Amistad Awards “Rise Up” for Working Class Power

Unity, inspiration and solidarity flowed through the packed gym in the Dixwell Q House during the People's World Amistad Awards, an atmosphere born from a year of hard workingclass struggles for dignity, respect and representation.

Themed “Rise Up! Time to be the Leaders of Today – Seize the Moment and the Future is Ours,” the spirited, diverse crowd of grass roots community and union members and leaders and elected officials, reflected the battles for workers' rights, equity and social justice underway in Connecticut and across the country.

Taking their seats to the live sounds of vibraphonist jazz composer Jay Hoggard and band, the excitement of the afternoon was high among family and friends of this year's awardees including Mustafa Salahuddin, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 1336 in Bridgeport, Leslie Blatteau, president of New Haven Federation of Teachers 933 (AFT CT), and Salwa Mogaddedi, Starbucks Workers United barista in Vernon.

The December 10 event also stood in solidarity with Local 33 Unite Here graduate workers at Yale who thanked everyone for the support of their union election held the previous week culminating a 30 year effort.

Hosted on the occasion of the 103^rd anniversary of the Communist Party USA, the event gave special recognition to Brian Steinberg who, four decades ago, developed the model in Hartford of People's World neighborhood routes as the basis for Communist Party clubs, now practiced throughout Connecticut and beyond.

The Special Recognition was presented by Alicia Roman-Delgado, the chair of the first such Communist Party club formed in the 1980's in Hartford's south end, and her daughter Chachie Roman. Steinberg was recognized for his “lifelong, unwavering commitment to equality and a better world.”

Accepting the recognition he said “I would like to congratulate all of you for building a united front in Connecticut that beat Trump, and we did it all together.”

2003 Amistad Awardee John Harrity, retired machinists union leader and chair of the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, presented the People's World Amistad Award to Mustafa Salahuddin. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Salahuddin credited his parents who taught him to be a pioneer, leading him to devote his life to stand up for everyday people and workers' rights.

Appreciating the Communist Party's commitment to “people before profits,” he told the audience ”communism gets a bad name because it’s about the people. The powers that be don’t want us to embrace socialism and the Communist Party, because they don’t want it to be about the people, they want it to be about themselves,” he said. Salahuddin concluded his remarks with a call for action on climate change.

2019 Amistad Awardee Ken Suzuki, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 34 UNITE HERE presented the award to Leslie Blatteau, who was elected president of the teachers union in New Haven just one year ago with a full slate. Reflecting on her years as a teacher developing an anti-racist classroom, she drew lessons for her new role in the labor movement with goals to engage her union members during times of intense stress and crisis, to work collectively for an intergenerational coalition to equalize funding for public education so all students can have the quality schools and resources they deserve.

Citing the contributions of African American women in history, she stressed to applause, “We must work to be anti-racist, because if not we're perpetuating our country's racist policies and laws embedded in the history and current practices.”

2017 Amistad Awardee State Rep. Robyn Porter presented Salwa Mogaddedi with her award. Salwa, a barista worker at Starbucks in Vernon, helped organize her co-workers to unionize this year while battling cancer. Salwa called for worker’s unity to create real change. “We have all seen first-hand how collective activity has the capacity to command change,” she said recalling a time years ago when her father along with other immigrant workers went on strike for safety on the job. “It only took my father and his co-workers a single day of striking before management acquiesced and installed fans and they returned to work.”

Salwa shared her own experiences working in the service industry since her teens, and the unfair treatment of workers including her Afghan refugee parents, and called for solidarity with workers striking today for dignity across the country and the globe.

A call to action from Connecticut Communist Party USA chair Joelle Fishman and organizer Jahmal Henderson brought the program together. Fishman credited the power of the event to the upsurge in organizing and movement building underway, citing the need to continue on. Henderson invited the attendees to “ join the Communist Party for a life with a purpose as the strongest way to organize and place that demand, repeating the theme of the awards "Seize the Moment and the Future is Ours."

The entire event was dedicated to Communist leader Art Perlo, a founding member of Local 34 Unite Here at Yale, who passed away this year. The audience rose in standing ovation following a video tribute with photos and quotes from Perlo, concluding “When ordinary people organize there is no limit to what we can achieve.”

Emcees Lisa Bergmann and Ben McManus kicked off the event with a virtual greeting from Alder Jeanette Morrison, who fought tirelessly over a decade to win the funding to rebuild the iconic Q House, open for just one year, as a centerpiece for youth and all ages in Dixwell, the heart of the Black community in New Haven.

