Brandworkers connects retail and food employees with concerned citizens to win justice!
Workers, labor advocates, and Occupy Wall Street gathered together with Brandworkers this afternoon in front of Goldman Sachs' headquarters in connection with the international call to action against the controversial firm issued by Adbusters magazine, the publication credited with helping spark the Occupy Wall Street movement.
As part of Brandworkers' grassroots campaign to prioritize the voices of workers and taxpayers in the direction of the Food Manufacturers Growth Fund, over a dozen Brandworkers supporters carried out our second protest at the New York City Economic Development Corporation's (NYCEDC) Board of Directors meeting last week. While the NYCEDC board members attempted to rush through their agenda, Brandworkers protestors held up two rows of signs that spelled out “Food Fund” and “Transparency” and disturbed the “business-as-usual” tenor of the gathering.
Brandworkers is accepting applications for a ten week paid organizing internship for a candidate interested in getting into social movement work. The organizing intern will receive hands-on training and participate in Brandworkers new member organizing initiatives. The intern will help recent immigrant workers of color develop workplace justice campaigns to combat wage theft, discrimination, and reckless disregard for health and safety in New York City's food processing and distribution industry.
Celebrated around the world on May 1, May Day commemorates the Haymarket Affair in 1886, when workers gathered with great resolve to call for the 8-hour day and an end to violence against striking workers. By demanding an 8-hour day, workers were reclaiming their right to a life that included time for friends and family, for creativity, for enjoyment.
On Friday, the subsidized loan program for NYC food manufacturers, the Food Manufacturers Growth Fund, brought on East Williamsburg Valley Industrial Development Corporation (EWVIDCO) as its technical assistance partner. EWVIDCO is a business interest group that boasts among its members the infamous Tortilleria Chinantla—the Brooklyn tortilla factory where Juan Baten, a 22-year-old father, tragically died due to the unsafe working conditions maintained by owner Erasmo Ponce.
Goldman Sachs doesn't want you to know what it does with your tax-dollars. Don't let your money go to law-breaking food sweatshops. Sign our petition to call on Alicia Glen of Goldman Sachs to create good jobs through their food manufacturers loan program.
Goldman Sachs no quiere que sepas lo que hace con tus impuestos. No dejes que tu dinero caiga en las manos de fábricas neglientes y malhechores. Firma nuestra petición para exigir a Alicia Glen de Goldman Sachs a que cree trabajos dignos mediante su programa de préstamos para fabricantes de alimentos.
In our most determined action against the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) since our Candlelight Vigil for Juan Baten, Brandworkers mobilized nearly thirty people on Wednesday to challenge the agency on its refusal to adopt a transparent, common-sense approach to public spending for its Food Manufacturers Growth Fund.
This Sunday, please join us at Brandworkers for a showing of the riveting movie “Después de la Neblina” (When Clouds Clear - click here to view the trailer),
Brandworkers pledged today to scrutinize the loan decisions of a new City loan program for food manufacturers backed by controversial Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs. The Queens-based workers' rights organization made the move after talks with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Goldman, and their third-party loan administrator broke down over incorporating basic standards of transparency, disclosure, and legal compliance for employers who receive public dollars from the NYC Food Manufacturers Growth Fund.
Last Wednesday, Brandworkers members were honored by the preeminent national coalition of food worker organizations, the Food Chain Workers Alliance, for their inspiring campaign victory. Our members from the kosher food processing and distribution company, Flaum Appetizing, were given the Food Workers Justice Award for winning back $577,000 in stolen wages and compelling the employer to accept a binding code of conduct ensuring compliance with all workplace laws.
