Save the date!! Get registered!!
National Welfare Rights Union Retreat, Board Meeting and Awards Dinner
Friday, August 29-Monday, September 1, 2008
Detroit, Michigan
Topics include: What Has Happened to the Safety Net and Why? Childcare, Foster Care, Domestic Violence. Electoral Issues--What Will It Take? Technology in Today's World of Work. Where Do We Go From Here--Our National Plan?
Go to mwro.org for Tentative Schedule and Registration Form
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
GOOD BYE, VICTOR MERCADO!!
Join Michigan Welfare Rights as we send the former Director of the Detroit Water Department out of the City, and out of the State. He has taken a new job in Florida, just days after he tricked his way into yet another water rate increase!
For the 45,000 who suffered water shutoffs in 2007, and the 40,000 customers who have suffered the same fate for each of the 5 years he has been here, we say to this horrible man – GOOD RIDDANCE!!!
We are surfing the net daily to learn where he is going, so that we can warn the citizens of that city to “Beware.” He will do to them what he has done to us…privatize public water and make it almost impossible for poor people to access it.
The “Going Away Party” is on Friday, June 20th, 2008 from 6 - 10pm at the MI Welfare Rights Office…23 E. Adams, at Woodward (near Comerica Park).
This event is Potluck (bring a dish), and bring $5.00 also!
>> BE THERE, OR BE SQUARE <<
MWRO…(313) 964-0618
Labor Notes Is Hiring
Labor Notes is now accepting applications Assistant Editor and Staff Writer/Organizer positions. We are looking for people with experience in or around the labor movement. A commitment to rank-and-file unionism is a must.
Job duties for the Assistant Editor include helping Editor with every facet of magazine production, including soliciting stories, working with authors, text editing and proof-reading. The Assistant Editor will also have organizing and administrative responsibilities as part of various Labor Notes programs, such as local troublemakers' schools. The ideal candidate will have experience in or around the labor movement, as well as experience editing a print publication. Past experience with project management, promotion, and/or fundraising also valuable. Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus.
Job duties for the staff writer include writing articles for our monthly magazine, following a number of "beats" (specific unions, industries, or topics), along with a number of administrative responsibilities. In addition to regular office hours, there are conferences, weekend schools, speaking trips, demonstrations, and other events to attend and
sometimes organize. The ideal candidate will have several of the following skills or experiences: conference organizing, project management, promotion, fundraising, administration, editing, international labor work or contacts, Spanish fluency, or public
speaking. Computer literacy and writing skills are required from all applicants.
The salary for both positions is $25,000 to $29,000, depending on experience. Labor Notes offers a generous benefits package. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.
To apply for either position, please send a resume and cover letter to Mark Brenner at Labor Notes, 104 Montgomery St, New York, NY 11225-2008. You can fax applications to 718-287-3287 or email them to mark@labornotes.org.
For more information, call 718-284-4144 or go to http://labornotes.org/jobs.
Chris Kutalik
Labor Notes Editor
www.labornotes.org
313-842-6262
"I prefer to rise with the ranks, and not from the ranks." --Eugene Debs
Job duties for the Assistant Editor include helping Editor with every facet of magazine production, including soliciting stories, working with authors, text editing and proof-reading. The Assistant Editor will also have organizing and administrative responsibilities as part of various Labor Notes programs, such as local troublemakers' schools. The ideal candidate will have experience in or around the labor movement, as well as experience editing a print publication. Past experience with project management, promotion, and/or fundraising also valuable. Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus.
Job duties for the staff writer include writing articles for our monthly magazine, following a number of "beats" (specific unions, industries, or topics), along with a number of administrative responsibilities. In addition to regular office hours, there are conferences, weekend schools, speaking trips, demonstrations, and other events to attend and
sometimes organize. The ideal candidate will have several of the following skills or experiences: conference organizing, project management, promotion, fundraising, administration, editing, international labor work or contacts, Spanish fluency, or public
speaking. Computer literacy and writing skills are required from all applicants.
The salary for both positions is $25,000 to $29,000, depending on experience. Labor Notes offers a generous benefits package. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.
To apply for either position, please send a resume and cover letter to Mark Brenner at Labor Notes, 104 Montgomery St, New York, NY 11225-2008. You can fax applications to 718-287-3287 or email them to mark@labornotes.org.
For more information, call 718-284-4144 or go to http://labornotes.org/jobs.
Chris Kutalik
Labor Notes Editor
www.labornotes.org
313-842-6262
"I prefer to rise with the ranks, and not from the ranks." --Eugene Debs
Sunday, June 1, 2008
'Cipients Speak-May 2008
Detroit, MI, continues to sink under the weight of mis-management, corruption, and greed at the hands of despots seen when the Declaration of Independence was being written. Just when we believed that nothing else horrible could happen, we are again jolted by yet another attack on the quality of life poor people are trying to hold on to. Dig this!