Pandemic Pay, Utility and Rental Aid Open Amidst Demands

As the crisis of affordable housing and energy escalates, demands for funds to assist thousands of families worried about how to make it through the winter months moved the legislature to take some action in its special session.

Anger and organizing went into high gear when the promised $1,000 pandemic bonus pay for essential workers who risked their lives was almost cut back due to the lack of funds allocated.

The demand to represent the needs of workers in the special session last week was made clear. As a result the $35 million pandemic pay fund was increased to $105 million. It was announced that the full $1,000 bonus will be coming to everyone who applied and earns less than $50,000. a year.

In a strong statement, Shellye Davis, Executive Vice President of the CT AFL CIO declared ““With a projected multi-billion dollar surplus and the largest Rainy Day Fund our state has ever seen, Gov. Lamont and the legislature need to fully fund the pandemic pay program for essential workers. In fact, this program should be expanded to include municipal essential workers who were left out.”

Assistance for rent, mortgage and utilities for working class families has also been secured, while challenges against utility company rate hikes proceed. During the special legislative session funding for LIHEAP (Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program) was increased to $127 million to assist residents struggling with heating costs.

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, (CEAP,) helps Connecticut residents afford to heat their homes. To apply, visit this link. on-line or contact your local Community Action Agency.

Also starting this month funds have been allocated to restart UniteCT, the eviction prevention program which closed in March. The Department of Housing is also accepting applications for the Rent Bank.

Persistence on the part of those who apply remains necessary due to inadequate staffing to process applications.

Anyone who has been issued a Notice to Quit or any other eviction papers should immediately call Statewide Legal Services at (800) 453-3320 to discuss the case with legal aid, or apply online at: CT Online Application (slsct.org).  Information is also available at: EvictionHelpCT.org – Providing help to eligible tenants facing eviction or loss of housing subsidy.

People's World Amistad Awards Set for Dec 10

Excitement is building for the December 10 People's World Amistad Awards as demands for dignity, respect and workers' rights grow in Connecticut and across the country. Themed “Rise Up! Time to be the leers of Today – Seize the Moment and the Future is Ours” the awards will honor three grass roots leaders and organizers, Mustafa Salahuddin, Leslie Blatteau and Salwa Mogaddedi.

Mustafa Salahuddin, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1336, is a labor and climate justice activist and leader. He was elected president of his local nine years ago, and has worked tirelessly to fight for fair wages, retirement benefits and improved working conditions for the betterment of the 466 mechanics, transit/para-transit operators, school bus drivers, dispatchers and service workers. Mustafa's focus is towards renewable energy that will impact transit workers and the planet now and in the future.

Leslie Blatteau is completing her first year as president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers addressing teacher retention, well being, working conditions and learning conditions during a period of unprecedented educator vacancies. The union just ratified a strong contract securing historic raises and ensuring their seat at the table. Leslie prioritizes member engagement and activism, as well as partnership with students, parents, and families, toward building a coalition to fight for the schools their communities deserve. As a high school teacher. Leslie strived to create an anti-racist and student-centered classroom.

Salwa Mogaddedi is an Afghan-American woman and labor organizer, born and raised in California to refugee parents. As a result of her upbringing, and the experiences of her parents and family, she has always been passionate in the fight for human and labor rights. As a Starbucks barista. She and her co-workers organized against the unfair and unsafe working conditions in their workplace and won a union recognition election in July.  When Salwa was diagnosed and fighting cancer, she remained one of the key union organizers and worked tirelessly to help her workplace gain union representation.

 

The event will also pay special recognition to Brian Steinberg who has built the readership of People's World as an organizing tool in Hartford and Connecticut for many years.

The Starbucks workers and graduate teachers in Local 33 Unite Here at Yale who are voting for union recognition this week will receive solidarity support during the event.

A performance by renowned vibraphonist and jazz composer Jay Hoggard will complete the program.

The Awards are dedicated to Art Perlo, whose living legacy carries on in the struggle for transformational change to put people, peace and planet before profits.

The event will be held at the historic Dixwell Q House, 197 Dixwell Avenue in New Haven on Saturday, December 10 at 4 pm. Tickets are $10. Scholarship tickets are available. For advance tickets visit https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/2022-amistad-awards . For more information messages can be left at 203-524-8664.