Building Trades Activists Break Mold in Protest of Trump with Gretchen Newsom, Political Director, IBEW Local 569, San Diego
Building Trades activists from Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 knew they had to do something. We couldnt let him come and speak to us and just sit there, said William Stedham, an executive board member of the local. If we hadnt, everyone would think that the Building Trades was on board with him 100 percent, and were not. So a few minutes into his speech, the workers stood up with signs that said Resist and turned their backs on the billionaire-in-chief. The gesture flew in the face of a directive from Building Trades leadership that attendees should be on their best behavior. Demonstrators included the political director and business manager of the Local as well as the president and political director of the San Diego Building Trades. Interestingly, the media present failed to cover the protesters or when the in the Security snatched their signs and yanked them out of the room, but rather projected to the public what seemed to be unanimous support for Trump.
The activists were furious over Trumps appointment to a key role in his Department of Labor a top lobbyist from the anti-union Association of Building Contractors and that former Heritage Foundation staffer James Sherk is now the White House Domestic Policy Councils labor and employment adviser. Sherk has written endless articles attacking union workers. The things weve been fighting hard for"more project labor agreements, more local-hire agreements, and better training and workplace safety"none of them are being supported by the Trump administration, said Gretchen Newsom, political director of Local 569. ************** Striking Spectrum-Time Warner Cable Workers With No Contract Since 2013 Say Enough is Enough!
Thousands of striking Spectrum-Time Warner cable workers took to the streets for a mass rally after walking a picket line for the past week feed up with being without a contract since 2013. The strikers service Spectrum-Time Warner Cable field equipment " keeping customers internet and cable service up and running.
The workers on strike range from warehouse and service technicians to the members of the engineering department. Yes, we have bills to pay, but more importantly, we have families that need healthcare, retirement that needs to be robust, and morale that needs to be positive said striking IBEW worker Reyes.
The 1,700 technicians walked off the job March 28 after years of trying to get a contract and failing. The union said Spectrum-TWC wants to cut employer contributions to pensions and health benefits.
produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg
please notify us if you plan to broadcast this program - knash@igc.org
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