Labor-Community Fight Back National Conference at Kent State University, June 24–26, 2011

[Better Believe It]

Labor-Community Fight Back National Conference at Kent State University, June 24–26, 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Join us June 24–26, 2011 for a national conference at Kent State University in Ohio to kick off a national campaign for an alternative agenda — an agenda for jobs, peace and justice that says NO to cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, social services, and workers' rights, and instead would expand all of them at a time when workers and the community are under such duress. To win this agenda we need a fighting mass movement, which the Kent State conference can call for and help to advance.

Online registration, including further details, and a full Call are now available. For more information, e-mail [e-mail] or call [phone].

In solidarity,
Donna Dewitt
President, South Carolina AFL-CIO
On behalf of the Conference Planning Committee


NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO BUILD LABOR – COMMUNITY FIGHTBACK TO DEFEAT THE CORPORATE AGENDA
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
June 24-26, 2011

Working people across the country — from Wisconsin and Ohio to New York and California — are facing unprecedented attacks by corpor-ations and the super rich and their allies in the federal, state and local governments.

In state capitols, communities and workplaces across the country, workers are fighting back in militant and creative ways. But if we’re going be successful in defeating the attacks on collective bargaining, stopping the budget cuts and concessions, creating jobs, and defending social services, we need to build unity within the labor movement in support of a national campaign for an alternative agenda. And we also need to forge stronger ties with labor’s allies: communities of color, students and youth, single-payer advocates, environmentalists, antiwar activists, immigrant rights supporters, and other progressive forces.

The Emergency Labor Network (ELN) was formed earlier this year at an historic meeting of 100 union leaders and activists from around the country. Join us June 24-26, 2011 for a national conference to kick off this national campaign for an alternative agenda – an agenda for jobs, peace and justice that says NO to cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, social services, and workers’ rights, and instead would expand all of them at a time when workers and the community are under such duress. To win this agenda we need a fighting mass movement which the Kent State conference can call for and help to advance.

Endorsers of Emergency Labor Meeting Held in Cleveland March 4–5, 2011

Donna Dewitt, President, South Carolina AFL-CIO

David Newby, President Emeritus. Wisconsin State AFL-CIO*

Jos Williams, President, Washington Metro Council, AFL-CIO

Ken Riley, President, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1422

Karen Lewis, President, Chicago Teachers Union (AFT) Local 1*

Henry Nicholas, President, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFSCME

Jim Savage, President, USW Local 10-1

Lew Moye, President, St Louis Chapter, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

Eduardo Quintana, President, International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 933*

David Poklinkoski, President and Business Manager, IBEW Local 2304

Monadel Herzallah, President, Arab American Union Members Council – USLAW-affiliate

Dominick Patrignani, President IUE-CWA Local 81359

Jeff Crosby, President, North Shore Labor Council

Traven Leyshon, President Green Mountain Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Ron Dicks, International Vice President, International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE)*

Erin McKee, President, Charleston Central Labor Council*

Tim Paulson, Executive Director, San Francisco Labor Council

San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Laborers Local 310

Laborers Local 483

GEO 6300 (IFT-AFT).

Portland Jobs with Justice

Sonia Ivany, National Vice-President, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, President, New York City, LCLAA

Andrea L. Delgado, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)

Dennis Serrette, Education Director, Communications Workers of America*

Tom Leedham, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 206

Ashaki Binta, Field Orgnizer, UE*

Sal Rosselli, Interim President, National Union of Healthcare Workers*

Gladys McKenzie, Field Representative, AFSCME Council 5 (Minnesota)*

Phil Qualy, Minnesota State Legislative Director, United Transportation Union*

Mark Dudzic, National Coordinator, Labor Campaign for Single-Payer Health Care*

Saladin Muhammad, member of Black Workers For Justice and Coordinator of UE Local150's International Worker Justice Campaign

Jesse Sharkey, Vice President, Chicago Teachers Union (AFT) Local 1*

Virginia Robinson, former Treasurer and Reporting Secretary, Cleveland AFL-CIO; retired member, Steelworkers Union

Bill Henning, Vice President, CWA Local 1180

Gabriel Prawl, ILWU Local 52 ,Executive Co-chair African American Longshore Coalition

