megaphones for general assembly meetings; reflective flags and cones; caution tape; reflective vests; flashlights (preferably the kind you can crank and reuse); rope; duct tape; reusable water bottles; metal spoons; reusable bowls; and – if you’re out late – middle of the night coffee drops. (Please do NOT bring bread, peanut butter or hand sanitizers – they’re overwhelmed with those for right now.)
This is labor’s fight – we are part of the 99%. There’s now an informal labor caucus working to support Occupy Seattle. And it’s working: the New York Times reports that last week’s mobilization was the fifth largest in the country, behind New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland. This weekend is a chance for us to show our community allies that labor is there for more than workplace issues – we want a fair economy with family-wage jobs, but we also want social justice for everyone in our community.
In solidarity,
Paul
Support for Occupy Seattle
Oct 14th
Local 15 has had a great, visible presence at Occupy Seattle during the labor mobilizations this past week. On Saturday at least 15 of us were there, with our wonderful, high-visibility Local 15 signs. KOMO-TV news last night had two different shots in which the screen was filled with our signs. And President Willhelm gave a terrific interview to KOMO radio. And I know that our members have been getting down to Westlake whenever they can before and after shifts or on breaks from ACT, 5th Avenue, Paramount and Benaroya Hall.
If you’ve been following what’s happened with Occupy Seattle in the last couple of days, you know that the City has started arresting people who try to camp in Westlake Park overnight. In fact, earlier this week the City took down a Succot tent – part of a religious ritual celebrating a moderately important Jewish holiday – that some of the Occupy Seattle activists had put up.Last night, at the Occupy Seattle General Assembly, there was an overwhelming vote asking for supporters to come down to Westlake Park tomorrow, Saturday October 15th, at 6:00 pm. They want anyone who can to join them in their General Assembly to discuss how to move forward – and they also want a strong showing of public support, to make it clear to the Mayor and the rest of the City government that this is a movement with a real base. I think it’s especially important that we make sure that there’s a strong, visible labor presence – so wear IATSE shirts, jackets, caps, sweatshirts, buttons – and if you have one of our Local 15 signs, please bring it with you.
In solidarity,
Paul
Jobs rally on Thursday: IMPORTANT – location change
Oct 10th
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The location for the jobs rally this Thursday has been changed. Instead of rallying at Victor Steinbrueck Park and marching to Westlake Park to join Occupy Seattle, the jobs rally will be held at Westlake Park. We will join with Occupy Seattle to demand an economy that serves the needs of the 99%, and not just the 1%.
Rally for Good Jobs Now
Thursday, October 13th, 10:30 am
Westlake Park
4th Avenue & Pine Street, Seattle Help us share our message with elected representatives. . .
We need jobs!
Vote NO on Initiative 1125!
Jobs are the crisis in America. Our economy will not recover until people get back to work. Join us in highlighting the importance of maintaining funding for critical transportation and infrastructure projects in King County.We’re coming together to demand bold action to create jobs – let’s put America back to work, rebuild our infrastructure and our manufacturing base, and protect our public sector workers and jobs!
Sponsored by the Martin Luther King County Labor Council and the
Seattle/King County Building & Construction Trades Council Wear Local 15 shirts, hats or buttons -
we’ll have Local 15 signs at the rally
In solidarity,
Paul
Join in jobs rally and support for Occupy Seattle Thursday 10/13 at 10:30 am
Oct 8th
Dear Sisters and Brothers,Local 15 turned out at least a dozen people for the action by labor today supporting Occupy Seattle. It was a strong showing for a small Local, particularly on a heavy work day. We had people stop by on their way to calls at the 5th Avenue and the Paramount, on their lunch break from ACT and after work at Benaroya. (I suspect we’ll have move later today from the Paramount.) Our great signs – thanks,
Amanda! – give us high visibility. Aaron Ping’s little son Avery helping his dad hold up a sign that said “Kick Ass for the Working Class” drew a lot of photographers.
Labor generally made a good statement yesterday and today. I saw people from, in no particular order, Operating Engineers, Laborers, Teamsters, Longshore, Teachers, Boeing Machinists, SPEEA (Boeing Engineers), Inlandboatmen’s Union, Marine Engineers, Service Employees, Plumbers, Office & Professional Employees, Food & Commercial Workers, Communications Workers – I’m sure there were others that I’m forgetting. We were well represented by Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council head Dave Freiboth speaking both yesterday and today, and Washington State Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Lynne Dodson delivering a great speech yesterday. Today also included a large presence from the Native American community, speaking about their concerns.
