Bail Out Working People -- NOT the Banks!

May 9, 2009 from 8:30am to 1:00pm EDT
Location: Plumbers Hall,
Latest Activity: Jan 20, 2020

Without joining together for our common interests, we don't have the strength to change our government's priorities. We must begin to build a massive movement that will have the power to impact government policy and give people genuine hope for a better future. Help organize a mass mobilization and ongoing action campaign around the following demands: - No layoffs. Massive job-creation program. - Tax the rich -- don't bail out the banks. - Pass the Employee Free Choice Act. - Single-payer healthcare for all. - Affordable housing for all. Tenants' rights. Moratorium on foreclosures & evictions. - Funding for jobs and for social services & infrastructure, not for war. - Stop the ICE raids and deportations. Legalization for all! Speakers: - Art Pulaski, Secretary-Treasurer, California Federation of Labor; - N'tanya Lee, Executive Director, Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth; - Mark Dudzic, National Organizer, Labor for Single Payer Healthcare Campaign (Washington, D.C.); - Rosie Martinez, SEIU Local 721 (Los Angeles); - Steve Williams, Executive Director, POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights); - Conny Ford, Vice President, San Francisco Labor Council; - Clarence Thomas, ILWU Local 10; - Jack Rasmus, Professor of economics, St. Mary's College and Santa Clara University; - Alan Benjamin, Executive Committee, San Francisco Labor Council, and Workers Emergency Recovery Campaign; - Josh Nielsen, President, Student Council, City College of San Francisco ALSO: Extended remarks from Bay Area labor and community leaders -- and ample time for dialogue among teach-in participants. AND: Spoken Word performance by YOUNG PLAYAZ The severity of the economic crisis we are currently facing is predicted to rival the magnitude of the Great Depression. Some say it could be even worse. Over 6 million jobs have already been eliminated since the current recession began. Millions of working people have lost their homes to foreclosures and evictions, and many more homes are in or near default, while housing remains unaffordable to millions of people. The ranks of those without health insurance continue to grow. But even these statistics fail to reflect the growing insecurity and stress of working people across the country as we wonder when we, too, might be next. Meanwhile, the federal government has showered billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars on financial institutions in the form of bailouts. In other words, working people, who are bearing the brunt of the crisis, are being required to shoulder an additional burden. Our tax dollars are being funneled to the very financial institutions and wealthy investors whose reckless gambling in pursuit of unbridled profit was responsible for driving the economy over the cliff. They have refused to say what they've done with trillions. Worse still, to emphasize their contempt for public opinion, these priests of high finance have spent some of the bailout money on huge bonuses, office decorations and the purchase of more CEO jets. In response to this unprecedented crisis, many organizations have emerged that are addressing specific issues. Some are fighting foreclosures. Others are fighting for a single-payer healthcare system that would guarantee health coverage for everyone. Still others are pressing for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which, if passed, will greatly facilitate the ability to form unions.

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Bail Out Working People -- NOT the Banks!

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