Spontaneous Strike Leads to Worker Center-Union Partnership and Victory

Reprinted from ARISE CHICAGO

Workers from Artistic Stitches Inc. approached Arise Chicago in November after having concerns about job security, holiday pay and possible violations of Illinois minimum wage law. Experienced workers were regularly laid off near the end of each year, and then rehired as "apprentices," at apprenticeship wages–despite the fact that many had worked at the factory for years. After not receiving promised holiday pay for working on Thanksgiving, workers walked off the job and contacted Arise. Arise provided training on workplace rights and assisted in organizing additional co-workers. “There were so many problems ... we started talking about collective action and collective bargaining. The workers were excited and decided they wanted to form a union” said Arise organizer, Jorge Mújica (pictured above, on left along with Richard Monje from Workers United). Selecting Workers United as their union with which to affiliate, the workers petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for an election. Last week, the workers won by a decisive majority and now have union representation! “Now, we can defend ourselves from the mistreatment, have paid vacations and holidays. Now, there can be equality,” said Stitches worker Juana Cortez. Juana had the following message for other worker in a situation like hers:

“If something unjust is happening to you at work, there are organizations like Arise and Workers United that can help protect you.”

New Strategies: Reclaiming Labor's History The Stitches campaign shows the potential for the labor movement's revitalization with innovative new organizing strategies.

Bob Reiter, Secretary/Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor and Arise Chicago Board member (above) stated, “What we’re doing here today is significant. Nationally, good jobs are being replaced by low-wage jobs, but the workers at Artistic Stitches are cutting against that.”

Workers United cited Arise Chicago’s involvement as crucial to the union victory. “The relationship between the workers center and our union has been perfect,” said Margarita Klein, staff director of Workers United. “And this is only the beginning.”

The Stitches workers’ win comes on the heels of a major victory for Chicago workers. After working for months with 47th ward Alderman Ameya Pawar, Arise Chicago conceptualized and helped craft Chicago’s anti-wage theft ordinance, that makes it possible for the City of Chicago to revoke business licenses of businesses found guilty of wage theft. Unanimously passed by City Council, the ordinance received widespread national coverage and was recently covered by London-based outlet, The Guardian.

For That Difficult Worker on Your Christmas List

Wives ask the same question every year; what do you want for Christmas? The refrain is just as predictable, “I don’t know.” Eventually the tool chest fills up and with it the list of gift ideas shrinks.

The Carhartt Made in the USA line features some of our most legendary products. These rugged styles are stitched on American soil for any person that believes in hard work.

Here is a gift idea for the working woman or man on your list that will always be appreciated; Carhartt clothing and accessories. This legendary brand is not only the tops for quality and durability, it is UNION MADE right here in the USA.

The money that working women and men make and spend accounts for 70% of the economic activity in America. The way we spend our money can make a huge difference in the lives of working families. Tax breaks for the rich will never turn them into so-called "job creators." The only thing that creates jobs is increased sales. The way to put more Americans back to work is for those of us with jobs to spend our money on goods and services that put our brothers and sisters back to work. BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN.

Whether you are getting that special someone a coats, work pants, and socks for both men and women the Made in America line are produced by United Food and Commercial Workers Union - UFCW members in two plants in Tennessee and Kentucky.

These cloths look really good, feel great and wear like iron. My Carhartt jacket has seen years of hard work in the woods clearing brush, plowing snow and fixing the darnedest things you can think of. It has protected me from flying branches, fire, and of course the cold or Wisconsin winters. If you want to make that someone special really happy on Christmas Day, give them a gift of Made in the USA work clothing from Carhartt.

Where Do Jobs Come From?

Perhaps you remember reporters fanning out across the nation interviewing small business owners two years ago. The occasion was passage of tax credits for hiring unemployed workers. Every businessperson interviewed said the same thing. Tax breaks are nice but they won’t make any difference when it comes to hiring more people.

Every employer gave the same answer when asked what will motivate them to hire. The answer is more sales. More sales is the only metric number one metric business considers when it comes to hiring. It only makes sense. Increased sales tells business it needs more capacity; more parts, more equipment and more people.

Tax breaks for the wealthy goes to the bottom line – increases profits. It does not, however, tell owners they need more people. Reducing regulation reduces costs, which in turn increases profits. Again, it does nothing to increase the demand for labor. Only increased sales can do that.

So, what will increase sales? Two thirds of American GDP comes from consumer spending. That fact suggests the best way to put people back to work. The answer begins with you and me.

BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN. This is the one thing that you have control over and it is the most important long term solution to our current economic mess. Look at the money you spend every month. Are you consciously looking for the Made In the USA sticker on that tool you buy at the hardware store? Good for you. Are you spending a large proportion of your discretionary on electronic gadgets, cheap foreign cloths and Wal-mart junk that will turn up next spring on your garage sale table? It is time to make better choices.

Check out Label Letter, the newsletter of the AFL-CIO Union Label Department. Here you will find great information about how to buy union. With the weather getting colder, there are fewer farmers markets but some larger cities continue them inside during the winter. Contact your local building trades council before hiring that remodeling contractor to make sure you they are union and hire union subcontractors.

Here is one last suggestion. With the holidays coming, why not send Union Made greeting cards? Homestead Cards, based in Portland, Oregon has a union workforce represented by Teamsters Graphic Communications Conference Local 747M. Brighten up somebody’s holiday with a greeting card that provides dignity and a living wage.

Wisconsin Recall Volunteers Contact More Than a Million Voters

This is such a cool article. It does a great job of telling the story of public employees coming together to accomplish a tremendous feat; making more than 1 million phone calls in support of senate recall elections.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/07/29/wisconsin-recall-volunteers-contact-more-than-a-million-voters/

These were all made by volunteers. No union bosses forcing them to do it. Public employees, their family members and friends giving freely of their time to right a terrible injustice. Right-wingers can try to spin it any way they want. You cannot deny the facts. Tens of thousands of volunteers made hundreds of calls each because they believe in public sector collective bargaining.