MOUNT OLIVE PICKLE BOYCOTT OVER ! ! ! PRECEDENT SETTING AGREEMENT REACHED
After five years of a public action boycott by the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC) reached a precedent setting agreement with the North Carolina Grower's Association (NCGA) and the Mount Olive Pickle Company. On September 16, 2004, over 8,000 "guest" farm workers in North Carolina became the first such workers in the history of the U.S. to win union representation and a contract!
A Thank You from FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez:
“It’s a tremendous victory that all of us made possible. This struggle was made of many little steps. You who called the company and urged them to negotiate, you who once talked to a manager at a local grocery store to stop carrying Mt. Olive, you who helped us leaflet, you who invited us to speak to your church, you who marched, you who prayed, you made this possible.”
Some Details About the Agreement:
The international component of the contract allows the union to oversee the employment of over 8,000 workers from most Mexican States who will come to work in North Carolina with H2A visas through the U.S. Department of Labor. The standards set by this agreement are significant because of the agricultural industry's almost exclusive use of undocumented workers. The agreement will cover over 1000 North Carolina farms. Most growers who contract with Mount Olive are also members of the NCGA.
A side-bar agreement will extend the influence of this agreement as far as Ohio as a pact with the Mount Olive Pickle Company increases wages to workers and prices to growers by over 10% over the next three years in settling the more than five year old boycott.
The agreement between NCGA and FLOC includes the development of a system of seniority based on number of years worked, growers' requests, and union membership. The contract's non-discrimination clause, a three-step grievance procedure, and camp representatives in labor camps will oversee implementation and protection of workers' rights.
The agreement is a new initiative to bring the entire agricultural industry of North Carolina together to work on different issues that require investigation and long-term development. Standing committees with the NCGA and other public entities will improve housing, health care, and examine issues of fair trade in regards to competitive growers and industries that compete with workers and growers under this agreement. The Union and the NCGA will approach the Mexican government together concerning graft, bribery, and blackmail committed by recruiters and Mexican police.
To learn more, see http://www.floc.com/
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God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat.
Excerpt from Sojourners Magazine
We believe all candidates should be examined by measuring their policies against the complete range of Christian ethics and values.
We will measure the candidates by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation and support gender equality; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, and special interests.
We believe that poverty - caring for the poor and vulnerable - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2)
We believe that the environment - caring for God's earth - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1)
We believe that war - and our call to be peacemakers - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9)
We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue. Do the candidates tell the truth in justifying war and in other foreign and domestic policies? (John 8:32)
We believe that human rights - respecting the image of God in every person - is a religious issue. How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27)
We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue. Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13 )
We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue.
Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS-and other pandemics-and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19)
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Death Penalty Update |
DEATH PENALTY
A LIFE or DEATH DECISION . . . WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON ? ?
On September 28, 2004 the Ohio Adult Parole Authority submitted its recommendation to Governor Taft regarding the clemency of Mr. Adremy Dennis, scheduled to be the 7th Ohioan executed this year. The recommendation was divided by a 5-3 vote. We must commend the 3 members who were able to find the true definition of clemency, mercy toward an offender.
Governor Taft decided against granting clemency to Mr. Dennis. At 10:10 am on Wednesday, October 13, he died by the hand of the State of Ohio. His mother and aunt were there to witness Adremy’s death.
Adremy Dennis deserved mercy because of his youth and lack of maturity. Dennis was 18 at the time of the crime, according to the public defender Stephen A. Ferrell, “his age is particularly significant because of his background of incredible neglect left him almost incapable of exercising good judgment and responsible behavior.” Additionally, “his lack of parenting and inadequate education left him immature and vulnerable to the worst influences” noting “numerous warning signs of disaster were ignored … the damage of his past could not be undone.”
Adremy Dennis deserved mercy because his crime lacked intention and he remains remorseful. “The facts of the offense tend to show that the shooting was an impulsive act that would have never occurred but for the lethal combination of extreme immaturity coupled with extreme intoxication.” Ferrell continues, “Dennis expressed remorse for the killing …[he] does take responsibility for this tragedy.”
Adremy Dennis deserved mercy because he is only 28 years old and can still positively contribute to society. According to Dr. McPherson, “Dennis is capable of conforming his conduct in prison setting and is capable of rehabilitation such that he can contribute positively to that structured setting.”
Adremy Dennis deserved mercy because his jury was biased toward the death penalty. Four prospective jurors were dismissed due their individual concerns about the morality and application of the death penalty. Of those, two were African American men. Recent studies demonstrate the race-linked differences in sentencing due to jury composition. When juries consider a case of a black defendant and a white victim, they are 4.3 times more likely to impose the death penalty. Whites serving on those juries are 7 times more likely, than black jurors, to vote for death.
Mr. Dennis was the 7th person executed in Ohio in 2004. The US has executed 45 citizens this year. US executions resumed in 1977, since then our country has executed 930 people, Ohio is responsible for 15.
Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to:
The Family of Adremy Dennis
c/o Office of the Ohio Public Defender
8 East Long Street 11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
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During the Vice Presidential debate we heard Vice President Cheney state,” Today El Salvador is a whole lot better because we held free elections…” Having recently returned from that country, I share some information we received from Salvadorans. Each of us can decide if it is a “whole lot better”.
