A friend asked me if I could help out with an IWW leafleting campaign. Since I'm too damned busy with other projects I declined but offered instead to help publicize the effort. Following is their call for volunteers.
Dear Friends:
Putting in just one night a month can be a great act of solidarity with working people here in New York. The NYC Industrial Workers of the World is asking all members and supporters to put in 2 hours a month to help support the 460 warehouse workers campaign.
This involves going out one night a month and handing out flyers outside restaurants. You will be paired with another person. If you are able to put in one or more 2-hour shifts a month, please contact Stephanie at callthedoctor_@hotmail.com or (201) 787-6035.
The restaurants we are leafleting continue to do business with the lawbreaking company Sunrise Plus, formerly known as E-Z Supply. Our goal is to pressure restaurants to change suppliers, thus taking business away from Sunrise Plus. We must send the message that we will not tolerate the exploitation and illegal firings that have taken place!
SOME INFO ON SUNRISE PLUS:
Sunrise Plus Corp (formerly known as E-Z Supply Corp) has grossly violated several labor laws. Some illegalities include:
- paying workers $2-3 below the hourly minimum wage for at least one year
- forcing workers to work excessive overtime
- reneging on a union contract they had initially agreed to
- firing employees involved with union activity
On 11/20/06, the company finally sat down with employees and negotiated a union contract. It then changed its name from E-Z Supply to Sunrise Plus and repudiated its agreement with the union. On 12/28/06, after workers served a federal complaint regarding back wages and overtime, Sunrise Plus fired 13 unionized workers. The company is currently under investigation (again!) by both the National Labor Relations Board and the US Department of Justice.