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What is Right to Work?

April 24, 2015 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Series: Labor Unions Today

Labor unions today right to work

The right to work and “right-to-work.”

When we juxtapose the terms, it points out that they do not mean the same thing.  In fact, since the political concept of right-to-work was introduced in 1936, Americans have misunderstood it to the full degree that was intended.  Right-to-work laws make it illegal to require employee support for the union that negotiates a contract, even though the union contract must benefit every employee.  Even as we notice how unfair this is, right-to-work is creating a separation of views – those who uphold union membership and those who look only for benefits.  Right-to-work, aka right-to-freeload, destroys the strength of employees’ united voices, exactly as desired.  These laws are devised to corrode employee solidarity and leave every individual with a diminished and disregarded view about workplace safety, fair pay, work hours, and every other condition we have come to expect in a job.

Free bargaining laws preserve our real right to fair, safe work.  When statutes support union security with 100% affiliation, everyone has a role in the contract and, therefore, the quality and safety of the work.  Currently, American worker solidarity assures an average of $5971 in higher annual wages, higher health benefits, lower poverty rates, and less than half the risk of workplace fatality in right -to-work states.  Union secure laws promote a healthy balance of workplace authority and vigorous environments for ideas, standards, and regulations.

A hundred years ago, Joe Hill may have envisioned the potential of free bargaining laws.  He definitely understood the power of a united workforce to achieve the kind of safe work and fair income now on the decline with lower union membership.  A Joe Hill song about right-to-work would likely portray the clever anti-labor politician, Vance Muse, who successfully dupes a working class caricature with another “pie in the sky.”

This guest post was written by

Elizabeth Weight
American Federation of Teachers Utah

Secretary-Treasurer, Central Utah Federation of Labor

Filed Under: Labor Unions Today Tagged With: guest post, labor unions today

Can Joe Hill win National History Day?

April 23, 2015 by JoeHillOC 3 Comments

National History Day Joe Hill

Do you wonder if young people even know who Joe Hill is?

Here’s an answer.

Chloe Stewart, Mina Projansky Ono, and Haley Segura chose Joe Hill as their topic for the National History Day contest this year. The national theme for 2015 is Leadership & Legacy.

Utah National History Day

These Salt Lake City teens interviewed members of the Joe Hill Organizing Committee, played songs of Joe Hill, and provided extensive research notes along with their presentation.

The three won the Salt Lake regional competition in March, and they placed 2nd at the Utah state competition in April.

Utah National History Day

Now, they are raising funds to go to Washington, DC, for the national contest June 14 – 18, 2015. Help them out if you want to see them win National History with Joe Hill this year.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: history

Who is singing for Joe Hill?

April 19, 2015 by JoeHillOC 3 Comments

We’ve been busily collecting commitments from artists, and we’re ready to tell you all about the great performers you will see at the September 5th Joe Hill Centennial Celebration.

UPDATED!

Who is singing for Joe Hill?

Mark Ross, a traveling musician carrying nearly 500 songs along with him on the road. Mark performed at the 75th anniversary concert in 1990.

Mark Ross

Anne Feeney, travels most of the year singing defiant songs of social justice and organizing. She is the granddaughter of a mineworkers’ organizer, carrying on the tradition. In 2005, Anne received the Joe Hill Award from the Labor Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Anne Feeney

David Rovics, started as a busker in Boston, and now he’s traveling the world, singing for the revolution. On April 19, 2015, he performed with Kristian Svensson at the Joe Hill Museum, Gävle, Sweden.

David Rovics

Joe Jencks, a fine vocalist and vocal harmony arranger who will give you chills. Joe won songwriting awards at Tumbleweed, Walnut Valley, Plowshares, and South Florida.

Joe Jencks

Guy Davis, a bluesman who will tell you a story and get you moving. Guy is the son of actors and civil rights activists Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. He will be performing with the Guy Davis Trio, Nerak Roth Patterson on electric guitar and Chris James on Mandolin.

Guy Davis

Mischief Brew, they think they “might be the only punk rock band to feature a vibraharp.” Maybe they’ll use it to play “The Preacher and the Slave,” when they relearn it—all three chords of it. Hey, all it takes is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth.

Mischief Brew

Rio Bravo Conjunto – Los Castillos, established as a band by Anastacio and Elisa Castillo and now performing with three generations of the family—with the addition of daughters Chrystal and Sonya and grandson Vinnie. They play music from Texas, Mexico and Latin America.

Rio Bravo Conjunto - Los Castillos

Lovisa Samuelsson has been active in the Scandinavian music scene for the past decade. She has toured Europe and Central and South America from her home in Gothenburg, Sweden. Lovisa’s great-grandfather was the younger brother of Joel Hägglund. Lovisa will headline the after-party on Sunday evening.

Lovisa Samuelsson

Headlining the Joe Hill Centennial Celebration

Judy Collins, who released her debut album, A Main of Constant Sorrow,  in 1961, barely out of her teens. In the five decades since, she has continued to sing songs of social activism, had several top-ten hits, released 50+ albums, and has grown her body of work to include filmmaking, writing, and speaking. We look forward to her “music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.”

Judy Collins

Our main stage will have 8 acts over 10 hours, with a few more additions possible. Regional musicians and spoken work artists will perform on the side stage.

UPDATED 7/17/2015 with the addition of Guy Davis.
UPDATED 8/5/2015 with the additions of Rio Bravo Conjunto – Los Castillos and Lovisa Samuelsson.

Filed Under: Concert

Concert Kickstarter

April 4, 2015 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

The Joe Hill Organizing Committee launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to pay the musicians performing at the September 5th concert in Salt Lake City.

Back it!

Every backer will be listed in the concert program, from $1 to $25 to $100 all the way up to $8,000 (for a private concert). Everyone counts.

Filed Under: Concert Tagged With: concert, kickstarter

Wandering Sacred Aisles

March 25, 2015 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Save the date September 5th

Looking for posters and postcards to promote the Joe Hill Centennial? They are waiting for you.

“[T]he thought that we were in the throes of the Joe Hill Centennial year of 2015 and that there were attendant celebrations afoot never actually creased my consciousness until I stumbled upon a stack of posters a week or so back while wandering the sacred aisles of Ken Sanders Rare Books in downtown Salt Lake City.” ~Jay Meehan, “Joe Hill Centennial,” Park Record

Stop by Ken Sanders Rare Books at 268 S 200 E in Salt Lake. Posters and postcards are free. Buttons in two sizes are $1 or $2.

Thanks for the mention, Jay.

Filed Under: News

Date Set for Joe Hill Centennial Concert

June 20, 2014 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Save the date for Joe Hill 2015

The Joe Hill Organizing Committee of Salt Lake City, Utah, invites Wobblies, union members, musicians, and others to celebrate Joe Hill at an all-day concert on Saturday, September 5, 2015. Save the date now, and sign up for email to get more details as they are available.



Filed Under: Concert Tagged With: concert, joe-hill

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