MAY DAY 2001 IS ABOUT
Workers Rights, Free Speech and General Amnesty

"Earth Day is a commitment to make life better, not just bigger and faster, to provide real rather than rhetorical solutions... It is a day to reexamine the ethic of individual progress at mankind's expense-a day to challenge the corporate and governmental leaders who promise change, but who short-change the necessary programs... April 22 seeks a future worth living." - Denis Hayes.

Earth Day is a day for celebration of that which gives us life and sustains us, as well as a day to work for a "future worth living." Humankind is ultimately and intimately dependent on the Earth; in fact we are one and the same. This means that the health of the Earth is our health. Our practices that damage our environment are damaging our communities. It is time we begin to nurture our communities. It is time we change our destructive practices and in doing so we will learn new things about the Earth and our communities. When we celebrate the Earth we are celebrating diversity - not only diversity of flora and fauna but also diversity of culture and of thought.

We must begin to cultivate our communities much like a gardener would cultivate a garden - by strengthening their roots and allowing them to take hold. We must grow communities that give abundantly to the people who live in them. Plan activities for neighborhood youth, projects where they are bettering the very neighborhoods in which they live. Kids have a passion for life, something many of us can learn a lot from. Ask them to plant a garden and they grab a shovel; ask them to fix a bike and they grab a crescent wrench; ask them what they want to do for their neighborhoods and we might be very surprised with some of their answers.

We must give ownership of our communities back to the people who live in them. When we live and work in the same neighborhood, we develop a connection to that place. When we increase open space and parks in our neighborhoods we are healthier and develop a connection to our physical surroundings. When we encourage and support small businesses in our neighborhoods we support families, we no longer have to drive to get to the store, and we develop relationships with the people we give our money to.

We must involve our communities in the process of raising and growing our own food. This process promotes health, sustainability, and provides opportunities for children to learn through experience. "Letting all your senses experience, your eyes, ears, touch, smell, taste, thoughts, your consciousness" (Satish Kumar). A garden gives much more than just fruit to a surrounding community. Most importantly it gives a direct connection to the earth, one that should be shared and nurtured. It gives people the knowledge of where their food comes from, and ownership of this process. In the largest agricultural valley in the United States, we need to teach our children how to grow, harvest, and cook our food. We need to connect our communities with the surrounding farms, taking pride in them.

To nurture community is to nurture the Earth, because we are one and the same. Our lifestyles are directly affected by where we live and how strongly we are connected to our immediate surroundings. Our community affects how much we drive our cars, where we get our food, how healthy we are, our civic involvement, our consumer habits. This Earth Day reminds us that we need to nurture our communities and neighborhoods in ways that are life affirming. Earth Day is a unique celebration because it reminds us that we must celebrate it every day of the year.

When: Sunday, April 22, 2001. 1pm - Sundown.
Where: Courthouse Park, Tulare Street and Van Ness Avenue in downtown Fresno.
What: A gathering in celebration of the Earth. This is a chance for groups working for social and environmental responsibility to come together and show the community what they are doing. There will be live music including folk, reggae, and a percussionist ensemble. Drum circle at sunset - bring your drums and musical instruments! There will be vegetarian food, bike raffles, crafts, and plant sales. For updated information go to the website at www.fresnoalliance.com/earthday. This community event is free to the public!
Why: Who feels it knows it!

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Big Business's multimillion dollar investment in the 2000 congressional campaign paid dividends March 6 and 7 when the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed what the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups labeled their number one priority--killing ergonomics protections for workers.

The 56-44 Senate vote March 6 included six Democrats who sided with business, the Bush administration and all 50 Senate Republicans. The next day, 16 Democrats sided with all but 13 Republicans in a 223-206 vote that kills the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's workplace safety rule that could prevent 1.6 million repetitive stress injuries a year. President George W. Bush has promised to sign the ergonomics standard's death warrant.

Central Valley Democratic representative Cal Dooley, who was supported by both big business and organized labor in the last election, joined the Republicans in voting for this legislation.

The Community Alliance can understand why big business supports Cal Dooley, but why was he supported by organized labor? Rep Dooley supported NAFTA, is a strong supporter of big business interests, and now this! Organized labor's resources would have been better put into the House of Representatives race between Dan Rosenberg and George Radanovich.

If Rosenberg had won the election, working peoples' interests would have been better served and the results of this vote would have been different.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was recommended to contact you by Richard Stone of Center for Nonviolence. My name is Enver Rahmanov. I am a former Jesuit Volunteer and currently intern at Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries. My friend Robert Lopez from Planned Parenthood and I are both members of the St. Mary Magdala Orthodox Church (in the Tower District), and we have been working towards creating a Contemplative Group of Prayer, Awareness, Action & Reflection for inclusion and support of people of diverse sexual orientation and identity in their spiritual and community life. We wish to be inclusive to all spiritual experiences of faith. Please see below our Mission Statement.

Our Meetings will be held every Monday 7-9 p.m. Our first introductory meeting will be held on Monday, March 5th at 7 p.m. Fresno Center for Nonviolence. We would like to kindly ask you to include the information about this group in your next issue, so people in the community will know us, and so we can also be more open to the community in Fresno. We will appreciate your help and will be ready to cooperate with you from now on.

