Historic Contract Victory for Local 33 Breaks New Ground

A near unanimous vote of 1,705 to 10 ratified the first ever union contract of graduate workers Unite Here Local 33 and Yale University after many attempts spanning more than three decades. Voting took place over two days at the “union church” where Unite Here has its home at the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church.

A week earlier in the same room, the People's World Amistad Awards cheered an announcement by Paul Seltzer, a leader in Local 33 and a graduate teacher at Yale, that a tentative agreement had been reached.

“ I’m very excited to announce that after over thirty years, yesterday we reached a tentative agreement for our first contract with the university.,” said Seltzer. “That contract will include amazing pay raises, great health care, and new, important workplace protections. These things will be transformational for so many graduate workers at Yale, myself included.”

Seltzer said the tentative agreement would be discussed with union members leading up the ratification vote on the tentative agreement. In January the graduate workers had voted to join Local 33 by a 91% majority, leading to the collective bargaining process for their first contract covering 3,200 graduate teachers and researchers.

A contract survey identified priorities for negotiations including “higher pay, better health care, a comprehensive grievance procedure, protections for international workers, and improved benefits for families and dependents,” all of which were won, with over $2 million in assistance funds for Graduate Workers over the course of the five year contract:

 

“ I’m really excited that not only has our union’s fight been defining for building power for academic workers everywhere, but also that our union, which is primarily made up of young workers, is at the forefront of the resurgence of the labor movement in the U.S.” said Seltzer, adding to the packed house present for the Amistad Awards, “I’m very glad we can be here to celebrate so many of the other folks also making that happen.”

PhD graduate workers will receive at least 15 percent pay increases and dental insurance. International students will receive increased financial support related to immigration and visa issues, among other benefits.

Also included is “ strong language on accessibility and accommodations, health and safety, job security, and so much more.” as well as language establishing “ a strong and functional union that can effectively advocate for Graduate Workers.

People's World Amistad Awards: “Time to Organize!”

As the year comes to an end, the exciting 2023 People’s World Amistad Awards brought together many diverse people from all walks of life, community, elected officials, union members, immigrants and youth, at New Haven’s United Methodist Church to celebrate achievements highlighting a year of hard working-class struggles for dignity, unity and solidarity here in Connecticut and across the country.

This year’s ceremony recognized three working class champions and allies who put the people first. State Senator Gary Winfield, Stacie Harris-Byrdsong, president of AFSCME Council 4, and Luis Luna, coalition manager of Husky 4 Immigrants.

The event also stood “In Solidarity” with the Connecticut for All coalition and the Blake St. Tenants Union who have been on the ground shifting power back to the people’s needs.

Unite Here Local 34 leaders Ken Suzuki and Barbara Vereen welcomed everyone to their meeting home and announced with Local 33 organizer Paul Seltzer to a standing ovation that Yale’s graduate worker union just reached a tentative agreement with the University after 33 years of organizing and nine months of contract negotiations.

The Amistad Awards are presented annually by the People’s World on the occasion of the anniversary of the Communist Party USA, in the spirit of building unity against racism, red-baiting and all forms of bigotry, and standing for workers rights, equality, peace, democracy, and a better world.

The program included a video CPUSA at 104: Labor Tributes featuring solidarity testimonies from nine labor leaders in Connecticut reflecting strikes and struggles over the decades.

The renowned jazz drummer and reggae percussionist Pheeroan akLaff and his band kept the energy upbeat during the event including lyrics for a ceasefire. Son Chaneques Rebeldes also performed.

In their remarks, the Awardees emphasized the need to organize together to protect democratic rights and win economic and racial equity. “We can't wait,” said Senator Winfield, following the call by Stacie Harris-Byrdsong that “we must recognize the power we have in this shared community,” and Luis Luna's warning about the plans of the right-wing 2025 project to destroy all rights.

After the awardees impactful speeches, Joelle Fishman and Jahmal Henderson, organizers with the Connecticut Communist Party gave a call to action. The evening’s festivities ended with a call for attendees to sign postcard for a ceasefire to Congress.

Confeence Envisions Equal, Quality Public Schools in Connecticut

Big plans were envisioned for a future of equal, quality public education in Connecticut at a one day state-wide conference hosted by the New Haven Federation of Teachers.

“We are here,” said president Leslie Blatteau, “to plan to transform into an education system we can all be proud of.”

Kris Solozarno, a student with Educators Rising at Metro High School agreed it's time to think big, saying “We can change the world and make it better for students and kids.”

Keynote speaker, Rep Jamal Bowman from New York, got a rousing welcome. A teacher and principal before election to Congress, he said he ran for office when he realized it is policy that has to be changed.

“You all, like me, see the unlimited potential and magic of our children every day. I am driven by the urgent necessity to unlock that brilliance.” said Bowman.

“Our world is crippled by racism, war, sexism and inequality,” he said, emphasizing the urgency to “free us from the oppressive education system in place,” and warning that otherwise “we will have a fascist nation.”

