GRAND RAPIDS- November 30, 2015– As the Michigan labor community gets set to mark the third anniversary of Lansing politicians bullying right-to-work legislation down our throats, Grand Rapids-area union members are gearing up to fight back like never before.
Members of ATU Local 836 are in the middle of a tough pension fight, and the Grand Rapids Symphony Musicians (GRFM) continue to fight for a good contract. Additionally, a lot of unions are now facing the effects of right-to-work for the first time as new contracts are negotiated.
Leaders of ATU 836, the GRFM and the GVSU chapter of United Students against Sweatshops thought the time was right to unite the west Michigan labor community as we enter into a time that could be an extremely challenging time for working families– wages continue to stagnate, anti-worker politicians continue to put corporations over people, multi-national corporations continue to ship our jobs overseas, and public services for those in need are gutted.
It’s time to awaken the beast. When we’re united, working families have more power than they realize. This Sunday, December 6 at 3pm, at the Kent-Ionia Labor Center, we’ll be holding an old fashioned Labor Revival. We’ll be hearing from local labor leaders and getting inspired to fight with some classic union songs.
If you support a strong middle class– whether you’re a student, a worker, a parent or child– consider this your invitation to the Revival!
WHAT: West Michigan Labor Revival
WHEN: Sunday, December 6 at 3pm
WHERE: Kent-Ionia Labor Center, 918 Benjamin NE in Grand Rapids (MAP)
INFO: Email steve@KICLC.org