COALITION PARTNERS WILL STAND FOR JUSTICE ON NATIONWIDE DAY OF ACTION APRIL 4

Rochester, N.Y.--Working families and progressive forces are coming together to face down attacks on good jobs and the right to bargain for a middle-class way of life. Beginning with worship services over the April 1 weekend, and continuing through the week of April 4, unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies will host a range of community and workplace-focused actions.

We’ve seen the turmoil in Wisconsin, where more than 100,000 people flooded the state capital multiple times. We’ve seen it in Ohio and Indiana as well, where protests against anti-worker legislation have continued for over a month. As a result, progressive voices are winning on many issues and advocates say we must keep the momemtum moving in the right direction.

Bess Watts, who doubles as CSEA Local 828 president and is also president of the Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride At Work, says that whether you were directly involved in worker uprisings or not, you are a part of the movement. These huge efforts were made possible because of the solidarity of people like you, acting together.

Monroe County Legislator Dick
Beebe and his wife Tammy at
a recent rally on March 17.
photo:  Ove Overmyer

"GLBT workplace rights and benefits are inextricably linked with the strength of labor and unions," says Watts. She added, "The weakening of unions and collective bargaining could be devastating for those vulnerable minorities whose only workplace protections are offered by a contract. For all workers, the power of standing together is one of the most effective ways to ensure fair working conditions. For GLBT workers and their families that is particularly true. The "WE ARE ONE" national day of action will demonstrate that strength does in fact lie in unity among all workers regardless of minority status."

The workers of America are now combating these new threats with unprecedented solidarity. On April 4, and on the days surrounding it, the LGBT community, people of faith and middle-class families across the country will be organizing numerous solidarity actions. Together, they will stand with working people in Wisconsin and dozens of other states where corporate-bought politicians are trying to take away the rights for which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life.

WE ARE ONE

The "WE ARE ONE" movement is seeking to turn this moment into a larger grassroots effort to refocus our national leadership's attention on jobs. It is worth noting that in the final year of his life, MLK was in the process of organizing a mass demonstration in Washington to protest unemployment and poverty conditions that were actually not as worse then as they are today.

And now, conservative economic policies are threatening to take us into a sustained period of high unemployment, continued stagnant wages and increased economic insecurity for both the poor and the middle class.

April 4 will be a day in which average folk will call out the people who are pushing this toxic agenda and present a different vision of an America that has a resurgent middle class standing on the foundation of a new economy of broad prosperity.

Please feel free to contact Pride At Work or CSEA Local 828 today about how you or your organization can get involved.