deletetheborder.org

N.Y. Workers Gain Allies in Protest of Wages, Conditions

By Anthony Faiola
Washington Post
Saturday, August 25, 2007; A01

NEW YORK -- The deliverymen of Saigon Grill labored for years at the bottom of Manhattan's food chain. Biking swiftly down the avenues in biting cold and searing heat, they schlepped up high-rises and walk-ups with bags of steaming noodles and shrimp fried rice.

Then they surprised their bosses -- and others in this seen-it-all town -- by serving up something unexpected: a revolt.

The 30 men -- all immigrants, including undocumented workers frustrated with the poor conditions and low wages that are often a fact of life in America's underground economy -- banded together in an effort to unionize. They demanded an end to what they say were salaries less than half the minimum wage, and to penalties that included $20 fines for late deliveries and $50 for shutting the restaurant's glass doors with a bang.

rebel clowns at the SPP protest in canada!

http://photos.cmaq.net/v/montebello-a20/IMG_1871.jpg.html

more photos including a hilarious and awesome queer bloc here:

http://photos.cmaq.net/v/montebello-a20/

updates on the spp here:

http://ottawa.indymedia.org/

On August 16th, email alerts were circulating that Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (URO) and other governors from Mexico were visiting Mexican Consulates in Chicago on August 17th, New York City on the 18th and Dallas on the 19th to discuss migratory reform. Activists quickly organized demonstrations in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, and all of Mexico, as well as the millions of Mexican migrants living on the northern side of the US/Mexico border.

A flyer passed out in New York City labeled Ruiz Ortiz, “a co-conspirator with the US government and multinational corporations in the imposition of a political economy, which forces entire communities from his state to migrate north in search of better lives.” The flyer, composed by the Ulises Ruiz Welcoming Committee, also explains that, “Ruiz has attempted to quell social unrest through the criminalization of dissent, the militarization of communities, and the direct support of paramilitary groups in his state.”

To those familiar with the cowardliness of Ruiz Ortiz, it was not a big surprise that he failed to show up with the delegation. Even though he was the focus of the demonstrations, his absence did not prevent activists from protesting the rest of the Mexican Governors and representatives of URO who were with the CONAGO (National Conference of Mexican Governors) delegation. Read More

Calls to Action | Chicago Protest Against Repression in Mexico | Ulises Ruiz Ortiz Unwelcome in Nueva York | Protest of Mexican Governors’ Meeting in Dallas

WHY WE ARE PROTESTING!

Montebello, Quebec (August 19-21, 2007) -- George Bush, Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are meeting behind steel fences and
thousands of police at the Chateau Montebello, as part of the so-called
"Security and Prosperity Partnership".

They talk about "security" and "prosperity", but their agenda really means
insecurity and misery for working and oppressed peoples in the Americas.

In brief, the "Security and Prosperity Partnership" (SPP) combines the
destructive neo-liberal policies of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) with the fear and paranoia of post 9-11 "Homeland Security"
policies. The SPP is firmly rooted within a colonial and capitalist
framework.

There is no mystery to the SPP agenda: murderous wars and occupations
abroad; border militarization; increased detentions and deportations;
attacks on indigenous peoples, the poor, migrants, and working people;
ecological destruction; mega-projects in the service of corporate greed; and
much more and worse.