Community Forum & Eyewitness Report from Wisconsin "Wisconsin to California—Workers Fight Back!" April 9, 2011

Across the country, working people – employed and unemployed – are facing vicious assaults by the corporate rulers and their bought-and-paid-for politicians. Vital healthcare programs – particularly those impacting children, elderly and ill people – are being slashed. So, too, is funding for education, and hundreds of thousands of teachers and other public workers are threatened with layoffs. For those remaining on the job, wages are being frozen or cut, at the same time they face demands to pay more for health and pension benefits.

The rights of public workers to collective bargaining, to strike, and even to have a union are under attack in many states. When workers don’t have a union, management has all the power. It’s either collective bargaining or individual begging.

At the same time as this unprecedented attack on working people is taking place, the big banks, corporations and investors made the largest profits in history in 2010! The same banks and corporations were responsible for the economic collapse of 2008, which in turn caused a massive decrease in the funds for government programs. The bankers and other corporate owners got bailed out (remember “too big to fail”?) and are now raking in record profits while receiving huge tax breaks and government subsidies.

Now working people around the country from Wisconsin to California -- are standing up to say, “Enough is Enough!” And it’s not just here. The determined struggle of the Egyptian people has inspired people all over the world, and proved once again the people are the force that can change history.

Here in San Francisco, the UNITE HERE Local 2 hotel workers have just won a major victory, gaining a strong new contract from the Hilton chain. The dynamic tactics of Local 2 were key to this victory. The struggle continues to win contracts at the other SF hotels for 12,000 workers.

Join us for a community forum to discuss the workers’ fightback movement here and across the country, and what is coming next.

Panel will include:
- Rev. Israel Alvaran, Community Outreach Coordinator, UNITE HERE Lo. 2
- Connie Hibbard, Lo. 2 hotel worker, Westin St. Francis
- Jeff Bigelow, organizer, public sector workers in Midwest
- Gloria La Riva, Pres. Typographical Sector, Pacific Media Guild, Lo. 35921
- Representative, Teachers for Public Education

Sponsored by ANSWER Coalition. Wheelchair accessible. $5-10 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Official Website: http://www.ANSWERsf.org