The “Occupy” movement is now up to some 250 cities, drawing on great energy from young organizers and activists. There’s a clear focus on the injustices of the economic system that works to the advantage of 1% of the people at the expense of the other 99% of us.
I hope you’ll be able to join us on Thursday (October 13th). Labor will be rallying for jobs at Victor Steinbrueck Park, 2000 Western Avenue, near Pike Place Market, at 10:30 am. After the rally, we’ll march to Westlake Park to join our friends and allies in Occupy Seattle. A number of folks have already indicated that they’ll be there on Thursday; please let me know if you think you’ll be at the rally, so I can bring enough Local 15 signs.
In solidarity,
Paul Bigman
Important labor rallies for economic justice and jobs
Oct 7th
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I’m sure that you’ve read and heard about the youth-led movement that started with “Occupy Wall Street” and has spread throughout the country. Here in Washington, the Occupy Seattle effort has gained publicity; there are also Occupy Bellingham, Occupy Olympia, Occupy Spokane, Occupy Tacoma, Occupy Tri-Cities and Occupy Wenatchee and Occupy Yakima actions.
As you may know, the AFL-CIO has strongly endorsed this movement. Here in Washington, both the Washington State Labor Council and the Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council are mobilizing to support Occupy Seattle.
The MLK CLC said: “As part of the nationwide movement to create good jobs and hold Wall Street accountable, the M.L. King County Labor Council supports Occupy Seattle. This organic, grass roots movement punctuates labor’s message during the under-regulated, bubble economy meltdown that all of the middle class and poor continue to experience. We’re taking to the streets to voice our frustration with the economic disparity in our country and the business-driven political gridlock that has been incapable of effectively addressing the situation.
“Organized labor has always fought, and will continue to fight, for economic justice. We share the broad goals of Occupy Seattle participants and organizers, and we join them in this struggle to collectively make our voices heard!”
The WSLC said, in part: “On behalf of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and our 500 affiliated local unions and over 400,000 union women and men we want to express our solidarity with ‘Occupy Seattle’ for standing up for and speaking out on behalf of the 99% who have been victimized by corporate and political decisions that put the interests of corporate America and Wall Street before the people,
“We welcome your voices to our in identifying the corporate billionaires and bankers as the ones who brought our economy to its knees and have created the most gross distribution of income and wealth in this country since the 1920s. While the ‘Great Recession’ is over for the 1%, the rest of us are living with staggering rates of unemployment and poverty, foreclosures and homelessness, trade policies that further impoverish workers in Third World countries creating massive forced migration, tax policies that reward the outsourcing of our jobs, financial deregulation that allows banks to treat our economy as if it was their private casino, attacks on workers’ rights and unions, killing cuts to our social safety net, environmental degredation, and a significant loss of democracy.”
Join us for two important actions this week:
12:00 noon
Saturday, October 8th
Westlake Park (4th & Pike, downtown Seattle)
Labor mobilization with Occupy Seattle
10:30 am
Thursday, October 13th
Victor Steinbrueck Park
(Western Ave at Virginia, by Pike Place Market)
Rally for Jobs – We’ll go from there to Westlake Park
To support Occupy Seattle
March for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
Jul 20th
PLEASE NOTE: THIS POST HAD THE WRONG DATE FOR THE RALLY- THE MARCH WILL BE ON SATURDAY, JULY 30TH, AS BELOW (NOT THE 23RD)
March for a Decent Future
on Medicare’s Birthday
No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
Saturday, July 30th, 12:00 n – 2:00 pm
Safeco Field (1st & Atlantic)
We’re facing an unprecedented attack on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security – just at the point when our health care is most at risk.
Not only the right wing, but President Obama and some Congressional Democrats are talking about balancing the budget by raising the retirement age at which we can collect Medicare and Social Security, reducing benefits or eliminating cost-of-living increases and other mechanisms to place the burden for the national debt on working people.
Local 15′s membership has endorsed single-payer healthcare as the best solution for the problems that we’re facing in maintaining our own benefits, and extending affordable quality healthcare to all.
As with the hotel workers’ rally, let’s make sure that Local 15 has a visible presence at this action, part of a national campaign with rallies all over the country. If you’re planning to come, please let me know (206-441-1515, ext. 225; stagerep@ia15.org) so that we’ll have enough Local 15 signs to show everyone that we’re in the house.