Eduardo Rosario, Grievance Representative, AFSCME Local 375, New York City*

John Wagner, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Tri-County Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO*

Jan D. Pierce, retired Vice President, CWA District One

Ed Sadlowski, Staff Representative, Wisconsin Council 40, AFSCME, AFL-CIO*; Member, Local 938; membership in Council 40 Field and Support Staff Union

Mary Prophet, Co-Chair, Ca Teachers' Association Peace & Justice Caucus; KPFA Community Advisory Board; Steering Committee, USLAW*

Jerry Tucker, former Intl UAW Exec Board Member; Center for Labor Renewal Co-Founder

David Riehle, United Transportation Union Local 650 Vice-Chairman; past local Chairman 1989-2007

Chris Silvera, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 808

Sandy Eaton, RN; Chair, National Nurses United Legislative Council*

Dr. Peter Rachleff, professor of history, Macalaster College; author and researcher on U.S. labor, immigration and African American history

Mary Nichols-Rhodes, LPN, Ohio coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America

Dean Gunderson, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees Region 5 Director and past local president

Gregory Cendana, Executive Director, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO

Bill Fletcher, Jr., Center for Labor Renewal; BlackCommentator.com

Jim Lafferty, UAW Legal Service Workers; Director, National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles

Dr. Jack Rasmus, Member, American Federation of Teachers University Council, University of California Berkley; Former National 1st Vice President, National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981; former local union Vice President and Business Representative, CWA Local 9415 and SEIU Local 715

Alan Benjamin, Executive Committee, San Francisco Labor Council; Co- Convenor, Workers Emergency Recovery Campaign

Jim Hamilton, State Executive Committee, Missouri AFT*

Carolyn Park, Steward, AFSCME Local 232*

Mike Carano, Member Teamsters Union Local 348, member, State Council, Single-Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio)*

Bill Leumer, Former President, International Association of Machinists Local 565*; Co-Convenor, Workers Emergency Recovery Campaign

Russell Bannan, LCLAA Denver Metro Communication Coordinator; Colorado Jobs with Justice Executive Board; Colorado Young Workers Steering Committee

Bill Onasch, Retired former vice president, ATU Local 1287*

Steve Early, labor journalist, lawyer, and former CWA International Representative; author of Embedded with Organized Labor and The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor

Dan La Botz, National Writers Union/UAW*

Clarence Thomas. Executive Board, ILWU Local 10

Lenny Potash, Co-Chair Labor United for Universal Healthcare*

Fred Hirsch, Executive Board Member, Plumbers & Fitters Local 393; Delegate to the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and to the Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council*

Dan Kaplan, Executive Secretary, AFT Local 1493, the San Mateo (CA) Community College Federation of Teachers*

Ann Robertson, Executive Board Member, California Faculty Association – San Francisco State University – Delegate to San Francisco Labor Council*

Allan Fisher, Executive Board Member, AFT Local 2121 — Delegate to San Francisco Labor Council*

Marc Rich, United Teachers Los Angeles delegate to Los Angeles County Federation of Labor*

Paul Bigman, Business Representative, IATSE Local 15; Treasurer, Washington State Jobs with Justice*

Harry Kelber, The World of Labor

Genevieve Morse, member, Massachusetts Teachers Association, shop steward in the Classified Staff Union at the University of Massachusetts Boston and elected delegate to 2010 annual MTA conference

Steve Edwards, President, AFSCME Local 2858, Chicago, IL and Steering Committee member, Public Workers Unite!

Ira Grupper, labor journalist, Louisville KY

Phyliss Walker, President, AFSCME Local 3800 (clerical workers) at the University of Minnesota

Muata Greene, Labor Liaison for EMT's,Paramedics & Inspectors of FDNY

Lee Sustar, member, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981; labor journalist

Ron Lare, UAW Local 600, former Local-wide Executive Board member

Bernie Hesse, Political Director and Director of Special Projects, UFCW 1189 (St Paul MN)*

Randy Raskin, Vice General Chairman, United Transportation Union General Committee of Adjustment (UP-former C&NW) St Paul/Minneapolis*

SEIU Local 49 (Portland, OR)

Jerry Gordon, Retired International Representative, United Food and Commercial Workers Union*; Secretary, Emergency Labor Meeting

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