Many thanks and peace,
Enver Rahmanov

You can reach me or Robert Lopez at St. Mary Magdala Cathedral , tel. 559.237.6220

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

About two years ago our Union, The Graphic Communication Union, organized the pressroom employees at the Fresno Bee, but the Administrator, Keith Moyer, hired a Union busting firm and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to beat our union. The workers at the Bee stood firm and we won our election.

During our negotiations Bee Management continued to commit unfair Labor Practices. In response we filed charges. The Fresno Bee was found guilty of all 13 Unfair Labor Practices. But, Bee Management retaliated and fired five of our most active supporters. All five of these employees either testified or were at the NLRB trial against the Bee. Three of them were on our bargaining team.

We have filed additional charges for illegal termination of these active supporters.

Our Union has had no meaningful progress at the bargaining table and we won't stand for the anti-union behavior of the Fresno Bee.

We are asking for your continued support to force The Fresno Bee to act responsibly. On April 4, 2001 there will be a Press conference at the Fresno Bee at 11:00 A.M. and a rally at Noon. Please attend this crucial event. We need your help. Thank-you.

Sincerely,
Marc Scalzo

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VALLEY LABOR HISTORY

By Paul Jackson
Fresno Food Not Bombs

The Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.)—unlike the A. F. of L., which lost migratory workers from its ranks as soon as the harvest came every year—did not try to organize them locally but, lacking resources, relied heavily on word-of-mouth. During the off season, the I.W.W.’s “home guards” in San Francisco and Sacramento would attract hundreds of migratory workers into the One Big Union with their message, celebrating the unemployed “bum” and denouncing his “parasitic” boss.

Founded in 1905 and still young, the revolutionary union was up for a challenge. Many city governments banned speaking on the streets, which might serve a purpose not to the liking of city fathers—organizing migratory workers, mostly Mexican and Chinese-born farm and railroad workers, in Fresno’s case.

The I.W.W.’s “free-speech fights” were direct actions against cities’ anti-speaking policies, which stood in the way of the union’s efforts to organize migrant workers. In fall 1909, the union fought for free speech in Missoula, Mont.; Spokane, Wash.; and Newcastle, Penn. In the spring and summer of 1910, the union concentrated its efforts in Wenatchee and Walla Walla, Wash. Beginning in the fall—under the guidance of Frank H. Little, the local organizer who inspired others to persevere through all the months of cruel punishment in the local jail—the union fought for free speech in Fresno.

At or near Mariposa and I streets (now Fulton Mall), nearly every day of the six-month “fight,” an I.W.W. would stand on a soapbox and begin haranguing the crowd, championing the dignity of labor and smearing local officials and capitalists everywhere. Within a few minutes, a cop would arrive, ask whether the speaker had a permit (which of course he didn’t), and arrest him. Sometimes, two or more would speak in succession.

The bombastic, singing prisoners were deprived of “sleeping gear, tobacco, reading materials, and decent food,” writes historian Melvyn Dubofsky. The Fresno Morning Republican reports that for several days, they were given a diet of bread and water. Nevertheless, they kept singing and shouting raucously. On Dec. 23, 1910, the Fresno Fire dept., under the direction of the sheriff, took a 150-pound hose to the prisoners, leaving their bodies black and blue, and knee-deep in water that night.

Given their nonviolent approach, instilled by Little, such treatment was clearly unwarranted. While The Republican boasted that some who’d received the “water cure” gave in to prison rules, news of it caused a national sensation in sympathy with the prisoners.

On Mar. 5, 1911, the Fight was won. Since the Fresno County court was flooded with jury trials, local government was unwilling to continue putting up the 116 prisoners, and even more I.W.W.’s were heading to Fresno. Most prisoners were freed and had to leave town, though two free-speech areas were set aside: one downtown, the other in Chinatown. Although the I.W.W. also won itself an unrivalled reputation with ag workers, no organization was left behind as most I.W.W.’s left town to fight either for free speech in San Diego or for Mexican independence. Technology would also play a part in reducing the ranks of ag workers within the I.W.W. With the advent of the automobile, ethnic-minority workers no longer needed the protection which flashing the red ducat, as the I.W.W. I.D. card was called, gave them whenever they encountered bullies on the trains.

Of the 20 “fights” of 1909—1913, the one in San Diego, in which the I.W.W. coalesced with religious and other groups, is the most important one in labor history. However, the educational value of the Fresno “fight” led to this success. Being the first such fight in California, and the first attempt to organize unskilled labor in the San Joaquin Valley, it’s clearly important in state history. A plaque now signifies the street corner as a California historical landmark.

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The Fresno Center for Nonviolence Needs your Help!

Since 1992, we have provided a home for so many organizations and projects, helped groups get off the ground (like the Living Room), kept you informed of critical issues locally, nationally and internationally, and are still being consulted weekly when help for space is needed, for advice or to become a sponsor/co-sponsor of a program. We are presently the umbrella organization for Patrick Young's Wheelchair Project, the Lighthouse Aids Management Program and, just recently, the Justice for Children of Fresno County Committee.