Blatteau recalled meeting Bowman at a conference for racial justice in North Carolina which addressed the danger posed by right-wing extremist groups like Moms for Liberty who are running candidates for school boards across the country with the goal to dismantle public education.

“Our vision,” said Blatteau, “is fully funded, fully staffed public schools whose goal is joyful and liberator y learning.”

Panel discussions and small groups spent the afternoon developing a collective vision that prioritizes the needs and potential of all students..

Giving a welcome to the day, Stacie Harris-Byrdsong, president of AFSCME Council 4 and AFSCME Local 3194 and an educator for 30 years said, “I am a champion for a just education system in Connecticut., and radically transforming equity in public schools.”

Recognizing it will take everyone in the fight together she said, “What all you do to embrace the call for equity and dignity in schools in Connecticut can make it a reality.”

On Saturday December 9 Stacie Harris-Byrdsong will receive the People's World Amistad Award along with State Senator Gary Winfield and Husky 4 Immigrants coalition manager Luis Luna. The event will be held at 4 pm at the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church on Elm and College Streets in New Haven.

Union Members, Students Protest Cuts to Higher Education

A fight for the right to higher public education is heating up as funding cuts threaten academics and student services at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU).

As the Board of Regents held a special meeting to discuss “budget mitigation,” students and faculty gathered outside to oppose proposed cuts and tuition hikes and gear up to demand emergency funding during the 2024 legislative session.

“Larger class sizes, fewer faculty, canceled sections, and higher tuition. Each of these cuts on its own will make it harder for students to get to college and stay there until they graduate–students who work, who have family responsibilities, who are food and housing insecure, students from under-resourced high schools,” warned John O’Connor, secretary of CSU-AAUP which represents over 3,000 faculty at the four Connecticut State Universities.

During the state budget fight earlier this year, the Recovery for All coalition of 61 labor, community and faith organizations, now named Connecticut for All, organized countless rallies and public testimonies to support public higher education funding.

Education supporters showed that the money is there if the tax system were to require the richest few to pay the same rates as the majority in our state. But budget cuts followed the imposition of guardrails to enforce spending cap guidelines.

“These caps and guardrails never seem to apply to the wealthy few, but instead fall on those who are striving for better,” said Michael Hinton, an instructor of English and theater at Tunxis Community College.

“The state’s leadership claims to be champions of equity, but they refuse to put the necessary money behind it to make equity happen,” he concluded.

Xander Tyler, a senior at CCSU, implored the Governor to “look beyond the next election cycle, beyond the talking points about austerity, to the future of Connecticut.”

State Senator Gary Winfield, also a staff member of CSU-AAUP will receive the People's World Amistad Award along with Stacie Harris-Byrdsong president of AFSCME Council 4, and Luis Luna campaign manager of Husky 4 Immigrants.

Connecticut for All will receive “In Solidarity” recognition at the event on Saturday December 9 at 4 pm at the First and United Summerfield Methodist Church at the corner of College and Elm street in New Haven. Click here to reserve tickets: People’s World Amistad Awards 2023

Housing is a Human Right

 

“. . .but it is private property. The owners can do what they want.” Environmentalists hear such statements repeatedly.

On Friday, November 17, 2023, some of the homeless who live outdoors in Waterbury heard it with devastating consequences.

 

At least a dozen men and women were uprooted from their tent city in Waterbury near the Naugatuck River. The Saint Vincent DePaul Waterbury Shelter was filled to capacity. One woman came from Meriden looking for shelter but the 108 beds there were already taken. She had no choice but to live outdoors in the tent encampment.

 

Now, she had nowhere to go. 

 

As trees were being cut down with chainsaws around her, anger spilled out. “This sucks. The city needs to buy the land and put us all back.” (Wtby Rep-Am)

 

As is often the case, one of the men was a veteran. He indicated that they had no notice of the eviction.

 

The company, Durable Radiator, owns the land along Thomaston Ave.

 

Complicating the issues is that many Waterbury apartments have been scooped up by absentee landlords. Many are from out-of-state. Rents have gone through the roof.

 

With COVID money drying up, more people are on the streets.

 

With an irony not lost on the homeless, a tour of the encampment was taking place as they were being evicted. United Way of Greater Waterbury scheduled the visit unaware of the disruption.

 

One of those on the tour was State Representative Lezlye W. Zupkus (R) of Prospect. She said it was difficult to watch.

 

She added, “I don’t see the company as the bad guy.” Zupkus then said in a statement right out of a Charles Dickens novel, “. . .I understand businesses need to grow.” (WTBY Rep-Am)

 

To paraphrase Martin Luther King, as the bombs drop in Gaza, they land in the Naugatuck Valley. Money from the almost one trillion dollar military budget needs to be moved for housing, climate change mitigation and other human needs.

 

Also fitting is this year’s Amistad theme. “It’s an Enough is Enough Moment – Time to Organize.”

 

For the booklet, “Housing is a Human Right”. Email ct-cpusa@pobox.com