First Thursday Show!

Hi everybody!
The WMFO website isn't working at the moment so we don't have audio for you at the moment. We're working on recording straight from the board so we can post to the blog in the future, but at the moment we'll just have to post in writing what we're doing.

See our play lists

Our Topics:

What is democratic Socialism?
1 out of every 3 Americans have no vacation time.

Solidarity

Rally to support Boston Hospital Workers:
Tuesday, October 16th, 4pm-5:30pm @ the Longwood Medical Area in Boston
For more information call Corey Hope Leaffer at 617-284-1142
SEIU Local 1199


Harvard fires HUCTW library worker
(Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers)
Co-workers and activists concerned about discrimination

Harvard University recently fired David Toomey, a very dedicated and productive library assistant with over 20 years experience. Before firing David, Harvard managers sent two different emails to hundreds of co-workers asking them to report “concerns” about David. Harvard then used co-workers’ complaints about David to terminate his employment.
As David has a very serious medical disability, co-workers and fellow union members are upset about Harvard’s solicitations of complaints. Many are even more upset that Harvard used these complaints to terminate his employment.
Despite his disability, David has worked very hard for Harvard College Library helping build the impressive French/Italian collection. He routinely put in overtime and he consistently maintained admiration and respect from colleagues. His performance has been excellent. Despite this, Harvard resisted granting David’s requests for accommodation to his disability and managers were often reluctant to work with union representatives trying to help David.
Friends and colleagues of David’s have asked Harvard to reverse the termination. David should be able to keep his job and he should be able to access internal grievance processes.

Please join the campaign to:
Reinstate David
Fight Discrimination at Harvard
Support following local problem solving (grievance) processes
&
Encourage Harvard to support the Disabled by acknowledging employees’ conditions and accommodating their reasonable workplace requests

Email the following to voice your concerns:
Bill Murphy, Director, Labor and Employee Relations
bmurphy@camail.harvard.edu

Steve Marley, Director of Human Resource Services, Harvard College Library
marley@fas.harvard.edu

SAMPLE TEXT:
“I am concerned that management solicited complaints about David Toomey. Harvard should not discriminate against workers with disabilities. David should get his job back, and Harvard should respect the HUCTW contract.”

To help, get more information or share your story of discrimination, email: stopharvardsdiscrimination@gmail.com


Oct 26th Anti-War student walkout and worker sickout.
www.sowoco.org
Oct 27th Anti-War rally 2pm Boston Common. www.stopthewars.org



Matt Geary for Boston City Council At-Large
Workers councilor on a workers wage: Matt pledges to donate more than half of the $87,000 city councilor's salary back to the movement and only take the average wage of his constituents. VOTE GEARY!

Democratize Boston!
-Boston School Board - appointed, not elected
-Boston Redevelopment Authority - appointed, not elected (mainly wealthy businessmen)
-Make the T affordable again! Reverse the fare hikes?

Boston Organizer - Boston Socialist Alternative website

Keep your eye out for candidate forums... Matt will be there!

Reading the Paper

Walkout Newsletter of Justice
Walk out of classes, call in sick to work - Oct 26th in Boston, check www.yawr.org for other cities.

For US Workers, Anxious Times
UAW stuff (Christian Science Monitor)

UAW agreement, 15 factories slated to be closed - Boston Globe
Soldiers of Solidarity, Future of the Union

Ford and Chrysler next for UAW

Boston Herald - T fare hike has decreased public transportation usage. Ridership could continue to drop.

USA is the top arms dealer to the developing world, reports the NYTimes.

Congress approves billions more for the Iraq War

U.S. Pays Steep Price for Private Security in Iraq

Burma - Thousands Killed...

Obama, whats up? are you more than empty rhetoric?

Friday the 13th!!!

Here's the link to listen to this week's show.

Music:
"Cumberland Blues"-Grateful Dead, "Working Class Hero"-John Lennon, "The Dirty Jobs>Helpless Dancer"- The Who, Kamikaze aka Mr. Shonuff, "Living for the City"-Stevie Wonder, "Goodbye Earl"-Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Backward"-Kode9 and the SpaceApe, "1Nation"-Dead Prez and Outlawz,


What is Socialism?
Democracy to society and the economy. Build quality affordable housing, not line corporate pockets by building expensive condos for profit!

Matt Geary for Boston City Council At-Large: votegeary.com!
an Independent Socialist Candidate. He has pledged to only take $35,000 out of the $80,000 that city councilors make, donating the rest back to social justice causes.

