October 27, 2023Ford/UAW deal, guest worker issues, vetting school board members, and more!
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Contact all members of Congress:
- By phone: (202) 224-3121
- By email: democracy.io
- By US mail: Representatives / Senators
- By fax: Representatives / Senators
- By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- FORD AGREES TO A DEAL, GM AND STELLANTIS NEXT?
The UAW has reached a tentative deal with Ford, winning huge concessions for the workers – including a 25% pay hike plus the reinstatement of cost-of-living increases, an increase in starting wages, better pensions, the right to strike over plant closures, and the elimination of wage tiers. This deal still needs to be ratified by a majority vote of UAW members who work at Ford, but it represents significant progress over Ford’s initial offers, an important victory for the strikers – and a bigger pay raise for Ford workers than they earned between 2001 and 2022. The union is having strikers at Ford go back to work for the moment, but the picket lines remain in force at Stellantis and GM. Let’s show our solidarity! We can find details on how to contact the CEOs of Stellantis and GM, picket lines we can join and bring supplies to, and information on how to canvass dealerships here. - DEMAND BETTER CONDITIONS FOR SMALL DAIRY-FARM WORKERSA new ProPublica report reveals that, when workers (typically migrants) at small dairy farms die on the job, OSHA, the federal agency charged with regulating workplace safety, often does not investigate due to confusion about the worker safety rules governing these farms. If OSHA does not investigate, then it doesn’t figure out what happened, and can’t require changes that would protect workers going forward. Let’s share the link to ProPublica’s report with our Members of Congress (here’s the link: https://www.propublica.org/article/wisconsin-dairy-farms-osha-safety-death-investigation-immigrant-workers) and tell them we want legislation filed that will protect these workers. Let’s also file a Safety and Health Complaint with OSHA citing the ProPublica story.
- BETTER PROTECTION FOR GUEST WORKERS ON AMERICAN FARMS
In September, the Department of Labor (DOL) proposed new regulations for the H-2A guest worker program that would reduce abuse, exploitation and trafficking of farm workers. Transparency and accountability in the H-2A program will in turn improve the wages and working conditions of all U.S. workers. The Department of Labor is seeking public comment on these new regulations through November 14th. Let’s make our voices heard in support of decent working conditions for our farmworkers, either directly through the Federal Register or with this tool from United Farm Workers.
- SUPPORT MAUI RESIDENTS, EXTEND EVICTION MORATORIUMHawai’i governor Josh Green has announced that all of West Maui, with the exception of Lahaina, will reopen to tourists on November 1st. This reopening will be followed by the expiration of Maui’s eviction moratorium and rent freeze on November 6th. Meanwhile, thousands of residents are still living in hotels, and others who may not have lost their homes in the August wildfire are being displaced through rent hikes, losing their source of income, or falling into a neglected group of Maui residents who were impacted by the fire yet do not qualify for assistance or relief. For those of us with the means, let’s support Maui residents by donating directly to Maui’s Mutual Aid Fund, or Maui individuals and families at the Maui Rapid Response website. Then, let’s contact Governor Josh Green and ask him to extend Maui’s eviction moratorium and rent freeze: phone: (808) 586-0034 or email.
- VETTING SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FOR FAR-RIGHT BIASSome far-right school board candidates are trying to distance themselves from groups like Moms for Liberty, but they still can’t hide their extreme bias. Far-right candidates are abounding all over the country. Here are some examples, in TX, in CO, in PA, WA, and IA. Our School USA, a group “dedicated to empowering parents, students, and community members to protect quality public education for all students”, has created an interactive graphic to help us discern if our school board candidates lean to the extreme right. Let’s check this out and be savvy when we assess these candidates.
CORRECTIONS AND UPDATES
A link in this entry in yesterday’s List was incorrect. Here is the corrected entry. Thanks to our readers for keeping us honest!
- INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT WITH FRIEND-TO-FRIEND TEXTINGAs election season heats up, it is so important to get out the vote and one of the best ways to do that is through our own networks. A Columbia University study showed that texts between friends were over 8 % more effective in getting out the vote than traditional outreach efforts. wow, with the SWIPEBLUE app we have an easy way to to try this for ourselves, increase progressive turnout and win! We can start by downloading the app here, matching our contacts with our local voter files, then swiping and reminding our friends to get out and vote!
