(Please forward widely)
Press Release:
May Day in Madison: March for the poor, immigrants & workers!
From: Immigrant Workers Union (IWU)
29 E. Wilson St #202
Madison, WI 53703
Contact: Yvonne Geerts 608/335-0357, Alex Gillis (608) 345-9544
Madison, WI. The Immigrant Workers Union (IWU) among some 30 organizations will organize a Rally on May 1st from Brittingham Park beginning at 11am.
The rally will honor the spirit of the International Workers Day. As the Dane County Resolution RES. 347, 06-07 states “International Workers’ Day” (El día del trabajo) to recognize their right to work, their right to a living wage, their right to humane and safe working conditions, and their right to be protected from abuse[…]”
The theme of the rally this year is “The March for the poor, immigrants & workers”. The broad coalition of organizations are calling for the community to get out and stick together for common demands like the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, the withdrawal of the bus fare increase, paid sick leave and the end of sheriff Mahoney’s collaboration with I.C.E.
This rally is part of the National Day of Action for Immigration Reform and the International Workers Day that is celebrated in most of world. This year’s rally has special meaning for the organizers as “it is the first year of Obama, and he already announced immigration reform to be discussed in this fall, now we need to be sure he is passing a progressive reform” says Jorge Carrera, member of Immigrant Workers Union.
The event will start at the Brittingham Park at 11am and will follow with a march down West Washington Ave until the first stop at the Capital Square by the State St. entrance. At the capital some speakers will address some of the State and Federal demands. Right after that, the protesters will march to the Dane County building where the rest of the event will take place. This closing point of the rally will feature key speakers like Luis Rodriguez from Los Angeles, music groups and other activities that will address the local issues highlighting the current campaign against Sheriff Mahoney’s continued reporting of undocumented workers to I.C.E. and the recent Bus Fare increase by mayor Dave Cieslewicz.
The complete list of demands is:
For the Immigrants: Immigrant access to identification and drivers licenses, Amnesty for immigrant workers, Stop sheriff notification to ICE, No firings for Social Security no match letters.
For the Workers: Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, Universal health care now, Mandatory paid sick leave, A living wage.
For the Poor: Halt foreclosures and evictions, increase funding for Section 8 housing, Free university tuition for low-income students, No increase in bus fares, a living wage for W-2 workers, Real funding for public schools.
The complete list of endorsers is:
Immigrant Workers Union , Workers International League , International Socialist Organization , AFSCME Local 171 , South Central Federation of Labor , Liberty Tree , Four Lakes Green Party , Student Progressive Dane , Student Labor Action Coalition , GEF 1 Stewards Committee , AFSCME Local 145 , State Employees Action Coalition , Latino Law Students Association , AFSCME Local 333 , Peregrine Forum , Progressive Dane , IBEW Local 2304 , Madison Area Peace Coalition , The Progressive Magazine , The Workers' Rights Center , Freedom, Inc , MEChA , Industrial Workers of the World , Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice , Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative , Madison InfoShop , Madison Area Bus Advocates , UW Multicultural Student Coalition , AFSCME Local 2412 (UW-M campus Admin. Support workers , Madison Branch Women's Int'l League for Peace and Freedom ,
More information in the Official Website of the rally www.maydayinmadison.org