Labor Day Inspires Fightback for Union Rights
The
march began on Albany Ave. at a McDonald's where fast food workers
joined a national strike action taking place at hundreds of locations
across the country. When the march reached Community Health Services,
members of AFT Connecticut who won their union election asked for
support in the fight to win $15 an hour in their contract.
As
the march crossed the bridge into downtown, the devastating impact of
wealth inequality was stark. As Pastor A J Johnson said at the
closing rally, in the impoverished African American community the
march passed many fast food restaurants owned by billionaire CEOs who
pay low wages that don't cover the rent, while the downtown is filled
with huge profitable corporate headquarters. Everyone deserves a
living wage he and other speakers declared.
In
Hamden, the Connecticut AFL-CIO annual labor day breakfast was
addressed by Sen. Chris Murphy, Congresswoman Elisabeth Esty and
State Rep. Robyn Porter among others. They urged the union members to
stay engaged and stop dangerous attempts to destroy unions and
democratic rights. Afterward, the first graduating class of women in
the building trades received certificates in an inspiring ceremony.
On
Labor Day in New Haven a community dinner was held in solidarity with
Marco Reyes and his family at the First and Summerfield United
Church. Reyes has been in sanctuary for a month as lawyers challenge
his deportation order which would separate him from his wife and
children.
The
labor day theme continues in a series of Solidarity Movie Nights at 6
pm on Fridays at the Peoples Center 37 Howe Street, New Haven. The
movies highlight past labor struggles with lessons for today: Salt of
the Earth on September 8, PRIDE on September 15, and 10,000 Black Men
Named George on September 22. The showings are free. Hosted by the CT
People's World Committee, discussion will follow. Find the event
pages on Facebook for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment