Labor

Check out the Indiegogo page (and the awesome incentives offered!): https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-build-p-o-w-e-r-a-workers-cente...

original article: http://janitorqueer.com/2014/04/01/ask-your-doctor-if-shift-work-disorde...

Last week, we were watching TV, and a commercial about “shift work disorder” came on.  A rugged older gentleman in a flannel shirt was explaining about how he hadn’t realized how his job might be affecting his sleep patterns and quality of life, until his doctor asked him what hours he works.  I laughed out loud.  Then the commercial (which was for Nuvigil – used to improve wakefulness) went on to tell you to talk to your doctor, and then it went through the lengthy list of side effects, you know – the usual drill.

I think it is awesome to have dialogues about what’s going on in people’s lives and what might be improved, whether it’s with a prescription or other changes in lifestyle.  And if having an official diagnosis helps more people figure out what’s going on and what they can do about it, more power to them.  Just… personally, I find it absurd that this wouldn’t be a natural line of thinking.  I think about this kind of stuff all the time.

original article: http://rocredandblack.org/struggling-to-win-anarchists-building-popular-...

On February 1st, 2014, the “Struggling to Win: Anarchists Building Popular Power” nationwide speaking tour came to Rochester. The tour was organized by the Black Rose Anarchist Federation and will ultimately stop in 25 cities around the United States. Watch the video of their stop in Rochester here!

On January 8, 2014, Dr. Grania Marcus, who has spent more than 30 years involved with immigration issues in Florida, upstate New York, on the US-Mexico Border and in New York City, discussed US immigration history, the spread of border enforcement throughout the country and what we can do to help end the deportations and family separations that US immigration policy promotes. This was taped at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY at a meeting of the Rochester Committee on Latin America.

original article: http://rocredandblack.org/occupy-wall-street-and-anarchism/

On September 29th, Rochester Red & Black hosted a discussion about the influences that Anarchist ideals had on the Occupy Wall Street Movement. The talk was led by two authors that have recently written on the subject, Mark Bray and Nathan Schneider.

A funny thing happened a couple of months ago: labor leaders finally awoke from their coma and realized that Obamacare was not only bad for unions, but for working families in general.

Once the biggest salespeople of the bill’s passage, union leaders are suddenly full of rage and “shock” at the realities of Obamacare.

The acknowledgment of Labor’s existential crisis and the recognition that something must be done to resolve it is the key issue at the AFL-CIO’s four-day quadrennial convention in Los Angeles. The urgency of the situation has compelled Labor’s top officials to experiment in a search for solutions.

In a press release,  the U.S. Labor Department's OSHA announcing it has cited WalMart supercenter store no. 2859 on Chili Ave in Rochester, NY for 24 "repeated and serious" violations in workplace safety and health standards.  Walmart faces a total of $365,500.  The inspection was initiated as a response to a complaint. 

Here is the OSHA Regional 2 News Release:

Region 2 News Release: 12-106-NEW/BOS 2012-022 Feb. 7, 2012 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: 617-565-2075
Email: fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov

May Day or International Worker's Day comes to Rochester May 1 2013.  Marchers met at Washington Square Park and marched up East Ave to the Workers United headquarters.  Speakers from various labor and civic groups spoke at both locations. 

Photos in gallery

Video coming soon!