And yet we struggle to stay afloat. Few Foundations give grants for general/operating support, though we are trying! We will be short this year of about $2,000 to maintain the Center at the level of previous years. Unlike other peace centers in California, we have no paid staff. On the positive side, our members grow in number every year - they are wonderfully generous. But we need more of them!

Would you do one of two things (or both!): become a Center member ($15.00 low income, $30.00 general member, $50.00 supporter, $120.00 patron), or come up with a list of people you know in the community who we could approach for help (co-workers, friends, church members, relatives etc.)? Contributions are tax deductible as we are a 501(c)3 organization, and should be sent to the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 985 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93728.

Please help by seriously considering this request. Call Angela Price at 435-6383.

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KFCF 88.1 FM HAS NEW SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM

KFCF has a new local program. In mid-March the station began airing “Our Forum”, a weekly one hour program sponsored by New Californian Media and Frente Indigena Binational Oaxaque6no. The show focuses on local news and analysis of interest to the Latino community. " Our Forum” is attempting to create a bridge of understanding between the different ethnic communities in the Central Valley. KFCF 88.1 FM is operated by the Fresno Free College Foundation and transmits the KPFA/Pacifica signal in this area. KFCF has an increasing number of new local shows including this program in Spanish. Another program broadcast in a foreign language is "The Cambodian Hour.”

" Our Forum " will be produced by Eduardo Stanley of New Californian Media and by Rufino Dominguez of Frente Indigena Binational Oaxaque6no. Co-producers of the program will be Oralia Maceda and Nayamín Martinez. The program will have a format that includes news, analyisis with interviews, events and music. The first program was on March 14 and was dedicated to the Zapatista movement. Other subjects that will be touched are: Immigration, Health, Social Participation, Population Growth in the Valley, Religion, and much more. For more information, contact KFCF (559) at 233-2221, New Californian Media (559) 449-0723, or Frente Indigena Binational Oaxaque6no to (559) 499-1178.

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$120 billion dollars already wasted on this boondoggle. All tests so far have failed. It will start a new nuclear arms race. We could use that money to provide health care, housing and education for everyone.

That is the message Women's International League for Peace and Freedom will be handing out to tax payers on April 16, Monday, at the Cardwell post office on Griffith. We also have post cards for people to sign and send to the prez calling for canceling of the national missile defense program.

If you can spend an hour or two helping with this effort please call Carol Bequette (229-9661) or Ellie Bluestein (229-9807). We need people during the daytime and in the evening.

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WORKERS RIGHTS CENTER

Where do you go if you have a question about your rights as a worker? What do you do if you are an undocumented worker, are being exploited on your job, and need help? What is the new minimum wage? Now, thanks to a grant from the Irvine Foundation, help is on its way. The Community Alliance is in the process of setting up a Workers' Rights Center that will fill a big gap for workers in Fresno and the Central Valley.

The Workers' Rights Center is a place where workers can call when they have work related questions or problems. There is no other place in Fresno that is providing this information to workers. Most unions do not have the resources to work with non-members on all worker rights issues, most social service/community groups are only capable of working with qualified clients on some of these issues, and attorneys are only going to help you if they can be paid for their services.

The Center will help all workers who have questions about their rights. This project may be unique in that regard. Because of draconian federal laws that prohibit some agencies from working with undocumented workers, this project may be the only one in this area that will provide information about working conditions and workers rights to anyone.

For the last several months, our F.S.U. intern Daniel Garcia, has been visiting government agencies and community groups to see what services are available. His experience clarifies why this project is needed. When he went to the Labor Commissioner to ask about the ways in which that agency (which is charged with enforcing wage and hours laws) serves workers he found no materials written for workers themselves. Instead, he was told to look up the information on their web site. You can imagine how useful that information would be to someone from Mexico, who doesn't speak English, and has no access to the Internet. Another interesting discovery was that a large, very conservative, agribusiness company in the valley has set up a Workers' Rights Center. They set up a table at swap meets and tell the workers what their rights are, from the bosses' perspective!

We invite you to give us a call if you have a question about your rights as a worker. The course of action we take will depend on the individual circumstances of your problem. For example, it may be that we can pressure an agency that should serve you to be more responsive or we can link you up with others in your situation to improve working conditions through unionization or other collective action.

The number to call to reach the Community Alliance Workers' Rights Center is (559) 233-3978.

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The Fashion Fair mall in Fresno was the scene of an exciting anti-sweatshop demonstration on Saturday, March 3. Most of the demonstrators (30-40) demonstrated on Shaw Avenue (in front of the mall). We held signs calling on The Gap to pay a living wage to their workers and asked motorists to honk for justice. There was a constant roar of horns for the entire 2 hours. You could hear the sound from blocks away!

Inside, we had a permit to hand out fliers and distribute literature from a table (provided by Fashion Fair). Only Bob Fischer, Lynn Jacobsson, and I were permitted to hand out fliers. We had been told that we must stay within 5 feet of our table and that we could hand out fliers. That is in contrast to the previous month when we were told that we must sit behind the table and only give shoppers a flier if they asked for one. Well, we didn't do that last month and we did not stay within 5 feet of the table this month. Mall security did not interfere with our activities. Again, we had a great opportunity to talk with customers. We distributed hundreds (close to a thousand) of the fliers Global Exchange gave us.

