Saturday, August 2, 2014

Reflections on 2014 Summer School: 1 Day passed

          It is the second day after the end of summer school that now, seems like a distant past.  Despite the gloomy weather, as the rain hits my bedroom window, I wake to a visual of masses of people holding hands, doing the wave, swaying and singing:  "Solidarity Forever.  Our Unions Make Us Strong."




"I am a Human. 
I am a Female.
I am a Worker. 
I Have Rights."

Lourdes Ashley Hunter

      
 
      

    With the elections nearing, it is up to me to intelligently cast all my votes; to Question and Hold All Transparent and Accountable, "How Will You Affect Hard Working Human Life?"  For if I don't, We may lose all our existing rights.

          I miss my summer school sisters, but as I hear the rain trickle on my bedroom window, I get excited and look forward to hearing how my sisters will creatively reign.  

Bev on the guitar, as we sing, 
"Solidarity Forever. HIStory shows Our Unions make us strong."

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Frances Perkins In Pictures!

This week we built bonds of sisterhood that we will never lose. The women of Frances Perkins were honored to be under her mantle, the woman who brought us modern fire safety rules after the Triangle Shortwaist Fire in 1911. She was a phenomenal woman and throughout this week we discovered that we are, too.

We mapped our unions, learned about ourselves and leaders and shared stories and marbles. The bond we have built here with us and with our new sisters in the labor movement. 

We are all necessary ingredients in the stew of our work! Without the pepper, where's the spice?!?!

Working with the many, we are just PERFECT!: Quotes from the Rose Schneiderman Leadership Class

Rose Schneiderman Leadership Class

Quotes:
"Only you can be the change you want to see in our union."

"My address is like my echoes. It travels with me. I abide where there is a fight against wrong."-Mother Jones

I always wondered why SOMEBODY didn't do something about that then I realized I AM SOMEBODY!!!

If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything.

Every thunderstorm begins with a single raindrop.

"Nothing about us, without us!"

"...and then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."-Martin Miemoller

In the environment of your union, your responsibility is to recognize members in your family of workers who are powerless and powerful and to act accordingly.-Shelley Martin

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."-John Quincy Adams

"We must speak up and speak out. Silence is not acceptable in today's Labor Movement."-Shellye Davis


"Our movement is of the working people, for the working people, by the working people. There is not a right too long denied to which we do not aspire in order to achieve; there is not a wrong too long to endure that we are not determined to abolish."-Samuel Gompers (Rosario Cabrera)

"Big dogs don't have to bark. I am not a get along for the go along girl."-Jackie Elliot

"Concluding from a distance is dangerous."-Gmasnoh J. Williams-Gerring 

"There is no tomorrow."-Barbara Hafner

"I may have problems, but my problems don't have me."-Michelle Kellering 

"Working-by myself I know, I am good. Working with the many, I know we are just perfect!"-Michelle Kellering

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Bhairavi Desai: Visionary Organizer and Progressive Leader of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance





"When you realize how many enemies you have, you realize your potential for power" - Bhairavi Desai

Every day in NYC one million people are served by taxi drivers. Bhairavi Desai, the opening plenary speaker for the 39th Summer School for Union Women held at Queen's College in NY has been organizing taxi drivers since 1996. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of the 17,000 member New York Taxi Workers Alliance since 1998. Taxi drivers are one of the most vulnerable workforces in the city of NY. High risk, drivers are 60 times more likely to be assaulted or killed on the job. In 2012, NYTWA won a liveable income raise, first-time regulations of taxi companies, and a Health and Disability Fund for drivers. The first for taxi drivers nationwide and one of the first for independent contractors. In 2011, NYTWA was chartered to build the National Taxi Workers Alliance, the 57th union of the AFL-CIO.  The NTWA is the first charter for non-traditional workers since the farm workers in the 1960's, and the first one ever of independent contractors.  NYTWA has increased drivers' incomes by 35%-45%, secured over $15 million in emergency aid to drivers, and provided pro bono or discounted legal, financial management and health services to over 10,000 drivers and families.

Ms. Desai was drawn to this industry when she saw how hard drivers worked to survive under such difficult conditions.  99% male, this workforce of mostly immigrant, independent contractors start each day at a negative balance, often working 60 hours or more per week. Because drivers work all shifts, Ms. Desai would organize until 3am or 4am in the morning sharing with them how a union is an anti-poverty vehicle, and building a culture of mutual respect and solidarity.  In 1998, drivers went on strike and management fought back hard, spreading malicious gossip about her character, objectifying and sexualizing her actions. Ms. Desai reflected on these challenging moments by stating, "Feminism taught us that we do not need to internalize these attacks, but analyse the lack of value of the people who perpetuate these things."  As she gave examples of some of the tricks that management used (such as distribute publications that encouraged looking for fares near stripper places) she went on to say, “These publications dehumanize and objectify women. If you cannot recognize the humanity of women, you cannot recognize the humanity of anyone."

Recently, a driver was hit in the back by a drunk driver and killed.  He had two sons and a wife in India.  The union brought the family to the United States for the funeral, fighting hard to make it possible as the man was an undocumented worker.  For the first time in thirteen years, the wife and sons saw their father, in his casket.  Through tears, the son said in pride, "This is my father's union! They made it possible to see him."