Clean up Sudexho

Hi,

This is what happens when you chronically underpay your workers and fail to provide affordable health care coverage.

Meet Marcia Snell. She's hardworking and committed. She's worked for Sodexo for over 10 years at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH:

Marcia had been told by doctors that she must take a blood thinner like Plavix in order to avoid a heart attack or other serious heart conditions. But on her low Sodexo wages, she simply could not afford it.

Earlier this month, it caught up with her, and she had to have triple bypass surgery.

The good news is that Marcia came through surgery well. The bad news is that she is worrying about paying her bills instead of focusing on her recovery, and her entire family is facing financial disaster.

Watch Marcia tell her story here:

http://www.cleanupsodexo.org/marciasnell

Marcia's story is sadly all too familiar. Sodexo workers across the United States are living on the edge, barely getting by on low wages and inadequate health care.

Sodexo can do better, but workers must organize to make it happen. Your support is essential.

Share Marcia's story with your friends:

http://www.cleanupsodexo.org/marciasnell

Thanks for all you do,

Josh Glasstetter
Clean Up Sodexo

Fabia Gutierrez Speaks One Year After Honduran Coup

           
Cleveland  
June 28th, 2010

Making her way back to her home in Honduras from the United States Social   Forum held in Detroit, Honduran trade unionist, Fabia Gutierrez stopped in a packed local Salvadoran restaurant in Cleveland to share her personal stories of struggle from the front lines of the  military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Manuel Zelaya one year ago.  As the acting president of the Union Federation of Democratic Workers of Honduras, Fabia has been organizing textile workers in the neo-liberal free trade zones since the 1980’s. New draconian policies set in place by the right wing coup have not only banned collective bargaining from taking place, but have also threatened the lives of labor leaders like Fabia.  Despite the open threats against her life and her comrades lives, Fabia has no intention of leaving the struggle to fight for worker’s rights as she has been open in her commitment of resistance against the illegitimate Roberto Micheletti military government. Gutierrez participates in the National Popular Resistance Front, a wide alliance of popular movements opposed to the coup.  The Resistance Front is planning a general strike on the anniversary of the coup. 
            Fabia called upon United States citizens to resist in solidarity with her people as the United States government has been active in its military support for the authoritarian regime. President Barack Obama has made public statements condemning the coup that ousted democratically elected leader Manuel Zelaya, yet the actions of Obama’s administration do not support Obama’s condemnations. Nearly seventy million dollars in military aid have been given to support the military regime and it has been reported that a US military base in El Salvador was used in the staging of the coup.  Fabia suggested that comrades in the United States organize to spread consciousness of the horrific situation in Honduras to counter the nearly complete corporate media blackout of the coup since it took place last year. Fabia did not encourage boycotts as a method of resistance because she explained this tactic hurts the workers more than it makes a political statement. Rather, Fabia asked her comrades in the United States to write letters to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and to stage public protests in condemnation of the military government of Roberto Micheletti.

Cleveland District Wide

Schools Walk Out

Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 10.30am

until Friday, May 14, 2010 at 12.00am

Public Square, Downtown Cleveland

Click here for Facebook link

"This is a protest for every one who has ever been or will be in school. 773 teachers have been laid-off in the Cleveland metro school district , this is unacceptable and unfair not only to the teachers who have dedicated themselves to the schools but also to the students who must now be forced into over crowded, and overall unsafe classes. Within the next year the entire school district will collapse, there will be more drop-outs and failing test scores than ever, because of the crowding in the classes. many schools will close because of all the transfers to other schools in the district which will be having the same problem. The government and the school systems have completely failed our youth. The Cleveland school system is 52 million dollars in debt and the schools that need it the most or any school for that matter have not seen a dime of it. It may be to late to stop the teachers from getting laid-off or the corruption in every infrastructure in our country but it is never to late to stand up against our government that has so blatantly turned its back on its youth and the general interest of the people.

We must remind [the government] who we are and that we are still here and will always be here, but most of all we must remind them that we are more powerful than they not just by numbers but by spirit and integrity. On May 13, students, teachers, middle class, upper class, and lower class, black, white or purple, communist, democrat or republican, we must form a unifying voice against all of those in our government that have chose to see the problems in our country today and once again choose to do nothing about them.

It must start with our youth in our schools to show that teenagers are just as angry and willing to fight as everyone else. It will show a true need for change for the better of the people. We need to show that we want this and we will take it. It must always start with our youth and it will on May 13. We will walk out of our classes and into the streets and toward the center of our city and make them hear what they refuse to, with words and foremost actions. Actions have and will always speak louder than words, because talk is cheap after a certain point and actions are forever."

Seth Barlekamp is 16 years old and goes to Collinwood high school. He will lead his school out at 10:30 am and start the march toward publi c square downtown Cleveland. He asks "What will you do? I am old enough to see the disgusting nature of our government but the question is when will you?"
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