MLK March

“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 16, 2012 the city of San Antonio celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King March. San Antonio is known to have one of the largest marches in the country, and the number of attendees increases with each coming year, Southwest Workers Union was one amongst many organizations that participated in the march. SWU’s youth were excited and could not wait to begin the walk, some of the youth were excited to participate in the march once again, and those who had never been to the march were anxious to see and experience first hand the magnitude of the event. 100,000 people from all parts of the city came together to stand in solidarity with the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr., all kinds of cultures, colors, and languages were unified on this day.

Labor Organizer Job Opening

Labor Organizer Job Opening

Southwest Workers Union (SWU) is seeking a full time Labor Organizer to lead organizing efforts for public school worker members and to support campaign development for just economic policy and labor practices. The Labor Organizer will work with the Labor Program Coordinator to organize public school workers in 6 school districts in San Antonio and Austin, Texas as a part of SWU’s organizational goal to build grassroots power in low-income communities.

Responsibilities:

· Build and maintain relationships with public school workers

· Represent membership through the grievance process and relevant administrative meetings and hearings

· Hold regular membership meetings

· Mobilize members to participate in membership and school board meetings, campaigns, and leadership development trainings

· Develop popular education based training curriculum with member input

· Develop and implement membership recruitment plan

· Maintain member database, and administrative and reporting duties

· Work with Program Coordinator to develop a labor media plan

· Work with Program Coordinator to plan and execute direct actions, community meetings, civic engagement and other activities in support of economic and labor justice campaign goals

· Work with other staff to produce member newsletters

Required Qualifications:

· A strong commitment to social justice and organizing within low-income communities

· Comfort with public speaking

· Computer and writing skills

· Bilingual in Spanish and English

Desired Qualifications:

· At least one year of relevant organizing or campaigning experience

· Experience with the grievance process

· Personal transportation

This is a full-time position located in San Antonio, TX that is open immediately. This position is subject to a probationary training period of 3-months, after which the employee will be evaluated and eligible for a staff position with benefits. Compensation: Monthly, commensurate with experience.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for two references to Jill Johnston at jill@swunion.org. People of color, women, and LGBTQ are strongly encouraged to apply.

Southwest Workers Union is a 23-year old grassroots social justice organization of low-income workers, community, and youth united in one struggle for workers rights, environmental justice, and youth empowerment. SWU believes in inter-generational organizing, bottom-up movement-building, and the development of grassroots leaders as a means to bring about systemic social change. Please visit our website at http://www.swunion.org or contact us as 210.299.2666.

San Antonio invest in Solar

This Wednesday Julian Castro mayor of San Antonio announced the companies that will create one of the largest solar farms in North America. Definitely a milestone not only for the city of San Antonio, but also for the Southwest Workers union who introduced the idea three years ago in the People's Power plan that is based on the principles of environmental and social justice that help shape the vision for a more energy sufficient San Antonio. The deal will create more then 800 new jobs not including the countless number of construction jobs it will take to build the plants. The location of the manufacturing plant will be tentatively located on the far west side of San Antonio

In 2010 the city also announced the construction of a massive solar farm on the southeast side on San Antonio. The 140 acre site is the largest solar farm in Texas that powers up to 1,800 homes. The Farm became a first in the right direction for a greener San Antonio. Although the farm only creates a small small percentage of actual energy used by Texans with the new manufacturing plant both the farm and plant will produce enough energy to power countless numbers of homes and businesses.

A much more neighborhood friendly addition then that of a nuclear power plant which CPS ,the major energy supplier for San Antonio, tried to push years back that was derailed with countless efforts of SWU and other organizations as well as concerned citizens. San Antonio in many ways will lead the state and even the nation to reduced our carbon footprint.

Express News Article on the Mega Solar Project:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/living_green_sa/article/CPS-names-two-firms-in-mega-solar-project-2471016.php#photo-2047933

Express News Article on the Solar Farm Project:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Local-solar-farm-gets-powered-up-806187.php

1000 Durbans

Youth organizers taking the lead. December 3^rd was a day of action for the youth and members at SWU, people came together to stand in solidarity with the actions happening not only in Durban South Africa but all around the U.S.


