Meeting Discusses Building a Coalition that can Confront the Economic Crisis
How can North Texans organize ourselves to confront this economic crisis? That's the question that National Jobs with Justice asked us to discuss at our regular second Wednesday meeting on June 14 at UAW 848 hall, 2218 E Main in Grand Prairie. Here is the short list of our suggestions:
- Continue our long-term stand with union brothers and sisters
- Organize picnics, raido announcements, and educational programs
- Order some JwJ T-shirts and sell them
- Ask our friends to put a Jobs with Justice section on their websites
- Hold educational seminars on topics such as workers' rights and health care
- Develop a bilingual brochure on workers' rights
- Spread this discussion among all North Texas progressives
- Participate in the national discussion -- send delegates to meeting(s)
- When national statement is ready, we can highlight the North Texas view, then start asking others to sign on to it
- Build this JwJ coalition and try to get groups and individuals to work together more
What groups had members there?
- Alliance/American Federation of Teachers
- Communications Workers of America Local 6171
- Ironworkers of America
- National Nurses Organizing Committee
- United Auto Workers Locals 119 & 848
- United Food and Commercial Workers 1000
- Voices for Immigrants
In the discussion, what were revealed as major stumbling blocks to North Texas solidarity?
- Anti-union laws
- Anti-immigrant prejudices
- Fear -- People afraid to leave their comfort zone
- Ignorance
- Lack of belief that workers' problems can be solved and consequent lack of commitment to solving them
What are some target problems in North Texas?
- Need for the Employee Free Choice Act so that unions can be organized
- Need for national health care
- Terrible Texas workers comp laws and procedures
- Low wages and dangerous conditions, especially on construction jobs
What advantages do we have?
- Jobs with Justice has a solid reputation in the progressive community
- A tremendous number of construction jobs are being scheduled here, many of them using tax dollars
- There is an increasing awareness of the need for unity in the struggle for worker justice
The meeting wasted little time in congratulating ourselves for our two successful public events in May. There are a great many more things that need our help immediately:
- Construction organizers need help with delegations to prime construction companies
- A hospital in Dallas is angling for a $1 million taxpayer bailout
- Auto plants are threatened with closure, and we need to keep them open and producing things society needs
- CWA 6215 is stalled in its negotiations with AT&T
- CWA 6171's contract with Verizon is scheduled to expire August 15
- Wal-Mart workers have committed to organize
- Many North Texas still don't know about the Employee Free Choice Act
Join Jobs with Justice and/or make a donation