An International Workers and Students for Justice (IWSJ) publication
WORKERS STRIKE BACK
A N EWSLETTER BY AND FOR W ORKERS
U NITY AMONG ALL WORKERS,
S OLIDARITY ACROSS RACE, GENDER AND WORKPLACE,
RESPECT FOR WORKERS ’ WRITINGS AND TALENT
NO DIVIDE AND CONQUER! W ORKERS ’
M E S S A G E F R O M C H U C K P OETRY
Associate vice president of Uw union busting department
The Olympics may be over must face the additional verse effects we have Morirse en Irán
in Vancouver but in Seattle challenge of dodging mov‐ been encouraging adop‐ Anónimo
the spirit lives on with our ing obstacles: our custom‐ tion of more restrictive Neda Agha – Zoltan
Facilities Services employ‐ ers. Every exercise better leave guidelines and Eng‐ lloro por ti.
ees. Loosely interpreted, prepares our staff to face lish as a Second Language He visto tu rostro en CNN
y tu cuerpo inerte en el as-
the Olympic motto of the challenges of tough courses to break the
falto.
“Citius, Altius, Fortius” competition, a necessity monotony of non‐stop Te cruzaste en mi vida
translates to: for dedicated individuals janitorial activities. And sin conocer Irán
“ T e a m C l e a n i n g . ” displaced by layoffs. just as in the Olympics, y sin hablar farsi.
Team cleaning relies on 3 Like any good relay each team is guided by a Solo se que te mataron
to 4 custodians each per‐ team, the success of team coach, or manager. The un día de junio del 2009.
forming specific janitorial cleaning hinges on speed. coach encourages the Ahmadinejad ha dicho que
functions progressively Being the fastest in any team to perform at its eres ficción.
throughout the inhuman sport carries several risks. best with shouts of Solo se que es un vil dema-
gogo.
number of square feet in Increased injuries tops the “Faster!” and “Swifter!”
Neda lloro por tu cuerpo san-
their area (up to 50 000 sq list, rendering team mem‐ and “World class!” grante
feet/shift). Each custodian bers incapable of per‐ Outside of Facilities y por tu muerte
must be in top form to mop forming their tasks and Services this kind of en una calle en Teherán.
without water, carry un‐ threatening the whole exhilaration can only be
wieldy backpack vacuums, group's ability to perform. handled once every four To die in Iran
and handle filthy waterless Fatigue from repetitive years. Within Facilities Anonymous
urinal cartridges. And now, engagement in the same Services it is experienced Neda Agha – Zoltan …
with more buildings transi‐ activity closely follows as every day. That is our I cry for you.
tioned from swing‐ to day‐ an occupational hazard. way. I watched on CNN
your face
shift schedules, custodians To help offset these ad‐
and your inert body on the
asphalt.
W H AT ’ S P RO J E C T C R E W ? Custodians deal You came to my life
with toxic chemi‐ without knowing Iran
Projects Crew is comprised exposed to nauseous, toxic and not speaking Farsi.
cals, yet are not pro‐ But I know
of approximately 20 custo‐ chemicals. For those who
dians drafted, mostly kick‐ want an industrial respira‐
vided with safety that you were killed
ing and screaming, by Cus‐ tor, Custodial Services re‐ equipment upon re‐ on a day of June 2009.
quest. We are the Ahmadinejad declared that
todial Services last year. quires a $25 office call to
only campus work‐ you are fiction.
They have physically de‐ get a doctor's note, plus the But I know
manding tasks of daily doctor having to fill out a ers who have to pay that he is a vile demagogue.
stripping and waxing floors, detailed form for "special at least $25 and wait Neda I cry for your bloody
plus using a high‐speed accommodations." That is for long periods of body
vacuum jet cleaner to clean in contrast to the rest of time. OUR HEALTH and for your death
bathrooms. Workers are the University Community on a street of Teheran.
IS NOT FOR SALE!
To subscribe to Workers Strike Back, e-mail workers.strike.back@gmail.com
CELEBRATE LABOR WARRIORS
Cesar Chavez (1927—1993)
In American History there were people that sacrificed themselves
for the well being of their fellow Americans. They fought injustice
and were not silent because they denounced the abuse and mis‐
treated of their fellow human beings. Cesar Chavez belonged to this
kind of Americans who have written the history of the United States
of America with their actions. Social justice and decency became Ce‐
sar Chavez’ goals for the Farm workers in the United States. Cesar
Chavez with Dolores Huerta founded in 1962 the National Farm
DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING? Workers Association (NFWA) that later became known as the United
The UW is trying to lay off 250-600 Graduate Farm Workers (UFW).
Student Workers (TA/RA) This year, during the Martin Luther King Service Day at the Uni‐
Their healthcare is also being cut: they have to pay versity of Washington, Cesar Chavez’ name was mentioned by a
more premiums
Graduate student workers authorized their union to speaker. I became curious to know how many people from the audi‐
go on strike if negotiations fail ence that knew about Cesar Chavez’ fight. Did they know that
For Custodians and other state workers Chavez’ lead the Farm Workers struggle from the late 50’s until his
The state legislature wants to take $220 million death in 1993? Yes. Chavez that was born in Yuma, Arizona, chal‐
from your healthcare fund lenged the most powerful California’s ranchers. In 1966 Cesar Chavez
Your out-of-pocket maximum might rise from
$2000 to $7500 led the grape boycott that lasted 5 years and received the support of
You might have to pay 3 times more in healthcare
premium C o n t ’ d f r o m P r o j e c t C r e w American politicians such as
You might be faced with a 11-day furlough Robert Kennedy. Cesar
There will continue to be extra work and speed up where an industrial respirator is Chavez passed away in 1993.
for all workers available upon demand. Eligible His slogan was powerful: It
H O W T O F I G H T B A C K ? candidates are screened by Super‐ can be done –
visors and eventually sent to Hall
There will be a campus strike on May 3rd.
Health (on the University's dime),
S i s e p u e d e .
The WFSE 1488 contract protects our right NOT to where a nurse assists workers, His legacy is that we can emu‐
cross another union’s picket line if it feels unsafe to
cross. training and fitting them for a res‐ late his effort successfully.
Also, crossing a picket line is far different from join- piratory mask under the Univer‐ Do you accept the
ing a picket line. A picket line may feel unsafe to sity's Health and Safety Division.
cross, while being perfectly safe to join. c h a l l e n g e ?