One thing different this time was we were joined by 10-15 protesters wearing anti-sweatshop T-shirts. This was really cool because they could talk to shoppers as we handed out fliers. A group of the T-shirt wearing protesters also went to The Gap store (which was about 50 feet from where our table was) and stood outside the store. Tony Nocella went inside and talked to the manager. He came back out and got more literature for her after she expressed interest in the issue.

The students were back! About 15-20 of the protesters inside and out of the mall were high school or college age. Several of them had been at a United Students Against Sweatshop conference in Davis two weeks earlier. I am hopeful that a student group will emerge again at CSUF. There was a minor incident with the police when they told one of the protesters not to stand on the median on Shaw Avenue. We have been doing this for months now and have never been asked to get off the median. Also, a security guard inside the mall told one of the protesters who was wearing an anti-sweatshop T-shirt that he could not talk to shoppers unless they approached him first. That is bullshit. We might want to print up and distribute a fact sheet that informs protesters what their rights are in these situations.

I had an interesting conversation with Greg Delphous, who is the head of Fashion Fair security. I told him that we really wanted to resolve the issue of reasonable access to Fashion Fair. I asked him if he could see if there was interest on behalf of the Macerich corporation (owners of Fashion Fair) to meet with us and our legal counsel to try and resolve this issue. He said he would ask. Then about 10 minutes later he came back and asked me if we were planning something for May. I think he had read the article about the May Day action in the March Community Alliance newsletter. I said that we were asking people from all over California to come and that the demonstration should be huge. I told him that Medea Benjamin from Global Exchange would speak at the rally. I made it clear to him that if the issue of reasonable access was resolved before the May 6 demonstration it would diffuse and de-escalate the situation greatly. He got the point and said that he would get back to me.

Next month (April 7) we are going to request two tables at Fashion Fair. My idea is to have 6 people handing out fliers from these tables. In addition, on table number one we will have someone (Bob?) Dressed in a clown outfit blowing up helium balloons that say STOP GAP SWEATSHOPS. He will hand those to the children walking by who will carry them all over the mall. On table number two we will have a theatrical scene from a sweatshop. There will be a young woman chained to a sewing machine making clothes in a sweatshop. Over her will be a cigar smoking boss with a whip in his hand demanding that she work harder. Outside on Shaw Avenue we will have our usual signs and banners, horn honking, and carrying on.

In summary, I think that these demonstrations are being enormously effective and that they are keeping pressure on both The Gap on the sweatshop issue and Fashion Fair on the free speech struggle. We are really involved in a struggle on two fronts and our tactics are working very well. Not only are we having a good time doing this, but we are being successful. We now have 10-15 people inside Fashion Fair protesting sweatshops and we are getting a message out to thousands of people about The Gap's labor practices. The overwhelmingly positive response we get when we are handing out fliers to customers and all the people who honk as they drive by on Shaw Avenue are proof that our message is getting through, and most people support these actions.

• Demonstrate against sweatshops at Fashion Fair/The Gap on Saturday, April 7

• Contribute to THE GAP 20 legal defense fund (C/O The Community Alliance, P.O. Box 5077, Fresno CA 93755)

• Come to THE GAP 20 hearings/trial at the Fresno Courthouse

• Buy, distribute, and show THE GAP 20 video (call George Ballis at 855-3710 for details)

CENTER UMBRELLA UNFOLDS: The Center has been gaining recognition as a resource for peace-and-justice advocates. As a result, we are increasingly being asked to serve as a fiscal agent for start-up groups. At our March meeting, we were pleased to take on that role for Justice for Children, the group seeking decent treatment for youngsters in the Juvenile Justice system. (They were featured in the recent Bee section on Juvenile Hall.) We look forward to working with these intrepid activists. Meanwhile, our work with LAMP, an AIDS program serving Merced County, has enabled them to maintain service while recovering from the bankruptcy of CVAT. Since they are the only program in that county specifically for AIDS clientele, our ability to provide interim umbrella-ship for them has been fortunate.

PEACE CHALLENGE: Utilizing the targeted grant awarded us again this year, we have funded five youth projects ranging from graffiti cleanup to an anti-sweatshop conference. We are having our own conference/pizza party for project participants on April 7, where they will relate their experiences and share ideas for reporting their work. Final reports will be due by the end of April, and in May we will hold a public reception to publicize the projects and honor the participants. Time and place TBA.

TEEN ANTI-VIOLENCE GRANT: As previously reported, we have received a grant from The Whitney Foundation to make presentations related to choosing non-violent responses in life situations. Vincent Lavery and Richard Stone have given two 2-hour classes at the EOC Teen Connection, where the kids asked pertinent questions and showed understanding of the issues. In a society that propagandizes "might makes right" at every turn, we are grateful for such opportunities to plant seeds that another way just might make sense. Richard has also had the chance to work with kids at a local group home, utilizing Metro Ministry's Cross-Cultural Cluster curriculum. This format enables the participants to see each other (and, wonderfully, the staff members who choose to take part) in more depth and complexity. It is encouraging to see how kids from very different circumstances find commonality , or contrarily how kids from seemingly similar backgrounds find how the specifics of their lives make them each quite individual. Thanks to the Whitney Foundation for making this work possible. Anyone interested in having presentations made for a group of 12-18 year olds can contact Richard at 266-2559.

