CT AFL-CIO MEMORIAL - "MOURN FOR THE DEAD-FIGHT FOR THE LIVING"

[Photo Above: After a 20 year struggle by the Connecticut AFL-CIO there is now a permanent workers memorial in Hartford's Bushnell Park dedicated to all workers who where injured or lost their lives while at their work site. The inscription is a quote from Mother Jones that reads, "Mourn for the Dead - Fight for the Living."] Click on photo for full screen.

[Photo Above: John Olsen, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO lead the 20 year struggle to get the Worker's Memorial. He is speaking on the steps of the State Capitol to the crowd that gathered to commemorate the memorial on April 28th, Workers Memorial Day.]

The Connecticut AFL-CIO, lead by John Olson, president, dedicated the Workers Memorial in Hartford's Bushnell park on April 28th, 2010, which is international Workers Memorial Day.

Workers Memorial Day was initiated by the AFL-CIO after the collapse of the Connecticut L'Ambiance Plaza and the devastating loss of workers' lives. More than 100 events are planned throughout the world to recognize and remember workers injured or killed on the job.

Nationally 5,071 workers died on the job and 3.7 million were injured in 2008 according to the most recent figures in the new report by the AFL-CIO. It took 20 years to get the memorial because of objections to the location on state capitol grounds or in Bushnell Park. The persistence of the Connecticut AFL-CIO won that struggle. Everyone is encouraged to stop by, view the memorial and recommit themselves to fight for worker safety.

[Other Photos] [Photo Above: The AFL-CIO Workers Memorial Committee at the site of the memorial.]

[Photo Above: State Senator Edith Prague and House Majority Leader Chris Donovan, at mic, pay their respects to injured and workers who lost their lives and pledge to continue to fight for workers safety.]

[Striking District 1199 workers joined the march to the memorial from the state capitol to Bushnell Park. You can join their picket line anytime from 6AM to 12 Midnight any day. Strike locations at in Derby, Ansonia, Winsted and Hartford. See the April 24 1199 strike article below for details.]

Posted by: Tom Connolly

A CALL FOR UNITED ACTION TO CREATE JOBS FOR ALL WITH EQUALITY AND PEACE

[Photo above: Part of the crowd that gathered at the New Haven People's Center on Sunday to honor activist in Connecticut.] Click on photo for full screen.

It was an overflow crowd with inspiring presentations and music at the People’s Center in New Haven on April 25 for the People's World/Mundo Popular Newsmaker Awards and panel discussion around the theme: "A Call to United Action to Create Jobs for All with Equality and Peace."

Kit Salazar-Smith, vice president of the Waterbury Labor Council, chaired the afternoon event. The crowd was welcomed by Joelle Fishman, Chair of the Connecticut Community Party USA, whose state convention, geared to the struggle for jobs and the 2010 elections, preceded the event.

IAM Local 1746-A in Cheshire Connecticut was recognized for a decades-long and continuing struggle to win and enforce contract language that holds Pratt & Whtiney (UTC) accountable and stops the loss of jobs. President Wayne McCarthy described the union's courageous fight which resulted in a court order preventing the giant multi-national corporation from moving jobs overseas during the life of the contract.

The Greater Hartford Labor Council received their award for broad outreach and involvement of organized workers and the community in the 2008 elections and for a pro- worker agenda for health care, job creation and workers' rights. President Peggy Buchanan announced the Council is opening a street front headquarters for more outreach.

The Asociaciion de trabajadores de New Haven is an organization of immigrants that represents unorganized workers in their struggles against extreme exploitation. The award was presented to immigrant workers who defended their rights on the job and for mobilizing the March on Washington.Organizer John Lugo stood with three immigrants whose wages had been withheld on a nearby farm, and described their struggle for justice which ended with partial pay recovered.

The audience was entertained and inspired by the music of Frank Panzarella, the poetry of Boub Bidon and several Latin songs by the dynamic quartet Beto Castillo, Jeff Fuller, Richard Hill, and Marco Castillo.

Posted and photo by Tom Connolly

NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES, LABOR AND COMMINITY RALLY TO SUPPORT STRIKING SPECTRUM CAREGIVERS

[Photo above: Hundreds of 1199 nursing home srikers and supporters gathered at Park Place Health Center in Hartford today to demand a fair contract and an end to unfair labor practices.]
Click on photo for full screen.

In the second week of an unfair labor practice strike by almost 400 nursing home caregivers employed by Spectrum Healthcare, labor organizations, residents, eleted leaders and community supporters from all over the state demonstrated to support Spectrum nursing striking workers.

The strike began on Thursday, April 15 at 6 a.m. at Spectrum’s skilled nursing homes in Hartford , Derby , Ansonia and Winsted. Late on Thursday, April 22, attorneys for Spectrum confirmed a first date of May 3rd for a return to contract negotiations but only for one of the facilities, Laurel Hill in Winsted. Park Place in Hartford will resume contract talks on May 10th; Spectrum has not yet agreed to dates for the other two facilities.

