GGJ News

Indian guestworkers organizing with the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice began a hunger strike in Washington D.C. today, standing up to their abusive employer and challenging unjust immigration policies in this country. For the last 18 months, these workers have been organizing against the crime of labor trafficking. They have faced captivity, deportation, and surveillance by ICE. They are demanding that Congress carry out a real investigation of guest worker abuses in the Gulf Coast, including Signal International – and that Congress intervene with the Department of Justice and the DHS to grant “continued presence” to these workers so they have legal protection. They are asking for allies around the country to carry out support actions this week. Check the documents section of this website for resources to do support actions.

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This resource will provide up-to-date information as the program gets formulated this week. Many have submitted workshop proposals that are being sorted through and organized. Despite very little notice to organize, things are really coming together. Don't miss this chance of a lifetime to be a part of a community-based response to the "Three Amigos" summit.

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Our response to NAFTA expansion

April 21 - 23, 2008 · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Coming together for our communities

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Please join the national effort to stop the destruction of Public Housing in New Orleans. This week over 4600 homes will be destroyed. Please take action today!

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Act Together for Another World on January 26, 2008
One Movement, Many Struggles!

Grassroots Global Justice Alliance calls on all members and allies to support the World Social Forum call to action.

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Smithfield Foods has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Jobs With Justice, the Change To Win (CTW) labor federation and the union organizing its employees in Tar Heel, NC the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The suit is being filed under the RICO statute designed to fight organized crime. The baseless suit is in response to the growing national campaign to support workers’ rights at Smithfield (www.smithfieldjustice.com)

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The Peru-U.S. Free Trade Agreement passed the U.S. House of Representatives today, despite intense opposition by a range of constituencies. In the end 116 Democrats and 16 Republicans voted against the agreement, 109 Democrats and 176 Republicans voted for it, with 16 members not voting. Within one month a national and international movement mobilized against the agreement. But as in previous trade agreements, Democratic leadership sold out for weak side provisions.

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It is clear that only a few are reaping the benefits of “free” trade agreements (FTAs). Over the past two decades FTAs have created a class of super-rich individuals and extremely powerful corporations. They have disrupted the culture and livelihoods of millions of people, forcing many to leave their homes, and driven many into severe poverty.

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URGENT: JOIN THE WEEK OF ACTION OCT 29TH- NOV 3RD AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE NEW NAFTA-STYLE
“FREE” TRADE AGREEMENTS!

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Download the report from Southwest Workers Union of the ¡No Muro/No Wall! Continental Campaign actions on October 12 and 13, 2007.

Download the first report on the No Wall actions in Ciudad Juarez-El Paso this past weekend in the Documents section. Also see the comments to the Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed wall by Southwest Workers Union.

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Continental Campaign to Stop and Tear Down the Wall of Death on the U-S Mexico Border. Actions will be organized in several cities on the U.S.-Mexico border and in other Latin American countries on October 12 and 13. Download the flyer in the Documents section, and contact Southwest Workers Union, www.swunion.org c/o Rubén Solís grulla@swunion.org.

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Congress may vote on the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement as early as the end of October. Like the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Peru FTA is expected to have devastating impacts on farmers in Peru, and weaken labor rights for workers in both countries. The Peru FTA comes on the heels of the recent defeat in Costa Rica, where the Central America Free Trade Agreement was narrowly ratified in a national referendum. The U.S.-Peru FTA will also set the stage for upcoming battles over the proposed Colombia FTA and South Korea FTA. Portland Jobs with Justice is calling on GGJ organizations to organize actions and to contact Congressional representatives. Statements by unions and other organizations about the U.S.-Peru FTA can be found in the Documents section of the GGJ website. The Statement by the Machinists Union can be found at this address:
http://www.citizenstrade.org/pdf/iam_perupanamastatement_082007.pdf

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PRESS ADVISORY (See Documents Section to download this Press Advisory)

For Immediate Release Contact: Ruben Solis
Date October 10, 2007 Office 210.299.2666
Cell 210.378.5699

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Between August 29, 2007 and September 2, 2007, a Tribunal of 16 jurists from nine countries, including Algeria, Brazil, France, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela, and the United States, convened in New Orleans to hear testimony by experts and survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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Statement by Korean-Americans for Fair Trade

We are deeply disturbed by the secrecy and lack of democratic accountability in the trade negotiations process. Last Friday the Democratic leadership (Pelosi, Rangel and Baucus)—in a move that labor and progressives were fearing—struck a deal with the Bush administration that lobbyists for multinational corporations are declaring will pave the way for Congress to pass four bilateral trade agreements, including Korea, and grant reauthorization of Fast Track to President Bush. These Democrats say that core labor and environmental standards will be included in these agreements, but unions will not be able to go to courts to demand the enforcement of labor laws while multinational corporations will be given greater rights to sue governments.

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There is a lot heating up as we head towards May 1 and the Immigrant Rights mobilizations. A number of GGJ members organizations have sent information about their activities leading up to May 1 and other work happening through the end of the year. Below is a calendar of events. If you have any additions to the calendar, please send them to GGJ:

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Read the statement at http://www.ggjalliance.org/documents.php?id=56

To our allies in the struggle for global justice:

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http://ggjwsf.blogspot.com/

Read about Grassroots Global Justice's delegation exchanges and experiences during the 7th World Social Forum.

Dear GGJ Organizations,

Both Fuerza Unida and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) raised their preoccupation with the violation of civil and human rights in Oaxaca in GGJ's international committee, along with the suggestion that we should begin to build relations with organizations there. They have taken the lead in preparing the attached documents which have been approved by our committee. These include:

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