On the picket line, labor supports Jena 6

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workers.org/2007/us/picket-line-1004/

By Sue Davis
Published Sep 27, 2007 11:28 PM

Labor supports Jena 6

“In addition to our contingent from the Chicago Area Region 4 Civil Rights Council of the Auto Workers at the Jena 6 rally, I saw contingents of Longshoremen from Charleston, S.C., postal workers from New Orleans and health-care workers from California,” Larry Goldbetter, member of the National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, told Workers World.

“You could just sense the potential in the huge crowd, which was two-thirds youth. It was incredible.”

Before that, on Sept. 14, Goldbetter reported that the Region 4 UAW Civil Rights Council had passed a unanimous resolution to send representatives with a $500 check to the Sept. 20 rally.

The resolution included two other provisions: informing members of all locals and shops in UAW Region 4 about the racist injustice in the Jena 6 case and conducting plant gate collections to aid the legal defense.

Goldbetter also reported that on Sept. 17, UAW Local 551 at the Chicago Ford Assembly Plant had passed a similar resolution at their membership meeting and sent a $500 check with their delegation to the rally. That local also took up a shift-change collection.

“I am proud to represent our union in Jena and urge every member to take part in this struggle,” wrote Goldbetter. “Send a check to the NAACP-Jena Fund and raise it in your union to get your local to take a stand.”

FULL story at link.

[flashl]

1. This is one of the reasons why I support unions n/t