This is big news, and the culmination of literally years of organizing: Workers at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel — the old Masonic Temple, between the State House and Providence Place Mall — are demanding recognition of their union. Nearly 80% of workers have signed cards announcing their intent to organize. The hotel, recipient of millions …
Hotel Workers Announce Organizing Drive At Masonic Temple Read More »
Today at 3:30pm there will be a rally in front of the Westin, in support of workers there — several of whom were recently fired for joining the picket line during their break from work. Details on that below. Afterward, join Camilo Viveiros, the new director of RI Jobs with Justice, at a low-ticket fundraiser …
From Matt: Coming on the heels of 200 Providence Headstart workers voting to join SEIU and 600 nurses at Kent Hospital voting to join UNAP, North Smithfield school bus drivers voted “Union Yes!” today by voting to join SEIU. The 34 school bus drivers and aides work for First Student, Inc. and serve the town …
Big win for North Smithfield bus drivers and SEIU Read More »
Providence Business News reports big cuts to wages and health care in the Laborers’ International Union of North American Local 1033’s–the biggest union in town–new contract with the city. Remember, lower wages and inaccessible health care for union workers means lower wages and inaccessible health care for everyone who works for a living: The City of Providence …
An update for Dave’s coverage of last night’s immigration raids that took janitors across the state–RI Jobs with Justice and others are holding a press conference in about half an hour to respond to last night’s events: Last night ICE detained 31 people as they got to work. Stand together today to say we won’t …
Press Conference in response to last night’s raids Read More »
In a series of articles that started running this weekend, Steve Peoples points out that, in fact, Big Labor bosses don’t actually run Rhode Island; as is the case throughout the country, union density is dropping, shedding 1,000 or more members each year. (There are many reasons for this, and labor’s situation would certainly improve …
The legendary Scott Molloy will have to figure out how to speak with his indoor voice, as he tells tales of the RI labor movement circa 1838, and the Dorr Rebellion. Not to be missed. Fri, 5/16, 5-7pm: SALON – Meanwhile, At That Same Moment… part 7: Historian Scott Molloy on the labor movement, circa …
As the JwJ National Conference continues, I’ll be moderating a ‘Green Jobs’ panel today at 1:30, in the Westin’s Newport Room. For the full agenda, head on over here.
To the chagrin of the powers that be, a zillion lefty activists will descend on RI this weekend, for the Jobs With Justice national conference. To register, click HERE.As part of the event, there will be both a march and a rally at the state house. The March starts at the Westin Hotel at 3:45 …
This is really good news — and as such won’t get mentioned on talk radio or be the subject of Projo staff editorials: Rhode Island had the best record for worker safety in 2006, with the lowest rate of job fatalities, according to the annual Death on the Job report scheduled for release today by …
As we’ve mentioned a couple of times, the Jobs with Justice national conference will be in Providence this May. JWJ is looking for a local artist to design an official conference logo for t-shirts and such. (And there’s some money in the offing.) If you’re interested, why don’t you email us here, and we’ll pass …
Something cool at Brown this Wednesday for Women’s History Month: “Women in the Labor Movement” 4:30pm on Wednesday, March 5 Petteruti Lounge in Faunce House 75 Waterman St. Providence, RI Featuring Roxana Rivera RI Director of SEIU Local 615 and workers from Brown Learn about the role of women in leading and joining the labor …
This has been going on for years and years now, but now we’re getting e-mail propaganda from the city about it. If you missed the Special Edition of Providence City News that just came out, here’s some highlights:
The Providence Newspaper Guild Follies are this Friday — and with Rhode Island politically relevant at the national level, there’s hardcore speculation about who the surprise special guest might be. Making things even more intense — and making it even more likely that the presidential campaigns will be paying attention: The annual conference of the …
Another bit of momentum in the push for a green economy in Rhode Island. This op-ed by George Nee and Chris Wilhite comes out of a working group of enviro advocates and trades unionists that Sens Miller and Moura, RI Jobs With Justice, and I have been convening: At the same time, Rhode Island’s excessive …
This is big, and will move a lot of votes in RI: Two labor sources tell Politico that the giant Service Employees International Union, which has been neutral through the primary, is on the verge of throwing its support to Sen. Barack Obama. “It’s done,” said one person close to the union. SEIU spokeswoman Stephanie …