Hello!
The struggle for safety and economic relief continues as essential workers
in grocery stores
<[link removed]>,
food distribution
<[link removed]>
and manufacturing
<[link removed]>
go on wildcat walkouts
<[link removed]>
and strikes across the US. Workers everywhere are being put at risk to
protect capital and they are standing up. As organized socialists, our role
is to agitate: talk to our neighbors, our coworkers, our families, and
friends about the militancy happening around us and the need to fight to
get the protections and relief we need now.
Here’s the weekly round up of how DSA New Orleans is organizing and
fighting during this time of crisis:
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Communications Committee has developed a guide detailing what aid is
available to workers from the federal relief package passed by congress.
Share this guide
<[link removed]>
and look out for upcoming video trainings about how to file for
unemployment. We need help developing and facilitating these trainings. To
help out check out the #labor channel on our slack
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Worker Power Louisiana (formerly Labor Committee) is demanding the
Exhibition
Hall Authority and New Orleans & Company provide $100 million in direct
aid to service, tourism, and culture workers. This statement
<[link removed]>
was developed with coalition partners at MACCNO <[link removed]>, BARE
nola, <[link removed]> unite HERE!, Step Up
<[link removed]>, Louisiana Fair Housing Action
Center <[link removed]>, HousingNOLA
<[link removed]>, Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance
<[link removed]>, Louisiana Center For Children's Rights
<[link removed]>, Puentes New Orleans
<[link removed]>, Jane Place <[link removed]>,
Workplace Justice Project <[link removed]>, and more and submitted
to the Lens & Advocate and will be published today. You can find more
details on the #labor channel in our slack.
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Healthcare Committee is working on a campaign to support healthcare
workers organizing to protect workers and patients across the New Orleans
area. We will be directly assisting healthcare workers organizing on the
job while organizing a public pressure campaign demanding city officials
support Medicare for All. You can find more details in the
#healthcareforall channel in our slack.
In addition our next weekly Chapter General Call is Wednesday 4/1/20 at
6:30 PM. We’ll discuss some concepts from recent webinars from DSA
National: How to Beat Coronavirus Capitalism <[link removed]>.
Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and others discuss how we need to
organize now to prevent the capital from reorganizing our world after this
crisis. In light of this, how should we organize locally? What organizing
can we build now that will be durable beyond this crisis? Register via
zoom here
<[link removed]>.
Upcoming Calls
All members are invited to join these New Orleans DSA calls, coalition
calls, and National DSA calls
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Labor Notes: Organizing without a Union Tuesday 3.31.20 6:00 pm Some
employers are laying us off and canceling our health care. Others say
workers must show up for work regardless of the danger—and then not giving
us the protective equipment we need. What can non-union workers do to
protect themselves, their families, and the public? Register via zoom
here
<[link removed]>
.
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Worker Power Louisiana Call: Worker Relief Fund Thursday, 4.2.20 6:30pm
- 8:00 pm Please join us as we discuss issues we are facing as workers,
our current EHA campaign to create an emergency worker relief fund
accessible to all workers, and the national Restaurant Organizing
Project.. Zoom
link here <[link removed]> or call +1 929 205 6099 and
enter meeting ID: 890 596 621
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Healthcare Committee Tuesday April 7th 5:30 pm The urgent need for a
more just health care system has never been more clear. Join our chapter's
Health Care Committee calls for discussions on how to organize in this
moment around a variety of issues related to Medicare for All and local
health justice! Register via zoom here
<[link removed]>.
Additional Announcements
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Elections for Louisiana Delegates to the Democratic National Convention
are happening now. The only way to vote is to request a mail in ballot
by 5pm on Wednesday, April 8. You can request a ballot
<[link removed]>
here
<[link removed]>.
We can elect Bernie strong delegates to the DNC with as little as 100 votes
so every vote counts.
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In addition to our own mutual aid networks, it's important to help out
with other established systems. Locally, this work is being coordinated
through ReadyNOLA and Hands on New Orleans here
<[link removed]>. By volunteering we can
use our skills, avoid duplicating work, and we can make DSA visible in the
community if we wear a DSA or Medicare for All shirt or swag.
We’re sending everyone our solidarity at this time, that’s the only way
we’ll get through this,
New Orleans DSA