This event is sponsored by United for Single Payer-Seattle, Physicians for a National Health Plan-Western Washington, Health Care for All-Washington, and Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans.
Two important actions on July 22 and July 30
Jul 20th
There are two important actions coming up that Local 15 members should support if possible. There will be a separate post for the second rally, but on Friday:
Rally for Worker Justice at Seattle Luxury Hotels
Friday, July 22nd 4-6pm
Westin Hotel(1900 5th Ave, corner of Virginia, Seattle)
This rally is led by the members of UNITE HERE 8, the hospitality workers union. These workers have already staged one picket at the Westin. We will be joined by unions and members visiting and working in the hotel.
This summer, 1400 hotel workers whose union contracts have expired are joining together to fight for a better life. Most are workers of color, immigrant, women, or LGBT who are uniting to demand a share in the economic recovery that hotels have enjoyed. They are trying to transform hospitality jobs into middle class jobs for themselves and many thousand yet to be organized workers.
During the recession, hotels protected their profits by cutting staff and increasing workloads for already overburdened workers. According to the industry’s own projections, hotels will be returning to record profit levels by 2012.
Background
Union contracts covering over 1,400 workers have expired in hotels and restaurants including the Westin, Edgewater, Seattle Hilton, Washington Athletic Club, Space Needle, SeaTac Hilton, and the Doubletree.
“Hotel workers can sometimes seem invisible,” says Erik Van Rossum, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 8, the union representing the workers in the campaign. “They create luxury in Seattle’s hotels by cleaning the rooms, washing the dishes, and cooking the food, among other thankless jobs. But now they are standing up with one voice to demand respect and fairness.”
Local 15 is hoping to work with UNITE HERE Local 8 to encourage more Union AV work in the hotels represented by Local 8, including the Westin. It’s important that we have a good showing with Local 15 signs, to let our sisters and brothers in Local 8 know that we support them! If you’re planning to go, please let BR Paul Bigman know (206-441-1515, ext. 225; stagerep@ia15.org) so that we’ll have enough Local 15 signs.
More pickets and rallies are planned including one on August 4 at 4:30pm in SeaTac. Stay tuned for more details
For more information, contact Jasmine Marwaha of Local 8 at 206-470-2993
WEEK OF SOLIDARITY ACTIONS!
Mar 22nd
In the face of a coordinated full-scale attack on public employees and on Americans’ fundamental freedom of association, the Washington State Labor Council is working with its affiliates and progressive community allies to organize a week of action APRIL 2-8. Mark your calendars for these events and make plans to join us as we demand that the bankers and billionaires — and their Republican handmaidens in government — stop the attacks on working people and that they share in the sacrifice as our nation struggles to recover from the economic havoc their greed and malfeasance has caused.
Of special note, SUNDAY, APRIL 3 — 6:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle — Join IATSE Local 15 for Solidarity Night at “Billy Elliott: The Musical.” Living in a coal mining town in Northern England, young Billy Elliot doesn’t take to boxing lessons and is instead drawn to ballet. His father and brother, striking miners, struggle to understand and support his passion for dance. This is a Union production. Actors are members of Actors Equity; stagehands, IATSE Local 15; hair and makeup, IATSE Local 488; and wardrobe, IATSE Local 887; and musicians, AFM 76-493 and other locals. No-host bar begins at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $26.30 to $56.90. For tickets or information, contact IATSE Local 15 at 206-441-1515 ext. 225 or stagerep@ia15.org. Tickets at these group rates are limited, so please get in touch now!
for more information see http://www.wslc.org/upcoming.htm
Monday, April 4th,at 4:30 theatrical unions, led by IATSE Local 15, will rally at Seattle Center and march to the Seattle Labor Temple to remind the world that Seattle is a union town with good labor-management relations. IATSE employers will be asked to affirm their support for workers’ rights. For more information about this event please contact BR Bigman.
We will have a sign making session at 3:30 at the Center House food court. Bring your artistic skills and slogan ideas. Paper stock and pens will be provided. Please RSVP to Bess: ahfu2@yahoo.com if you can make it to this pre-event.
Volunteer credit hours will be awarded for this event.
This is a chance to get involved and come together to show our Union pride. Please come and bring your families and friends.
Want to learn how to lobby for Union issues?
Jan 27th
Lobbying Training for Union Members in Seattle