Solidarity Announcements:
Party for Greater Boston Stop the Wars Coalition:
Friday @ 7:00pm
Spontaneous Celebrations
Jamaica Plain, MA

An alternative, fun &
energizing anti-war event/party/mixer/concert
to benefit the Coalition
7:00 pm – 1:00 am. 21+ only
$10 donation/ no one turned away for lack of funds
Contact: Brian O’Connell, 617-947-8983

Anti-war strategy Session:
11:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 14
33 Harrison Ave, 5th floor (Chinatown)


Sicko: an excellent movie about Healthcare: www.michaelmoore.com

Healthcare website: www.masscare.org


Reading the Papers:
Boston Herald on the House voting to withdraw troops
Cindy Sheehan to run against Nancy Pelosi
Mumbles Menino what is he doing? NO Casinos in Boston!
Ten Million More sought for Columbus Center
Boston Globe: Healthcare not free for the poor
President can declare martial law
Boston Globe: Mr. Butch died in an auto-accident
Ex-pension boss jailed as dead-beat dad

Income Gap too wide says majority of people
International Union Created: SEIU merges with international unions
blog.aflcio.org - firefighters and families say Giuliani made serious mistakes, costing firefighters their lives. Giuliani's leadership is challenged.
Surgeon General says he won't put politics first

June 8th Show

Listen to this week's show here. (hosts this week: Dave, Jeff and Josh)

What is Socialism?
Why are unions important?
Important unions in the history of the USA: Industrial Workers of the World and please check out a history site about the IWW.

Solidarity:
Quincy Teachers Strike!
- let Mayor Phelan know how you feel!

Clear Channel Billboard workers On Strike!
Boston Public Library Unions:

*Friday, June 8, 2007
Support Your Librarians* from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.! Please join Boston Public Librarians and Jobs With Justice as we distribute informational leaflets outside the Boston Public Library Foundation Annual Gala. BPLPSA – CWA local 1333 has been in contract negotiations with the City of Boston and the Library for a year but the primary issues of staffing, salaries, and health care remain unresolved. We will gather at the corner of Boylston Street and Dartmouth Street at 6:00 p.m. and leafleting the event around the Boston Public Library until 10PM. For more information email saveourlibrarians@gmail.com .

Boston Gay Pride Parade
- Official website
- GALLAN
- Ask Tell Act Coalition (against militarization and corporatization of the pride festivities)

Lawrence General Hostpital Nurses info picket Thursday, June 14th Noon.

*Support Lawrence General Nurses! *Join the Lawrence General Hospital nurses for an informational picket to appeal for safe staffing and a fair contract talks. Management has stalled over unsafe staffing, poor working conditions, wages and benefits. Informal picket from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Outside the entrance to the hospital (the corner of Marston St. And General St.). For more information contact the Mass Nurses Association www.mnarn.org .

Justice for Janitors - SEIU Local 615

*Thursday, June 14th, 2007**
**Justice for Janitors Campaign Kick Off Rallies! Stay tuned for rallies times and locations across the state! *March for a Fair Contract for Janitors in New England. This is the time to fight for better jobs, more benefits and respect!!!! Come lend your voice & energy for our future, for a stronger union! Marches start at 4:00pm Kendall 'T' station/State Street 'T' Station/Downtown Crossing by the SEIU Local 615—26 west st., 3rd floor—boston, ma 02111. Contact Ana Horton for more information:
617-878-7438.

please explain to us why there is nothing about this on the SEIU 615 website?

Iraqi Labor Leaders Speaking Tour:

*VOICES OF IRAQI WORKERS Solidarity Tour!* Hear directly from Iraqi trade unionists about the role that the labor movement is playing in working against privatization, for a fair oil law and creating a secular, progressive Iraq. Join Faleh Abood Umara, General Secretary, Southern Oil Company Union Iraq Federation of Oil Workers and Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, President Electrical Utility Workers Union, Iraq Federation of Trade Unions (First woman to lead an Iraqi national union) at UMass Boston 6:00 pm, Wheatley Student Lounge, 4th floor. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Russ Davis 617-524-8778 russdavis@comcast.net .

Boston School Bus Drivers and their grievances.
www.bostonschoolbusunion.org

Cochabamba Bolivia link to CWI article


New issue of Justice at SocialistAlternative.org

Soldiers of Solidarity: soldiersofsolidarity.com

News:
California anti-war initiative: BBC article
No Vacation Nation
Harvard Security Guards: Info about their First Contract!
College costs rising worldwide
USA ranks last for Healthcare in "first world"
Sicko - new film by Michael Moore
The Nation on child care in the USA - USA not in top 20 of places to be a mother!
The G8 protests
MBTA bill in Mass. legislature
- MBTA debt is highest of public transit in the US!


Deval is in the Details:
Deval Patrick's financial statement: he is very rich.


Matt Geary for Boston City Councilor At-Large, 2007!
keep an eye out at boston.socialistalternative.org