BLOCK THAT WHEREHOUSE: To get the full range of special interest videos not available at The Big Boys, we all know to visit Jeff and Jayne at The Movies. But the Center also has a select collection of excellent peace-related videos, available for just a $5 annual membership. Here are a few of them...others will be listed in coming months:

Bound by the Wind--"downwinders" (those incidentally affected by the nuclear industry's fall-out) from Utah and Russia join forces to protect themselves.

Golden Lands, Working Hands--10-part history of labor activism in California.

Who's Counting--Feminist re-interpretation of economic values: why the GNP makes no sense in the real world. Easy to follow narrative, visually beautiful.

Rhetoric of Intolerance--Mel White, former speech writer for Pat Robertson turned gay activist, challenges homophobic scripturalists.

For more information, leave your name and number at 237-3223.

A.W.O.L.: The Center's copy machine has taken an unauthorized leave--there Monday (3/13), gone Tuesday. Anyone who knows its whereabouts or who has a lead on a replacement, please contact us. (Dear Connie Canon--All is forgiven, please come home.)

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THE WELCH REPORT

Malaria, pneumonia, tuberculosis (tbc) and HIV/AIDS are ravaging much of the world, killing millions and inflicting extreme misery on many poor countries, to which more fortunate parts of the world have paid little attention. In 1999 acute respiratory infections, including pneumonia and influenza, killed 4 million people, most of them children. Diarrheal diseases, spread by contaminated food or water, caused the death of 2.2 million; AIDS took 2.6 million lives, tbc, more than 1.6 million and malaria another 1 million.

Access to modern medicine, which could have saved a great many of these victims, and decent sanitation have shielded the US from the full force of these epidemics, but total isolation is impossible. US deaths related to infectious diseases, especially multi-drug resistant tbc, HIV, influenza and hepatitis C, have nearly doubled since 1980 to ap­proximately 170,000 annually.

The countries of sub Sahara Africa suffer nearly half of all worldwide deaths from infectious diseases, including 90% of the world’s malaria deaths and 80% of all HIV-related deaths. Infectious diseases are rampant in South and Southeast Asia.

Tbc has become a major problem in Russia, with the total of act­ive cases expected to reach 1 million by 2002; the number of HIV positive people could climb to 2 million by 2002. Tbc is spreading throughout Latin America, which region also places third behind sub Sahara Africa and Asia in incidence of HIV/AIDS.

The rising tide of these diseases has had a disastrous effect on the economies of many poor countries; debility and death among farmers and workers have caused a serious decrease in production and overall development. An army of orphans millions strong, chiefly in Africa, has been created. In some places no schools are open because of decimation in the ranks of schoolteachers by AIDS! Some warn that the above disruption could lead to political upheaval and general havoc.

Reasons for the above include poor leadership; low levels of hygiene, medical care and education; appalling poverty and ignorance; the high cost of effective drugs and development of microbial (bacterial and viral) resistance to antibiotics. Also, achieving progress against HIV in male dominated societies will require women’s “gaining control of their sexuality”.

The ability to control infectious diseases is a fairly recent achievement, i.e., the development of antibiotics and vaccines produced the eradication of smallpox by 1977. However, there are still 30 million infants not protected by routine vaccination, and no effective vaccines are expected soon for malaria, tbc or HIV/AIDS.

In early 2000 the Clinton Administration took the unprecedented action of declaring the AIDS epidemic a threat to US security. Also, before leaving office, Clinton issued an executive order saying the US would not legally challenge any poor countries that violated US patent law in order to buy or manufacture inexpensive generic AIDS drugs. Remarkably, but to its credit, the Bush Administration has said it will not change this policy.

Apart from humanitarian impulses the US, for reasons of its own public health, would seem to have a clear self interest in taking a leadership role in the fight against these deadly epidemics. “Perhaps the new Administration in Washington will see fit to rally public opinion behind a greater national effort to curb the AIDS virus.., and in the national interest devote more resources and energy to fight the other infectious diseases” afflicting our world.

IS FRESNO ON THE ROAD TO UNION CITY?

The AFL-CIO is encouraging all Central Labor Councils to join the Road to Union City campaign. This campaign prioritizes organizing the unorganized, holding elected officials accountable, and building Community Alliances. The Community Alliance supports the AFL-CIO Union City campaign and is hopeful that the Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings county Central Labor Council will get on the road to Union City.

What does it mean to be a Union City? Here are some of the strategies developed by leading labor councils to build power for working families in their communities.

• supporting the organizing efforts of local unions.

• educating your community about the importance of a Voice@Work (see the AFL-CIO web site for details)

• educating political candidates about the importance of a Voice@Work and involving them in organizing efforts as a part of the political endorsement process.

• mobilizing 1 percent or more of local union membership.

• appointing a lead person for mobilization.

• setting and meeting goals that include increasing voter registration by 10 percent.

• Increasing Election Day turnout of union members by 5 percent and mobilizing 1 percent of union members for political action.