The contracts for Park Place , Laurel Hill, Birmingham Health Center ( Derby ) and Hilltop Health Center ( Ansonia ) expired more than a year ago, on March 15, 2009. 33 other nursing homes in Connecticut where contracts expired on or after that date have since come to agreements, without strikes, with members of District 1199.

Some of the other labor groups on the picket line included: Greater Hartford Labor Council, CSEA/SEIU, Hartford Federation of Teachers, American Association of University Professors, Administrative and Residuals Union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

1199 has begun a TV campaign focused on Spectrum's. Ads can be seen at:

http://www.seiu1199ne.org/.

ALSO, YOU CAN JOIN THE PICKET LINES ANYTIME FROM 6AM TO 12 MIDNIGHT.

The locations are:

BIRMINGHAM HEALTH CENTER -- 210 Chatfield St. -- Derby,

CTHILLTOP HEALTH CENTER - 126 Ford St. - Ansonia,

CTLAUREL HILL HEALTHCARE - 108 East Lake St. - Winsted,

CTPARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER - 5 Greenwood St. - Hartford, CT

Other photos of the demonstration:

Posted by: Tom Connolly

WORKER'S MEMORIAL DAY

Labor leaders, union Sisters and Brothers and friends and families of workers will gather on the north steps of the Connecticut Capitol adjacent to Bushnell Park for a Workers' Memorial Day ceremony honoring workers who have lost their lives while performing their duties. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. The ceremony will talk place on:


DATE: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
TIME: 12 Noon to 1 PM
PLACE: State Capitol - North Steps and Bushnell Park - Hartford, Ct

The ceremony includes dedication of a permanent memorial that has been constructed by union workers. The Connecticut AFL-CIO will dedicate a new monument. The monument will be unveiled at its location adjacent to the Soldiers' and Sailors' arch in Bushnell Park. This year's theme for Worker Memorial Day is "Good Jobs, Safe Jobs."

Posted by: Tom Connolly

1199 STRIKE RALLY SAT. APRIL 24TH

There will be a rally to support the 1199 strikers at the four Spectrum nursing homes. Everyone is encouraged to attend and to bring people. The rally will take place:

DATE: Saturday, April 24th, 2010
TIME: 11 AM
PLACE: PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER
5 Greenwood St., Hartford, CT [Off of Park Road]

District 1199 Vice President Almena Thompson said, "Operators of 32 other nursing homes covering almost 4,000 long-term care workers in Connecticut agreed to contracts that skipped raises in 2009 but included 2.5% wage increase this year. Spectrum is demanding that their employees go without any wage increases until July 2011--more then 2.5 years."

"Then Spectrum threatens to hire permanent replacements if workers exercise their legal right to strike. If the other operators can come to terms, why can't Spectrum?"

The union has begun a TV campaign focused on Spectrum's. The first ad can be seen at: http://www.seiu1199ne.org/.

ALSO, YOU CAN JOIN THE PICKET LINES ANYTIME FROM 6AM TO 12 MIDNIGHT. The locations are:

BIRMINGHAM HEALTH CENTER -- 210 Chatfield St. -- Derby, CT
HILLTOP HEALTH CENTER - 126 Ford St. - Ansonia, CT
LAUREL HILL HEALTHCARE - 108 East Lake St. - Winsted, CT
PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER - 5 Greenwood St. - Hartford, CT

Posted by: Tom Connolly

1199 ON STRIKE AT FOUR SPECTRUM HOMES

[Photo Above: 1199NE SEIU on the picket line this morning at 6 AM at Park Place in Hartford, CT. Click on photo for full screen.]

Nurses, nursing assistants and elder-care support staff at four skilled nursing homes operated by Spectrum Healthcare went on strike today in Ansonia, Derby, Hartford and Winsted. Picket lines will be up every day from 6 AM to 12 midnight until a settlement is reached.

Despite the efforts of a federal mediator to find a resolution to the contract dispute, Spectrum, based in Vernon, CT, made virtually no movement on the key issues in negotiations, which were attended by more than 100 members from all four of the affected fatalities. The union's Negotiating Committee offered to meet all day and through the night on Wednesday, but the company's attorney refused the offer.

District 1199 Vice President Almena Thompson said, "Operators of 32 other nursing homes covering almost 4,000 long-term care workers in Connecticut agreed to contracts that skipped raises in 2009 but included 2.5% wage increase this year. Spectrum is demanding that their employees go without any wage increases until July 2011--more then 2.5 years."

"Then Spectrum threatens to hire permanent replacements if workers exercise their legal right to strike. If the other operators can come to terms, why can't Spectrum?"

The union has begun a TV campaign focused on Spectrum's. The first ad can be seen at: http://www.seiu1199ne.org/.

JOIN THE PICKET LINES ANYTIME FROM 6AM TO 12 MIDNIGHT. The locations are:

BIRMINGHAM HEALTH CENTER -- 210 Chatfield St. -- Derby, CT

HILLTOP HEALTH CENTER - 126 Ford St. - Ansonia, CT

LAUREL HILL HEALTHCARE - 108 East Lake St. - Winsted, CT

PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER - 5 Greenwood St. - Hartford, CT

Other Park Place photos taken on 4-15-10 [Click on photo for full screen]

Posted by Tom Connolly

CONNECTICUT CLERGY ORGANIZE FOR A FAIR STATE BUDGET

[Photo Above: Connecticut clergy holds their first organizing meeting for a fair state budget at the Faith Congregational Church in Hartford, CT. Over 150 people attended. Click of photo for full screen.]

