Program Information

Target Union Drive; Queens Library Budget Disaster

Series:

Subtitle:

Program Type:

Weekly Program

Featured Speakers/Commentators:

Contributor:

Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg Contact Contributor

Date Published:

June 11, 2011, 4:16 p.m.

Summary: Workers Aim at Target Unionization
With
Tashawna Green â Member Union Organizing Committee
Sonia Williams â Member Union Organizing Committee
Aly Wady â Special Projects Dir., Organizing Dept., UFCW, Local 1500
Diana Robinson â Food Policy Coordinator, UFCW, Local 1500

Target workers at the superstoreâs Valley Stream location are furious that their hours have been cut sometimes to just one or two days a week while new workers are being hired. So they donât have enough income to survive forcing
many to rely on food stamps & Medicaid. A majority of workers have already signed cards supporting unionization with Local 1500, UFCW. Target is fighting back by threatening union workers with firings, disciplinary actions and closing the store. Workers have been prevented from discussing their employment on social networking sites, interrogated about their union activity and have been told their union activity was under surveillance. If the workers vote to join Local 1500 in the June 17 election, the Valley Stream store would be the first Target in the country to be unionized but probably not the last especially in the NYC area.
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Bloombergâs Budget to Decimate Queens Public Library
With
John Hyslop, Pres., Queens Library Guild, Local 1321 , DC 37 AFSCME

Library workers are fighting Mayor Bloomberg's proposed $25.3 million in budget cuts to the Queens Public Library. Since 2008, over 200 jobs have already been lost through attrition and layoffs. The current proposed 30% cut will result in library hours being at their lowest level ever, less than in NYCâs budget crisis of the 1970s. These cuts would slash library services; close branches 2-3 days a week; end the free
computer and Internet services; destroy the materials budget; and force 234 Library employees to be laid off. Local 1321 is sponsoring a demonstration outside the Central Library on Merrick Blvd.

Credits: produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg

Notes: please email us if you plan to broadcast this program - knash@igc.org

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