• organizing a member-to-member, door-to-door political campaign.

• conducting a worksite leafleting program.

• helping union members run for public office and electing advocates for working families.

• holding endorsed elected officials accountable for their record on working family issues.

• developing partnerships with local and national coalition partners.

• building community service programs that support the Union Cities strategies.

• concrete improvements in diversity of all labor council committees.

• providing education and training programs on how to build a voice for working families on the job, in politics, in the global economy and in communities.

• providing leadership development training for local union leaders.

• local media outreach, as a part of the Union Cities plan.

• regular media events and op-eds in local newspapers.

• building a communications channel to Street Heat activists using e-mail and fax lists.

• training local unions on media outreach.

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TEAMSTER’S STRIKE FORCES COMPANY SALE

King City - On July 7, 1999 one thousand food processing workers went on strike at the Basic Vegetable Products plant. Workers have been either on strike or locked out since then.

The long-running Basic strike has entered a new period, as the ultra-conservative Hume family was forced to sell the plant at a massive loss after 16 months of bitter strike. The purchaser: ConAgra, a global agro-giant which, along with two other companies, wields unprecedented control over the world's food supply.

Briefly: the November buyout has been followed by negotiations, punctuated by massive unfair labor practices by the company, and yielding very little progress on fundamental issues. In particular, the company insists on extending super-seniority to strikebreakers and so excluding strikers–many with 20 and 30 and more years in service at the same plant-- from returning to their jobs.

At Basic Vegetable Products, then, ConAgra apparently aims to harvest the fruits of the Hume's investment in naked union-busting. The result is likely to be no settlement. Next year, the conflict is likely to spread north to the town of Gilroy, where ConAgra already owns and Local 890 already represents the workforce at Gilroy Foods, the other major garlic and onion processing plant in the region.

In response, the top leaders of the Teamsters and the AFL-CIO have called a summit conference of ConAgra unions, to begin building a united front for justice on the job.

The strikers are unbowed.

On a promising note: in November 2000, strikers' family members were elected to the City Councils in both King City and nearby Greenfield. The strikers and their communities are grateful to James Hoffa Jr. for his visit and the encouragement he provided just before these elections.

For more info go to teamsters890.org/strike.htm. For info on Local 890 and the Basic Strikers' other citizenship movement activity, go to www.NewCitizen.org.

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LOCAL PUBLIC TV OPEN TO ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING BUT...

"We would like to have 'Other Voices' for more balanced public TV programming but it's a matter of personnel and finances," stated KVPT Channel 18 station manager Colin Dougherty during a meeting with Ray Ensher and Angela Price. Ray and Angela, representatives from the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, were there to talk to the station manager about channel 18 covering some of the issues of interest to the progressive community. They suggested a show that would inform viewers about Metro Ministry, the needle exchange project, Health Care for All, the Gaia House, Planned Parenthood, WILPF, Death Penalty Focus, the anti-sweatshop/Gap activities, Fresno Center for Nonviolence, Community Alliance, Pastors for Peace, etc.

Dougherty stated that such programming must present both the pro and con side and must have a moderator who is considered to be neutral, such as, Dan Whitehurst or John Wallace. He did not discuss the issue of giving the nonviolence center equal time to counter the pro business propaganda on their Nightly Business show. Dougherty said that the cost of a 6 month effort, with a one hour show a week, would be about $25,000. The big problem, according to Dougherty, is that the money is just not available to do a show of this nature. He sited several local shows that are in trouble because of the lack of funding. Angela indicated that there may be a number of grants and foundations which might be open to a city of this size to cover progressive citizen concerns.

While the search by the progressive community goes on to find access to the "public" airwaves, it appears that Valley Public Television will not be an ally in this effort. It seems unlikely that the nonviolence center will work too hard to find $25,000 so they could put Dan Whitehurst or John Wallace on the air. The right wing corporate media already has unlimited access to the public airwaves. Is it too much to ask that the "left" in this community has one hour a week on TV?

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SUNDAY FOOD NOT BOMBS IS BACK

We've started doing Food Not Bombs on Sunday again, and it's being prepared out of a Tower District home. We're always looking for donations of vegetarian food and cooking supplies. We're especially looking for regular donations from businesses. At the moment we get most of our donations from the Downtown Farmer's Market and Local Tower District Businesses, like Tower Health. Food that cannot be sold because it's a day too old or not grocery store quality often gets tossed out and left to rot in the garbage. We often intercept that food, cook what's edible and compost the rest in our gardens.

Right now we're in need of bread, vegetables, dry foods like rice, pasta and beans, knives, cutting boards, cooking pots, food safe containers, art supplies, coats, shoes, and blankets.

The free meal is being served in the Fulton Mall Free Speech area between 1-2pm on Sunday afternoons. We can always use donations of money as well. I have a job just to support Food Not Bombs right now and other volunteers spend their own money every week on things that we can't get donated.

The house is located at 743 E. Weldon in the Tower District between Fresno High and Fresno City College. We also have a website address- http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/fnb/ If you'd like to add a Food Not Bombs banner to your personal or business site, email me and I'll send you our banners that you can link directly to our site.

