OWLS Meeting – via Web or Phone
Tuesday, March 24, 7pm   

Transit Workers Fight for Equity & Social Justice                               
Rank-and-file activists of ATU 587, the union of County transit workers, initiate a discussion about the toxic and discriminatory environment at Metro/KC. One transit base is nicknamed “the plantation” for its practices. How does this climate hurt worker morale, sabotage solidarity, and hinder safe working conditions & public health.

How can Labor Address the Pandemic & Protect Workers
Labor unions have been raising new demands daily to address the impact of workers suddenly terminated and those still working while facing increased Coronavirus infection risk. What common demands and actions can we unite around and join forces to defend workers against the double whammy of the health and economic crisis sweeping the globe.

WSLC legislative conference, public employees urge passage of HB 1888

OWLS Meeting
Tuesday, February 25, 7pm

Are you a union member? The ultraright Freedom Foundation is demanding the birth dates and other personal information from all public employees in the state retirement system. The Foundation has a history of using this information to call, email, door knock, and harass workers into “opting out” of union membership.

Learn what you can do to defend privacy rights and the right to a collective voice on the job. Plus discuss plans on how organized labor can push back against the attacks around this turnover of information.

Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6,
2800 First Avenue

Join Unions, the Washington State Labor Council, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, and others in rallying for the privacy rights of public-sector workers. Stand up and speak out against the Freedom Foundation from using the Public Records Act to gain access to the names, birth dates, work emails and locations of all workers in the public retirement system.

Thursday, February 6, 10 AM at the steps of the Capitol

Protect Privacy Rights for Public Workers: Urge the State Legislature to Pass HB 1888 NOW!

House Bill 1888 would update the state’s outdated public disclosure law so that groups
like the Freedom Foundation wouldn’t have access to public employees’ birth dates.
Demand immediate passage of this legislation — and strengthening the bill to include NO disclosure of public employee information. Public oversight of government starts at the top, not through gutting privacy rights of workers and putting them at risk of
management harassment, right-wing attacks, identity theft, stalking, and scams.

Call the WA. State Legislature Hotline at 1-800-562-600

OWLS Meeting – Tuesday, January 28, 7pm

Contract language, past practice, state and local law – OWLS covers the basics of what can go into an effective grievance. This tutorial is for shop floor activists and stewards alike. Learn to prepare for a hearing, navigate the grievance maze, organize support, and avoid traps that can block your path to victory.

Also featured is a report on labor battles, including the push to protect the privacy rights of public employees against the Freedom Foundation.

The meeting is at the Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 6
2800 First Avenue

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 4^th 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

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

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  

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.