[GPSCC-chat] Fw: Defend Fired Unionists Who Supported Mumia!

[John Thielking]

James,

I'm thinking of going to this protest in Oakland at 3PM on Saturday November 9, 2013 right after I attend the Andy Lopez protest at 24th and Mission in SF at 1PM on Saturday November 9, 2013. Do you think you could make it to either one or both of these? Thanks.

Sincerely,

John Thielking
408-580-6027


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Chris Kinder <cskinder44 at gmail.com>
To: 
Sent: Thursday, November 7, 2013 7:55 PM
Subject: Defend Fired Unionists Who Supported Mumia!
 




All Out! Defend Fired Unionists Who Supported Mumia!

Hands Off the School Bus Union 5!
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!

National Day of Solidarity on Saturday, Nov. 9th

The Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal urges you to come out to defend union school bus drivers who were fired by a union-busting transnational corporation for legally protesting unfair labor practices in Boston. 

These firings took place on the very day (November 1st) of a scheduled showing of the documentary, "Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary," which the school bus drivers' union had helped to organize and promote!

A National Day of Solidarity with the five fired (one suspended) drivers, and with all Boston school bus drivers, has been organized for this Saturday, the 9th of November 2013. Protests are being held at offices of Veolia, the corporation responsible for these union-busting attacks.

Protest this Saturday, Nov. 9th:

In Oakland: Come to Veolia's offices at 1720 Broadway, at 3 PM, Saturday
     Organized by Transport Workers Solidarity Committee
     (1720 Broadway is 3 & ½ blocks north of 12th St BART)

In Boston: Rally outside Freeport Bus Yard. 
     Gather at: Dorchester Ave. & Hoyt St, Dorchester, at 1 PM Saturday
    (at Dorchester & Hoyt on the 18 bus)

More information and details in the forwarded message below:

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tova Fry <tova.fry at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [Organizing] Director Stephen Vittoria on Boston premiere and School Bus 5
Date: November 6, 2013 4:07:00 PM PST
To: TWSC <organizing at transportworkers.org>
Reply-To: Tova Fry <tkfry at umich.edu>


Two more of the five were fired today, totaling four fired and one suspended! All out Saturday, 11/9, at 3pm at Veolia's 1720 Broadway, Oakland office to support the Boston School Bus 5 National Day of solidarity with the five and all the Boston school bus drivers. See below for one small example of how this union organizes solidarity.

Tova 

Oakland action: https://www.facebook.com/events/418384614951137/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar

Boston info: web http://bostonschoolbus5.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Solidarity-the-Voice-of-United-School-Bus-Union-Workers/300080180003514?directed_target_id=0

----- Forwarded Message -----
"Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary" Director Stephen Vittoria comments on Boston premiere and School Bus 5

http://www.mumia-themovie.com/blog.html

Boston Strong?
06/11/13 09:59 Filed in: Inside Look

Written by Stephen Vittoria 
(Los Angeles)

Rather than stand behind the dedicated men and women of Steelworkers Local 8751 – the Boston School Bus Drivers Union – the Mayor of Boston, along with the notorious transnational union-busting corporation Veolia, helped to orchestrate the demolition of union leadership, further weakening the rights of rank and file members. It was union busting at its worst and it’s become an all-too common practice in America as we watch corporations line up at their gluttonous trough while unions suffer.

In early October when drivers participated in a legal protest of Veolia’s unjust labor practices, Veolia illegally reached out to the Boston cops who were more than happy to forcibly remove the drivers. Veolia then illegally locked the gates to the bus holding lot and refused to allow the drivers back to work. Veolia and their partner in crime, Mayor Thomas Menino, then zeroed in on the five union leaders for termination. (The same Thomas Menino who when asked how he would handle the situation in Detroit said he would blow up the city and start over. Boston strong, eh?)

In a show of solidarity, union workers throughout Boston (and throughout the U.S., Latin America, South America, and elsewhere) have stepped up to support their brothers and sisters as they fight another corrupt machine for their rights.

On Friday, November 1, “Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary” was scheduled to screen in Boston. The Boston premiere of the film at Hibernian Hall was organized and sponsored by the Boston School Bus Union and the Women’s Fightback Network. At 10am that morning, the leadership of the union was fired by Veolia.

This was the environment and atmosphere that surrounded the film’s premiere. Some folks may have folded but not these courageous people. Instead of wallowing in the fact that they were under attack, their livelihood in jeopardy, the five leaders – backed by the solidarity of the rank and file – used the evening and the remarkable story of Mumia Abu-Jamal as a rallying point. They embraced Mumia’s struggle as their own – and in fact it is. The fight for justice – be it legal justice, rights in the workplace, education, healthcare, fair housing, and so forth is all the same struggle against corruption, oppression, and the chains of capitalism.

Late that evening after the Boston premiere, I received an email from Steve Gillis, one of the organizers (and now one of the School Bus Union 5) and he reported that three hundred people packed the hall and celebrated the life and revolutionary times of Mumia. In part, his email reported:

“You should know that your film reached deep into Boston's most oppressed communities last night, and that it did what only truly great film can do, provide a centerpiece and catalyst for new thought and vision about a better world, and how to move forward toward that goal.”

Steve’s note to me meant a great deal. It’s why filmmakers should make documentaries – that moment when you realize your work touched a nerve and offered some truth, some hope, and some inspiration to others.

Also, our thanks to Steve Gillis, Chuck Turner, Andre Francois, and Monica Moorehead, who all spoke at the event – their longtime support of Mumia Abu-Jamal and his struggle for freedom inspires me.

This message from: the Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
PO Box 16222 • Oakland CA 94610 • 510-763-2347 • www.laboractionmumia.org
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