[Photo Above: Large poster that all meeting participants signed to Connecticut elected officials for a fair state budget. Also, the group has a paper statement that all can sign. See the contact information below to get forms for your organization.]

Connecticut clergy held their first organizing meeting last night to put the moral focus on a fair state budget. Over 150 people attended. Their statement in part reads:

“As people of faith, we ask our state lawmakers to craft budget priorities that reflect our social and moral goals. We should share the abundance of the human spirit and restore the principal role of government to defend the defenseless . . .”

“…We call upon our elected leaders to abandon the myth of scarcity, to abandon fear of political backlash, and to abandon the assumption that the state’s wealthier residents wish only to selfishly hoard their money…”

“…Specifically, we call upon our elected leaders to consider fair and equitable increases in a variety of state taxes, so that necessary cuts in state spending can be effectively balanced with new revenues sources. Each of us is quite willing to take on the responsibility of increased taxes because we believe Connecticut can afford to secure decent lives for all residents. Securing such lives ought to be the highest priority of state government...”

All are welcome and urged to join this effort to move forward. Please see the contacts below and join the struggle for a fair state budget!

For more information contact Rochelle Palache, 860-251-6083 or rpalacheseiu@yahoo.com or Rev. Steve Camp, Faith Congregational Church, 860-547-0820.

Posted by: Tom Connolly

JOIN THE 1199 PICKET LINE!

Hi everyone--

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 15 at 6:00 am, District 1199 workers at four nursing homes will begin their strike for a fair contract against the Spectrum Healthcare corporation. In Hartford, the workers at Park Place nursing home will be on the picket line (5 Greenwood Street, off Park Street).

I hope you will join us! Here are some facts:

**Workers at 32 other 1199 nursing homes have successfully settled their contracts. In contrast, Spectrum has avoided giving raises to the Park Place workers for more than 2 1/2 years.

**While union workers provide excellent care to their patients (Spectrum has a five-star rating!), the nursing home chain is one the the most dangerous places to work in the nation. Injuries at Spectrum are twice as frequent as the national average.

**At the same time, Spectrum is trying to cut light-duty pay for injured workers!The Spectrum workers need your support. Please join us on the line Thursday, this weekend, and for as long as it takes!

In Solidarity

Steve Thornton

Stay in touch with the strike.
Go to our website: http://www.seiu1199ne.org
Posted by: Tom Connolly

CLERGY ORGANIZE FOR A FAIR STATE BUDGET

Everyone is welcome to join the clergy in their efforts to promote a fair state budget. The meeting will take place on:

DATE: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
TIME : 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Faith Congregational Church
..............2030 Main Street Hartford

Join Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim, Rabbi Donna Berman, Rev. Stephen Camp, Rev. Dana Campbell, Rev. Joel Cruz, Jr., Right Rev.James Curry, Rev. Darrick Jackson, Rev. Jose Martinez, Rev. Day McCallister, Rev. Dave Nelson, Rev. Joshua Pawelek, Bishop John Selders, and many other religious leaders, the faithful and their allies as we apply our convictions to resolving Connecticut’s economic crisis and affirm the important of our social safety net.

“As people of faith, we ask our state lawmakers to craft budget priorities that reflect our social and moral goals. We should share the abundance of the human spirit and restore the principal role of government to defend the defenseless . . .”

All are welcome and urged to join this effort to move forward.

For more information contact Rochelle Palache, 860-251-6083 or rpalacheseiu@yahoo.com or Rev. Steve Camp, Faith Congregational Church, 860-547-0820.

Posted by: Tom Connolly

New You Tube Website

CT People Before Profits now has a YouTube website!

Click on the link for four short videos from "Keep the Ball Rolling"
Amistad Awards event held Dec 6, 2009 at the Peoples Center,
hosted by the People's World in Connecticut on the occasion
of the 90th anniversary of the CPUSA.

Beto Castillo songs - Mozanbique and Hasta Siempre

Bill Collins song - Health Care is Our Right!

Aishah Jenkins and Kendra Streater perform "Stand by Me"

Joelle Fishman - A Call to Action


Enjoy these videos!

Then put the next event into your calendar --

SUNDAY, APRIL 25 at 4 PM
at the Peoples Center 37 Howe St, New Haven

PEOPLE'S WORLD NEWSMAKER AWARDS - MAY DAY CELEBRATION
"United Action for Jobs with Equality and Peace"

-- IAM 1746-A (CHESHIRE)
-- GREATER HARTFORD LABOR COUNCIL
-- ASOCIACION DE TRABAJADORES EN NEW HAVEN

Music and homemade buffet

Hosted by People's World / Mundo Popular in Connecticut

$5 or what you can afford.
(203) 624-8664