If you'd like to speak to a Food Not Bombs volunteer, or have questions regarding food pick up call (559) 226-4304.

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FINDING A HAPPY MEDIUM

lessons from the alternative media conference

The alternative media conference sponsored by the Fresno Center for Nonviolence and Radio Grito brought together some 20 folks from different venues, to discuss ways to break the corporate blockade. There were lots of good questions raised, e.g. Are 3 hours of radio time worth one of TV? Do we better spend time/energy raging at the likes of The Bee or creating our own media alternatives? Do we promote unfettered free speech or worry about not offending supporters, for instance by allowing the use of "fuck"? Can we afford to look at both/and rather than either/or?

All disagreements were handled tactfully, and a good time was had by all. In fact, the slogan of the day, exemplified by the editors of a new zine on the scene called Renegade Press Revival, might be "For a good time, Do-it-yourself-together."

1) Julius Rasmussen of TEAMM--Team Effort Against Media Madness--presented his ideas for "storming the Bastille of KMJ". Besides being discovered as an orator of originality and passion, Julius (seen for the first time in suit and tie rather than rollerblading gear) was encouraged in his work to coordinate call-ins to the station and to target KMJ advertisers. Look for his upcoming "action of the month" spots, and join the revolution against passivity.

2) Mike Rhodes and Jeff Parris of L/CA asked for responses to their proposal to revamp L/CA in a tabloid format. With a couple of dissents, attendees looked to the tabloid as a way of reaching beyond "the 10% in the choir to the 80% who are looking for a song", to yoke the metaphors of two of the participants. The key issue was felt, surprisingly, not to be money but human resources: can a cadre of 20 committed souls step forward, swearing allegiance to a long-term effort to build an effective alternative paper? If you, gentle reader, are such a one, contact Mike ASAP.

3) Vincent Lavery presented possibilities for a weekly TV or radio show giving voice and/or face to the issues and projects of non-corporate humans and entities. Here money IS the issue, and Vince surprised himself by volunteering to head up a campaign to raise substantial capital specifically to fund our own media. (Not only could we underwrite air time on stations like channel 18, we could pay for a full-time editor for L/CA, subsidize the distribution of Renegade Press Revival and other such enterprises, buy copies of Elfie's videos for the libraries and schools, etc. etc. etc.)

Potential donors and fund raisers are wanted--call Vince at 439-0821. Other ideas emerged from the conference as well. At the upcoming Earth Day Festival, L/CA and the Center for Nonviolence will coordinate an "alternative media space" to promote the projects and products of our extended constituency. The Time Dollar barter system that Jeremy Hofer is working on will be extended to include media volunteers: an alternative economy for alternative media. The possibility of creating youth internships and/or co-distributing independent youth-oriented materials will be explored. In addition to groups already mentioned, the conference was also invigorated by delegates from Citizens for Information (encouraging citizen activism by way of city/county Boards); Pacific News/New California Media (providing resources for minority media); Food Not Bombs; the Democratic Women's Club; The Kyoto Journal, and KFCF.

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A HUMAN RIGHTS OUTRAGE

According to the latest statistics, the United States has moved up to just behind the ravaged African country of Rwanda in terms of the proportion of citizens who are incarcerated. The U.S. now imprisons 690 people per 100,000 of its population. By comparison, the rate for Canada is 115 per 100,000; for Germany and Italy, 85. In the past 20 years, the number of incarcerated Americans has risen by almost 400% to 2.2 million, costing the country an estimated $41 billion annually.

According to Department of Justice statistics for 1999, blacks accounted for 46% of all inmates serving a year or more; Hispanics, 18%; whites, 33%. In the 10 years from 1985, federal and state authorities opened a new prison at a rate of one a week to lock up the increasing number of inmates, most of whom were nonviolent and/or drug offenders. California now spends more on "corrections" than on higher education. It opened 21 new prisons in the past 20 years and only one new state college.

Rehabilitation is virtually a thing of the past in today's prison system, which houses 25% of the world's prisoners. The U.S. cages hundreds of thousands for offenses that in most countries do not merit a jail sentence. According to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch the U.S. prison system constitutes a serious human rights outrage.

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POLITICAL THEATER GROUP FORMS

Agit Prop Theater Class is now being taught at Arte Americas (266-2623) every Thursday night 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The goal is to develop a play which will be performed in defense of immigrant rights at the end of a 9 month project. Satire, slap-stick, mime and other forms of acting styles will be employed. The teacher is Agustin Lira (237-3016), cofounder of the internationally acclaimed El Teatro Campesino (Farmworkers Theater) which was a catalyst in the Chicano Theater Movement of the blazing 60s. Though the subject is immigrants rights we are not only interested in Latinos, but invite people of all ethnic backgrounds to participate. Come add your spice to the soup! (Made possible by the Civic Participation Grants Program, the James Irvine Foundation, and El Teatro de la Tierra.)

Luis Valdez, Felipe Cantu and Agustin Lira, Teatro Campesino Members, 1967.