Sr. Alice Gerdeman, CDP
From notes from a talk given by Celia Medrano of the Human Rights Commission of Central America:
Democracy is a relative term in Central America. It is understood as voting. We vote every four years and then let the government do whatever they want. The process of overseeing elected officials is not a common process. We have trouble making politicians take responsibility for their actions.
As of August 20,000 people were arrested for being gang members. According to officials reports there were only 17,000 gang members in the country. The prison system was already terribly overcrowded. 80% of those in prison have not been tried and there is little hope that they will be in court anytime soon.
The poverty rate in El Salvador went down two points this year thanks to the 2.5 million hardworking Salvadorans in the U.S. sending money home. The poverty rate is still near 50%. The average monthly wage for a maquila factory worker is $130 in the city and less in the country.
70% of the people are against Salvadoran soldiers being in Iraq. President Saca said, ”You never say “No” to a friend”. The people were told that if the U.S. gets angry it will affect the status of Salvadorans in the U.S. People worry about the effect serving in Iraq will have on the soldiers. The soldiers will have served in a situation in which torture was justified, where a hero is someone who stabs a Shite and holds up the knife. El Salvador is still experiencing the aftermath of war. What kind of mentality will the returning soldiers have?
Two years ago the organization of American States signed a covenant against terrorism.There is no common definition for the term. In El Salvador several young people were arrested for demonstrating against CAFTA. Two students were arrested for protesting the arbitrary raising of bus fares. They were tried as terrorists. We have defined terrorism in practice as political protestors and those who want fair bus fares.
Dr. Raul Moreno, an author and economist at the University of El Salvador spoke about the Central American Free Trade Agreement - CAFTA is an agreement between a hungry tiger and five little, tied up burros. El Salvador and other small Central American countries don’t have a chance. Government should act as a referee in the trade game between consumers and producers, workers and employers. The two teams are very different from each other. Business doesn’t want a referee. That’s why CAFTA reduces the power of the state. Central American countries won’t be able to give preference to our own companies when we decide from whom we want to purchase. When our new or smaller companies are in competition with large TransNational Corporations the winner will always be the TNCs.
Dr. Moreno described the CAFTA process. Much of this information was in an earlier edition of ISSUES
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WHAT ABOUT THE DRAFT? INFORMATION FOR OUR YOUNG FRIENDS
Will the draft be reinstated? Both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president have said no. However, the continuing occupation in Iraq, war in Afghanistan and talk of use of troops in other parts of the world cause many to think conscription could be a serious consideration- for both men and women - within the next few years. This may be a good time to consider the question ARE YOU A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR? If so, what should you be doing now?
The U.S. Selective Service defines a conscientious objector (CO) as one ” who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles”. In other words; “Could you kill another person, or be part of war?”. If you’ve asked yourself this question and your answer is “No”, you are a conscientious objector. These are not easy questions. Only you can answer them. Could you ever drop a bomb on a village? Could you ever spray an area with bullets? Could you ever drive a tank over someone’s house?
If you thoughtfully – prayerfully- come to the conclusion that you cannot fight in war, it is important to act now to make sure that your conscientious position is respected? Even those who are already serving in the US military (including ROTC and Reserves) can be COs and get an honorable discharge but it isn’t easy. For those not in the military, begin to build your own file of information showing that you are sincere in your belief and have acted on it. Perhaps you won’t need it. If you do, it will be ready. If not, view it as an opportunity to clarify your thoughts and position.
Right now all young men must register for the draft at age 18. This is one time to identify yourself as a CO. There is no place on the form to do so. You can just write it on the card anywhere. If you do, make a copy of it. The government will destroy the original card after recording information leaving no record of your status as a CO. The State will send you form 3-A to confirm your registration and once again you should indicate that you are a CO. Sign it. Date it. Keep it as a record. You may also want to write out your thoughts and send a copy to your religious organization and ask them to keep it on file. Keep a copy of this also. If you are a woman or a man older than 18 you may want to write a postcard stating in firm and courteous language your conviction that you cannot participate in war. Mail it to yourself or a close friend. Make sure the postmark is clear when it is delivered. This will give you a dated statement to start your file.
What else you put in your file is up to you. Anything that shows the sincerity of your beliefs, conduct consistent with those beliefs, and public witness of your convictions about war may be helpful. Perhaps you have pictures of yourself at a rally, made a statement in a term paper, took a class that covered the topic, made a statement in the presence of someone who would be willing to be a reference for you. Keep copies, record dates and places. If you are affiliated with a formal religion get a copy of their statement endorsing the right to conscientious objection. Nearly all of them have one.
Add to this, indications that you make choices in your life that are consistent with your position against fighting in a war. Volunteer service, activities with a church, things you do to help the poor, children, older people, physically or mentally challenged… may be helpful. Don’t be shy or over humble when making your list. Join a group that has a public position against war. Make sure you are on a membership list or put your CO status on file with the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, 1515 Cherry Street. Philadelphia, PA 19102.
None of this is a guarantee but these ideas have been helpful in the past. For more information contact :
The Center on Conscience and War (NISBCO) http://www.nisbco.org,
The Selective Service System http://www.sss.gov.
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors www.objector.org
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