----- Original Message ----- From: "Labor Notes" <update-list-owner at mail-list.com> To: <srobin21 at comcast.net> Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 3:46 PM Subject: Urgent: Protest Murder of Mexican Workers, Build International Solidarity at the Labor Notes Conference, and More
In Today's Message:
1) Urgent: Protest Murder of Mexican Workers
2) Build International Solidarity at the Labor Notes Conference
3) Job Opening for Labor Educator
4) Travel Deals for Labor Notes Conference
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1) URGENT: PROTEST MURDER OF MEXICAN WORKERS
Police shot and killed two workers when authorities launched an assault to expel striking workers occupying the SICARTSA steel mill in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, Mexico on April 20. Over 40 other workers were wounded, most by gunshots. Reports from the scene suggest that others may also have been killed or may remain in critical condition. Workers and townspeople quickly retook the plant, but were then besieged by the police. Parts of the plant have been taken over by the Mexican Army and the Mexican Navy.
Condemning the government's attack on the strikers, a new coalition of Mexican unions called the National Front for Union Unity and Autonomy (FNUAS) has demanded: the resignation of Mexican Secretary of Labor Francisco Xavier Salazar; the impeachment of President Vicente Fox Quezada; punishment of those involved in the murders; and recognition of the elected leader of the mine workers union, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia.
This latest stand-off was the culmination of a months-long struggle between President Vicente Fox and the Mexican Miners' and Metal Workers Union (SNTMMRM). The steel workers had struck April 2, demanding the reinstatement of their union's top official, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, who had been removed from office by the government and replaced by a new leader close to Mexican mining companies.
The Frente Autentico del Trabajo (FAT), an independent Mexican union federation, has requested that letters of protest be sent to the Mexican president and secretary of labor. However, protest emails to these officials have begun bouncing back to their senders. So, please send your letters of protest to the FAT at FAT at laneta.apc.org. They will pass your emails on to government offices, one way or another.
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2) BUILD INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AT THE LABOR NOTES CONFERENCE
The 2006 Labor Notes Conference, "Building Solidarity from Below," is less than two weeks away. This year's conference will feature an extraordinary amount of international participants, giving conference attendees many unique opportunities to build cross-border networks and coalitions.
International participants will include:
* Telephone workers and union leaders from France, El Salvador, and Mexico
* Garment workers and union leaders from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka
* Auto workers from Russia, Canada, Sweden, and Great Britain
* A water worker and union leader from El Salvador
* A transit worker from Argentina
* An oil worker from Venezuela
Register today for the May 5-7 conference at http://labornotes.org/conferences/index.shtml and be a part of this global conference of troublemakers. For more information about international participation at the conference, email marsha at labornotes.org. For more information about the conference, go to http://labornotes.org/conferences/index.shtml.
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3) JOB OPENING FOR LABOR EDUCATOR
The University of Iowa Labor Center is hiring a full-time Program Consultant/Labor Educator. Responsibilities include coordinating and teaching labor education classes and conferences for Iowa trade unionists.
Requirements include a Master's degree in labor studies or other appropriate field, experience in labor education, and a willingness to travel and work week ends. (Extensive labor education experience can be substituted for a Master's degree.)
Applications will be accepted until June 15 or whenever the position is filled. Apply online at http://jobs.uiowa.edu. Additional information is available at www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr.
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4) TRAVEL DEALS FOR THE LABOR NOTES CONFERENCE
Planning on flying to the Labor Notes conference? Deals are still available at www.orbitz.com or www.travelocity.com and get a great deal. Right now, tickets from New York, Orlando and Chicago are starting at less than $175; tickets from Los Angeles, Orlando, Seattle, Houston, and San Jose are starting at less than $250; and tickets from Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. are starting at under $300. Note that there are some particularly low fares available through Southwest (www.southwest.com) and Spirit Airlines (www.spiritair.com).
If you have any questions about making travel arrangements for the Labor Notes conference, contact Marsha at 718-284-4144 or marsha at labornotes.org.
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"Putting the movement back in the labor movement"
Labor Notes 7435 Michigan Avenue Detroit, MI 48210 Tel: 313/842-6262 Fax: 313/842-0227 Email: labornotes at labornotes.org http://www.labornotes.org http://www.troublemakershandbook.org
East Coast Office: 104 Montgomery St Brooklyn, NY 11225 Tel: 718/284-4144 Fax: 718/287-3287 Email: marsha at labornotes.org
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