January 5: Rally Against the Far Right in Seattle

Dear labor and community activists,
Your voice is needed to outnumber the “Three Percenters”, political cousins of the ultra-right Freedom Foundation who plan to parade at Seattle City Hall on Sunday, January 5th. OWLS has endorsed and is helping to build a massive counter-protest. Please help spread the word and participate with union gear. Let’s show these bigots that workers are united on the other side!
Community Solidarity Rally Against the Far Right:
DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE THREE PERCENTERS!
Sunday, January 5, 11am – 3pm
Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue
“Three Percenters,” are an ultra-right para-military group that scapegoats Muslims, Jewish people, immigrants, people of color, women, LGBTQ folks, leftists, unionists and the homeless. They are trying to hide their bigotry by calling their rally “Unite Against Hate.” In truth, “3 percenters” have a long history of collaborating with white supremacist and misogynistic organizations. In 2017 they provided security for the racist rally in Charlottesville, where a civil rights activist was murdered. Locally they march with violent rightwing groups like “Patriot Prayer” and the “Proud Boys.” In June they showed up with guns at the Renton Library to harass children attending Drag Queen Story Hour. Together we can stop these bigots! See you at Seattle City Hall!

For more info or to endorse, email clafcoalition@gmail.com or call CLAF at 206-792-5836 or facebook.com/CLAFCoalition/
Use the link below to share word about the rally.
https://www.facebook.com/events/741235086385973/

Sponsored by Community & Labor Against Fascism
Endorsed by: ANSWER Coalition; Freedom Socialist Party; Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity; Party for Socialism and Liberation; Radical Women; Salem AntiFascist Ethos (SAFE); Seattle Revolutionary Socialists; Sex Workers Outreach Project-Seattle; Sparkle Brigade; Washington Federation of State Employees Local 304; Washington Federation of State Employees Local 1488; Kevin Allen, President Coalition of Black Trade Unionists-Puget Sound Chapter*; Juan José Bocanegra, Director All in for Washington*; Denise Krownbell, PROTEC17 member and Co-chair Seattle Silence Breakers*
* For identification only

Trump’s War on Labor: What Does it Mean for Workers?

OWLS Meeting – Tuesday, November, 26 – 7pm

In September, corporate lawyer Eugene Scalia, son of Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia, became the new US Labor Secretary. What are his politics and what’s up his sleeve? In another arena, the National Labor Relations Board has several new appointees and is issuing decisions that are detrimental to workers’ rights. OWLS looks at some recent NLRB rulings, and explores how changes at the federal level are creating a hostile terrain that calls for a more militant mindset from organized labor.

Come early and bring a dish for potluck.

Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6, 2800 First Avenue
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Movie Nite: Labor Wars of the Northwest

Tuesday, October 22, 7pm 

Puget Sound labor history is rich with lessons for activists of today, as revealed by this compelling documentary. Focusing on the early 1900s, it tells how workers picketed, struck, and bled to prevail against union-hating bosses, deadly conditions, and poverty wages. Their struggles culminated in the Seattle General Strike of 1919, where labor ran the city for six days.   

Come early to the OWLS Meeting and bring a dish for potluck. Join discussion after the movie on what workers can learn from history to advance labor’s cause today. 

Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6, 2800 First Avenue

Picket the Ultra-right Freedom Foundation

This year MLK Labor is sponsoring a protest of the Freedom Foundation’s annual gala fundraiser in downtown Bellevue.  Bankrolled by billionaires and wealthy families, the Freedom Foundation is pouring millions of dollars into its campaign to convince workers to “opt-out” of paying union dues. Their goal, to bankrupt the labor movement, is part of a larger agenda that includes gutting wage and anti-discrimination laws, worker and environmental protections, taxes on the wealthy, and more. OWLS will be at the picket to “welcome” donors of this reactionary group.  See you there!