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The Fresno Unified School District will be celebrating the life of Cesar Chavez and the one year anniversary of the new school named in his honor on Friday, March 30. There will be a job fair and career workshops at the Campus from 10 AM - Noon (for students only). The general public is invited at Noon to hear speakers:

• Dan Ronquillo
• Juan Arambula
• Sarah Reyes
• Announcement of Essay Contest winners (elementary, middle school, high school and adult school categories)
• Rudy Medina (Cesar's nephew)
• Marcelo Salcido

Dinner and Talk with Congressman Barney Frank (D) MA "Caustic wit and meticulous fact-based understanding of the issues" "Combination political theorist and pit bull" Monday, April 9th Pardini's Banquet Room 2257 W. Shaw at Van Ness Dinner and Speech $40 (Select one when ordering tickets; Lemon Chicken, Marinated Beef Sirloin, or Vegetarian) Speech only $15 Mail check, no later than April 4 to: Central California Alliance P.O. Box 16422 • Fresno CA 93755 Enclose a stamped self addressed envelope if you wish your tickets mailed, or you can claim them at the door. Social hour: 6 PM • Dinner: 7 PM • Speech: 8 PM Information line: 265-7117

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Aide Delegation Returns From El Salvador

• $31,000 collected between January 13 - February 11 by a grass roots group, Salvadorian Community of Fresno, was distributed in person, Feb 13 - 20.

• Three residents of Fresno went to EL Salvador to distribute aide: Luis Meléndez, Oscar Molina, Angel Noriega.

• As they arrived, February 13, the second earthquake occurred. Due to the severity of the second earthquake, the original location selected for distribution was changed to serve areas most affected.

• Goods were distributed with the cooperation of the Mayor Flores & the city council of San Francisco Gotera, capital city of the state of Morazan, in the Northeast of El Salvador.

Unique Actions Of This Group

• The delegation worked with the local structure, a united group of town mayors, COMURES.

• The local mayors determined which areas were most affected, and needed the most help.

• Money taken from Fresno, was spent by the delegation, in local stores, with the effect of supporting the local economy.

• Items were purchased in 2 days, and distributed in 3 days.

• Towns given aide were: Apastepeque, San Esteban Catarina, San Lorenzo, San Vicente, San Cayetano Istepeque, Tepititan, Verapaz, and Guadalupe.

• Close relationships were formed with the local people handling the aid. Arrangements were made so that aide sent in the future can be channeled through this group.

• Individuals in the delegation had relatives in some of the hardest hit towns... who had lost everything.

• Mayor Flores made a request for Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, for Fresno to adopt San Francisco Gotera, as a sister-city.

• The 'Salvadorian Community' will continue a campaign to collect funds in the Fresno area, for the continued support of the earthquake victims , and the rebuilding of El Salvador.

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WELCOMING CONGREGATION

Maybe you’re new to the valley and looking for a spiritual home. Or maybe you’ve always lived here but still need some place to be comfortable; a place where you know you’re accepted, where your children can make friends, where you and your partner can be open, can relax and enjoy the company of people who care. There are communities of faith here in this valley who are encouraging you to visit and will welcome your presence. They are listed at the end of this article.

In my church, Unitarian Universalist, we’re having a series of classes called “The Welcoming Congregation.” This program is “to reduce prejudice by increasing acceptance among people of different sexual orientations and gender identities. The purpose of the Welcoming Congregation is to “publically and successfully welcome bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people,” and to incorporate the experiences of them into all our programs, including Religious Education. We welcome their gifts and the particularities of their lives.

We give respect to and have regard for the teachings of great teachers from many times and places, using their insights in our personal search for how we should live our lives and contribute to the wholeness of our Earth with all her wonderful complexity and diversity of the lives and cultures of all humankind.

There are many ways of being spiritual and we believe “the human family is one, and the fears and hatreds that divide us must be overcome.” Some of the ways we UUs work to move us beyond those divisions are taking public stands such as: In 1970 we called for an end to discrimination against people of other sexual orientations. We established an association office of Lesbian and Gay Concerns in Boston. We have called for the Association to help in the settlement of openly gay (and lesbian) ministers. Since 1984 our ministers have performed Same-Gender Services of Union and we have worked for the legalization of Same-Sex Marriages. We have worked for support of non-discriminatory corporate and other business policies. I would assume that the other communities of faith listed here are involved in similar work.

Each person’s life is a sacred story that informs our spirituality. Whoever you are and whomever you call family, you are welcome in our communities of faith.

College Community Congregational
Church, United Church of Christ
5550 N. Fresno Street, Fresno
435-2690 Sunday Service 10:00 a.m.

Temple Beth Israel
6622 N. Maroa, Fresno
432-3600
Friday Evenings

First Congregational Church,
United Church of Christ of Fresno
2131 N. Van Ness Ave, Fresno
Sunday 9:15 & 11:00 AM

Unitarian Universalist Church
4144 N. Millbrook, Fresno, 227-6146
Sunday 9:15 & 11:00 AM
Summer Service 9:30 AM

Vietnamese Buddhist Association
Tam Bao Pagoda 2459 S. Elm
Fresno 264-2728
Sunday Service 2:00 PM

Methodist Wesley United Church
1343 E. Barstow, Fresno
224-1947
Sunday 8:30 & 11:00 AM
Summer 8:30 & 10:00 AM