In 2007 in Detroit alone, over 70,000 homes were foreclosed on in that one year. These devastating numbers come as a result of the “local” Katrina we suffer because Detroit is tied to the auto industry. Because the “Big Three” must maintain maximum profits at all costs, workers have to suffer. Plants have disappeared…Mack Stamping, Fleetwood Assembly, Huber Ave. Foundry, Lynch Rd. Assembly, Dodge Main, Ford Glass, and others have all gone the way of the wrecking ball. The number of cars being produced however, is the same. What is different is the number of hands needed to produce those cars, have been replaced by robots and in many cases, off shore workers. Technology that used to enhance labor, now has replaced labor, so what does that mean? It means that you had better figure out how to say, “poof” and turn yourself into a computer!
For Detroiters who used to believe that they, they children and their children’s children would always have good paying jobs with the auto industry are undergoing a transformation. Further evidence of what we are all in store for came to light in the following example. With so many evictions, the community has decided that enough is enough, so they are moving families back into their homes all over the city. Speculators like the Deutsch Bank of Germany are purchasing properties listed on tax foreclosures internet screens, buying homes sight-unseen. Bailiffs can’t keep up with the demand for 8-10 set-outs per day!
Now comes the depth of treachery – mortgage companies and banks are not willing to wait, so they have resorted to hiring “street thugs” to evict families. The highest Judge in one of our local Courts verified this information saying that the Courts are actively looking for these “thugs” who are performing a totally illegal act. Everything owned by these unfortunate families is summarily tossed out into waiting dumpsters -- children’s pictures, the family Bible, grandma’s wedding photos, all thrown away. Roving highwaymen come by in cars and take unattended bits of furniture and appliances. We are under siege.
Some are like frogs in a pot of water. Turn up the heat slowly, and they stay quiet as they boil to death not noticing the change. Some of us have noticed, and have decided that it is time for Detroit to change. It won’t be pretty, but the government here must be overthrown, jailed and tried for crimes against humanity. (MDT)
In 2007 in Detroit alone, over 70,000 homes were foreclosed on in that one year. These devastating numbers come as a result of the “local” Katrina we suffer because Detroit is tied to the auto industry. Because the “Big Three” must maintain maximum profits at all costs, workers have to suffer. Plants have disappeared…Mack Stamping, Fleetwood Assembly, Huber Ave. Foundry, Lynch Rd. Assembly, Dodge Main, Ford Glass, and others have all gone the way of the wrecking ball. The number of cars being produced however, is the same. What is different is the number of hands needed to produce those cars, have been replaced by robots and in many cases, off shore workers. Technology that used to enhance labor, now has replaced labor, so what does that mean? It means that you had better figure out how to say, “poof” and turn yourself into a computer!
For Detroiters who used to believe that they, they children and their children’s children would always have good paying jobs with the auto industry are undergoing a transformation. Further evidence of what we are all in store for came to light in the following example. With so many evictions, the community has decided that enough is enough, so they are moving families back into their homes all over the city. Speculators like the Deutsch Bank of Germany are purchasing properties listed on tax foreclosures internet screens, buying homes sight-unseen. Bailiffs can’t keep up with the demand for 8-10 set-outs per day!
Now comes the depth of treachery – mortgage companies and banks are not willing to wait, so they have resorted to hiring “street thugs” to evict families. The highest Judge in one of our local Courts verified this information saying that the Courts are actively looking for these “thugs” who are performing a totally illegal act. Everything owned by these unfortunate families is summarily tossed out into waiting dumpsters -- children’s pictures, the family Bible, grandma’s wedding photos, all thrown away. Roving highwaymen come by in cars and take unattended bits of furniture and appliances. We are under siege.
Some are like frogs in a pot of water. Turn up the heat slowly, and they stay quiet as they boil to death not noticing the change. Some of us have noticed, and have decided that it is time for Detroit to change. It won’t be pretty, but the government here must be overthrown, jailed and tried for crimes against humanity. (MDT)
The MWRO has a new blog!
We are pleased to announce our new Michigan Welfare Rights Organization blog!
(What is a blog? see: http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g)
We will use this weblog to post 'Cipients Speak!--a posting from Maureen Taylor, MWRO State Chair, on the issues of poverty and working-class struggles in Michigan and beyond, with additional news and critiques of the times.
Beyond this blog, we will continue to post information, stories, and other relevant items for readers everywhere on our website www.MWRO.org
In addition, MWRO will soon be launching a new "wiki"--an editable website for members and friends. We'll keep you posted on the launch of this new site!
Feel free to contribute your thoughts on our new blog, and share your ideas and concerns on the state of poverty in Michigan and across the world.
(What is a blog? see: http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g)
We will use this weblog to post 'Cipients Speak!--a posting from Maureen Taylor, MWRO State Chair, on the issues of poverty and working-class struggles in Michigan and beyond, with additional news and critiques of the times.
Beyond this blog, we will continue to post information, stories, and other relevant items for readers everywhere on our website www.MWRO.org
In addition, MWRO will soon be launching a new "wiki"--an editable website for members and friends. We'll keep you posted on the launch of this new site!
Feel free to contribute your thoughts on our new blog, and share your ideas and concerns on the state of poverty in Michigan and across the world.
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