Solidarity Rally - "We Are One"

When workers in Wisconsin were faced with an unprecedented attack, they responded with an unprecedented show of solidarity. Now, we need your help to extend that energy everywhere.

Please join our "We Are One" solidarity action.

WHAT: “We Are One” rally in Hartford, Conn., for teachers, firefighters, nurses, construction workers and all who are under attack by governors and state legislatures

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 12 noon

WHERE:
State Capitol
210 Capitol Ave.
Hartford

Posted by Tom Connolly

A New Generation of Dreamers

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=166815376699123

37th Annual African American History Month Celebration
Hosted by the People's World
Sunday, February 27 · 4:00pm - 6:00pm
People's Center, 37 Howe Street, New Haven
A New Generation of Dreamers
Freedom Rides Yesterday - Freedom Rides Today

Our 37th Annual African American History Month Celebration takes place 50 years after the Freedom Rides by young people who traveled from the North to desegregate the South. They were beaten and jailed but they did not turn back. Their courage helped win passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. Today we face new challenges of racism and violence and a new movement for equality and social justice is coming forward. "A New Generation of Dreamers. Freedom Rides Yesterday - Freedom Rides Today" is the theme of this year's celebration hosted by the People's World.

A panel discussion will feature Lula White, a retired New Haven teacher, who participated in the Freedom Rides from Chicago while attending college; New Haven high school student Kendra Streater and Hartford high school student Vyctoria Viera, immigrant rights activist and union leader Ricardo Henriquez and State Representative Gary Holder-Winfield.

Prizes and recognition certificates will be awarded to participants in the high school arts and writing competition, "How can we build on The Dream for ourselves and the next generation?"

Drumming will be performed by Brian Jarawa Gray.

Children's posters drawn on Martin Luther King's birthday at the Peabody Museum will be on exhibit.

The program will conclude with a light buffet.
Tickets are $5 or what you can afford.

This event marks the opening of the 2011 People's World fund drive in Connecticut. Your contribution toward the $2,000 goal for this event and your free subscription to the daily on-line format at peoplesworld.org will be an excellent way to keep up to date with the latest developments and opinions in the struggle for equality,
worker's rights and democratic rights, peace and social change.

FEB. 14TH - PUBLIC HEARING ON SustiNet

Public Hearing on SustiNet
Joint Public Health, Insurance, and Human Services Committees)

WHEN: Monday, February 14th at 1:00 pm* (come when you can for as long as you can).

*The Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care will meet at 12:00 pm in Room #2200

WHERE: The Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Ave, Hartford

WHY: Because we have put up with a cruel, confusing, unsustainable, racist system for too long. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create positive, lasting change in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in CT, while showing the nation that we won't go back on health care reform!

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane," -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

This is the moment we've been praying and fighting for: SustiNet (Connecticut's answer to universal health care and the nation's best shot at a public option) legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives and we need YOUR support to move it forward. Stand with hundreds of allies at the Public Hearing.

It is thanks to you and other Leaders in this movement that we have this historic opportunity to create a health care system that is accessible, equitable, cost-effective, and sustainable; that is focused on care rather than denial, exclusion, and profit at the expense of people's health and well-being. We have elected and developed many legislative allies, but we also face a powerful foe: the insurance industry.

People across the country are watching CT to see how this will play out. The outcome will significantly alter the debate on health care reform and impact the direction federal reform takes -for good or ill. For that reason and a million others we need YOU to stand up and support healthcare4every1. It's now or never - and we can't afford to squander this historic opportunity. Too many lives are at stake.

Make this Valentine's Day, count - show some love for a cause that truly matters, a cause who's time has finally come. To testify on behalf of SustiNet, or for more information please contact us right away: jaime@ctneweconomy.org, 203.710.1084 -or- rhona@ctneweconomy.org, 860.805.3926

Posted by Tom Connolly

1199 MLK BIRTHDAY PICKET LINE ACTION

JOIN THE PICKED LINE!

DATE: SATURDAY, JAN. 15, 2011

TIME: 10:00 to 11:30 AM

PLACE: PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER, 5 GREENWOOD ST., HARTFORD, CT

"WHENEVER YOU ARE ENCAGED IN WORK THAT SERVES HUMANITY AND IS FOR THE BUILDING OF HUMANITY, IT HAS DIGNITY AND IT HAS WORTH."

These were Dr. King’s words in 1968, just days before his death. Today, workers like those at the Spectrum Nursing homes have been engaged in a nine-month battle for dignity and justice.

Almost 400 CNAs, nurses, dietary, housekeeping and laundry workers have endured illegal firings, harassment, dangerous working conditions, bad faith bargaining and permanent replacements.

We are standing strong and we will win. Support from families and patients, other unions, religious leaders and elected officials have helped us. You can help too, as we celebrate Dr. King and his legacy of struggle for economic and social justice; JOIN US JANUARY 15th!

For more information contact the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199/SEIU 1-800-922-1768

Posted by Tom Connolly

ANGRY SANTA VISITS THE 1199 PICKET LINE

The workers from Park Place, Birmingham, Hilltop, and Laurel Hill health care centers, District 1199, have spent the last eight months on the picket lines fighting Spectrum.

Your support is encouraged. What follows are things that you can do to help the picketers and pictures of the Angry Santa Rally --"BAD SPECTRUM! NO PRESENTS FOR YOU!"

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP?

JOIN THE PICKET LINES ANYTIME BETWEEN 6 AM AND 12 MIDNIGHT at the following strike locations:

Birmingham Health Center, 210 Chatfield Street, DerbyCT
Hilltop Health Center, 126 Ford Street, Ansonia
Laurel Hill Healthcare, 106 East Lake Street, Winsted
Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford

If you can, bring wood (and kindling) for the fire barrel.

SEND A DONATION:

Send a donation to: The 1199 Strike and Defense Fund. Checks should be sent to: District 1199, 77 Huyshope Avenue , Hartford , CT 06106. The union has been on strike since April 15, 2010

PICTURES OF THE DEC. 18TH RALLY AT PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER IN HARTFORD

Posted and Photo's by Tom Connolly