Monica Ramos (left) Ashely Terrazas (right)

At the end of the workshops the youth wrote letters to their mayor and city council asking them to better their communities, and choose green energy.

SWU youth supporting the movement in South Africa while making a change in their own communities!

By: Ashely Terrazas

YLO in da SWU House

Youth community organizers work on letter to the mayor urging him to adopt community lead solutions to climate change.

1000 DURBANS: San Anto, Tx

Michelle G.
Jocelyn T.
Juan A.
Juan R.
Ivan B.
Alyssa G.

(These pictures are of the youth that participated in our action - Muchas Gracias to all that showed up <3 )

A social movement that started on November 28th through December 9th that contained numerous activities around the UN ( United Nation) climate. This was the 17th conference and the year of 2011, it was held in Durban, South Africa. So on the 3rd of December there were movements breaking out all over the world in solidarity for Climate Justice and to pressure governments for real climate solutions.
As our contribution to the action to strengthen international solidarity we we had our participants compose a letter or a drawing that explained either what they have seen in their communities and how it affects them or what they would like to see changed and their suggestions to help make it happen. These letters will be sent to the mayor and city council members in hope that it will make a difference.
-Jessica Garcia

Texas Care Congress: Trabajadoras Domesticas en Acción =Domestic Workers In Action

This picture was of an Action that took place during the Conference Of Domestic Workers sponsored by the Texas Care Congress. Personally, I felt the energy level was incredible! After a long heart felt discussion in the morning everyone was ready for a little action come noon. People from every age group was present and accounted for during this action. We all had one focus. We all were working for one cause. There was no news media present, even though there should have been, but with out it we were still as strong and our voices were heard just as much as if they had come. NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE ACTION TO GET THE BlOOD PUMPING!!!!

By, Jessica Garcia

Trabajadoras Domesticas/Domestic Workers in action

With all the baby boomers from the 50's rapidly aging the U.S. faces economic, and social problems unlike any others in the past. As long term care for the elderly and people with disabilities grows families will be left with little help to find the appropriate care they need for their family members. The care givers help ensure dignified health care and support, but under strenuous circumstances both care givers and patients count on one another for a good quality life. Caring Across Generation has been working towards improving the lives of both patients and the care givers with five structural pillars.

1. Create jobs
2. Quality jobs
3. Training for workers
   
4. Pathway to citizenship
5. Support individuals and families
   

Saturday December 10th organizations, care givers, and people with disabilities from across Texas, and even other parts of the country came together to discuss the hardships of being a domestic workers, and how a care congress in Texas would help improve the lives of the domestic care givers. We all count on one another to care for for the lives of our loved ones and members of our society with disabilities, but without a dignified treatment for our care givers who will possibly think about becoming a care giver?

By Monica Ramos

1000 Durbans "Share Your Alternative Solutions to Climate Change"

Students In San Antonio, Texas came together this weekend to call to attention how city wide solutions can reduce our carbon footprint. Students who participated were educated on climate change, climate justice, and community-based alternatives trough hands on training. Along side other participating organizations we joined together to call to attention the world wide relationship between the negotiations being made in Durban, South Africa that weekend and their significance to local struggles in San Antonio. Thanks to the participants, the People's Power Plan was edited to a new version that will be sent to the Mayor in oder to catch his attention, and embrace these reals steps to reduce San Antonio's carbon footprint in the world.

By Monica Ramos

"Building Bridges to Empower a True Majority"

The south by southwest this weekend has created a convening for organizations all over to come together to demonstrate trough workshops how the process of our cross country solidarity building stays strong. Participants learned our struggles our history our methods during this two day long convening. We all shared our stories and trough the south by southwest experiment we learned that our stories are not so different from each other. No matter what background we come from there is always a similar history we all share. My favorite part of this weekend was showing many adults how to actually organize with youth because afterwards the other two youth interns and myself received so many compliments on how our workshop really opened up their eyes. I'm glad i've been able to grow from a youth participant the past four years to becoming a youth organizer for the SxSW.

By Monica Ramos