Saturday, September 21, 5:30-7pm
Bellevue Hyatt, 900 Bellevue Way NE
 FFPicket9282018

Immigrant Rights are Labor Rights

OWLS Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7pm

On August 7, 600 ICE agents raided seven food-processing plants in Mississippi, rounding up 680 undocumented workers. The attack, which coincided with the first day of school, was the largest single-state sweep in U.S. history, and left many school children stranded and traumatized.
Not coincidentally, workers at many of the plants were organizing and unionized; at one plant they had just won a multi-million dollar harassment case. OWLS reports on the raids and other developments in the escalating war against immigrants. Join discussion on what labor can do to fight back.
Plus hear the exciting news about the OWLS Union Strong radio ad project and check out our new website www.UnionStrong.Today.

The meeting is at the Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6, 2700 First Ave. 

 

Workers Say: One Job Should Be Enough!

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OWLS Meeting, August 27, 7pm
Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6 – 2800 First Avenue

In the hotel, airline catering and retail grocery industries, anger and action is mounting among workers struggling to survive on poverty wages. In early July, 30 airports across the U.S. were hit with informational pickets by union food service workers. Meanwhile, 100% of the workers at Embassy Suites in Seattle voted to strike. And Northwest grocery workers continue to negotiate for living wages and secure schedules with seniority rights.  Come learn about these fights for better pay and benefits.

Help confront the anti-union blitzkrieg! The meeting also features an update on the exciting pro-union radio ad project that OWLS is working on. In September, OWLS is taking a pro-union message to KIRO radio to counter deceitful anti-labor ads running on the radio station during rush-hour traffic updates. This is an exciting grassroots campaign to raise money and counter the alt-right think tanks, Washington Policy Center and Freedom Foundation. To get involved, call OWLS at 206-261-1420. Joinaunion

Labor and the Fascist Threat

At the July 23 meeting, OWLS hosts a public discussion on how unionists can help counter the rising Alt Right

From the union-busting Freedom Foundation to the reactionary Patriot Prayer, alt-right forces are growing their attacks on the civil and labor rights of the working class.

In the Northwest, the bigots are training their guns on unions, Muslims, immigrants, Jews, radicals and more. The newly formed coalition, Community and Labor Against Fascism (CLAF) reports on today’s threat and the history of fascists attacking unions on behalf of big business. What can the organized working class do to push back against the extreme right? Learn about what labor is already doing in the fight against fascism and bring your ideas on what more can be done.

TUESDAY, JULY 23 7PM
Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6, 2800 First Avenue

LGBTQ Rights are Labor Rights!

TUESDAY, June 25, 7PM
OWLS MEETING

June marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, where police brutality at a Greenwich Village bar against drag queens and transgendered folks sparked massive protests and the birth of the modern Gay Liberation Movement. In subsequent years, gender-bender unionists have brought the struggle for full equality into the workplace. Why must unions support LGBTQ rights? What are activists doing? Bring your own story and join the discussion!

Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6,
2800 First Avenue, Seattle

STOP Unionbusting: Say No! to “Opt-Out!”

OWLS Meeting
Tuesday, May 28, 7pm

Cloaked in lies and bankrolled by billionaires, the Freedom Foundation is running a big bucks, aggressive campaign on media venues to prey on unaware workers. Their message?  “Opt out” of the union. The goal of the Freedom Foundation is to bankrupt the labor movement and eviscerate workers’ rights on and off the job.

OWLS looks at the “opt-out” blitzkrieg,  including radio ads on KIRO. What do workers stand to lose if “opt out” wins, and how can labor fight back?

Also featured: updates on union battles in the grocery, education, and public transit industries.

JoinaunionSeattle Labor Temple, Hall 6, 2800 First Avenue

Amazon: Portrait of a Corporate Freeloader

Last year, Amazon paid zero dollars in federal income taxes.  Known for horrific working conditions in its warehouses, Amazon also engineered bidding wars nationally for its new headquarters.

Su Docekal, Seattle organizer of the Freedom Socialist Party, will share information she’s researched on the toll Amazon takes on public treasuries and services from Seattle to New York City.  Plus a look into the E-commerce giant’s divide-and-conquer tactics in the labor movement. Join OWLS for a tax season discussion on what labor can do to stop corporate rip-offs!

Come to the OWLS Meeting, Tuesday, April 23, 7pm at Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6, 2800 First Avenue.

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