After Union Protests, SAISD school workers win raise

In response to the administration of San Antonio Independent School District not allotting funds for a annual raise for classified school workers, SWU members demanded justice. Many cafeteria workers and custodians already earn salaries well below the poverty line. In face of rising costs of rent, food and transportation, a small raise barely makes up for this. SWU is the only union that represents the voices of low-wage schoolworkers in the district. After protests and speaking to the school board, the workers were given a 2% raise.

Check out the articles: Alza de 2% en salarios para empleados de SAISD and SAISD compromises on pay

From earlier this week: Quieren 6% de aumento de SAISD

Viva la Union!

School starts & state legislators didn't finish their homework

As thousands of school kids across the state head to school this week, politicians in Austin are doing nothing to address the inadequate funding for schools and the extreme inequality that exists between school districts. Kids living in poor areas face deteriorating schools, lack of books and technological resources, no air conditioning or playgrounds and no additional funding for this year. The state however has taken an approach to prioritize welfare to the rich and laws to limit rights of women and only offer school funding models that decrease taxes of the rich and increase the burden on the poor perpetuating the existing model of injustice. At the same time, school workers continue to be paid poverty wages the escalates the cycle of povery and poor education in our communities.

Support the Future, Demand Equal Funding for Equal Education

Community Leaders Unite to Demand Military Toxics Cleanup

Southwest Workers Union brought together community leaders from around the world to unite for clean, healthy communities and discuss the global legacy of U.S. military contamination. From Okinawa, Japan to Vieques, Puerto Rico from Philadelphia to Hawaii, 27 representatives participated in the second Military Toxics Conference in San Antonio, Texas from July 14-16, 2005. The intent was to create a space for dialogue between community leaders to share strategies and begin to brainstorm ways organizations can work together to build greater community power against military toxics.

San Antonio, Texas, a city situated near the U.S.-Mexico border, is home to 7 military installations. The conference came in the shadows of the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) process that is posed to close several military installations nationwide, in a manner that fails to incorporate community participation nor to address the persistent question of toxics and health impacts. Leaders traveled from Okinawa, Alaska, Hawaii, South Korea, Nevada, Utah, the Philippines, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Philadelphia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Memphis, Vieques, Rhode Island, Kentucky and Texas.

CAFTA wins, People Lose, Cuellar eats corporate breakfast

Congressman Cuellar, a supposed democrat of San Antonio, sold-out the working class by voting for CAFTA (the central american free trade agreement) last week. He sees the benefit this week with a beakfast at Lubys with the San Antonio Free Trade Alliance (ie corporate elite). Cuellar claims to have voted for CAFTA for 3 reasons: 'jobs, jobs, jobs.'

SWU says...
jobs that exploit
jobs that poison
jobs without labor unions or protection of rights

Cuellar hosts one of the worst records for democratic congressman on workers rights, environmental protects and civil liberties. Check out Univision at 5p & 10p for SWU's response.

March for Community Lives

Following major downpours on Saturday morning, SWU-CEJA continued with the organized March for Community Lives in the Kelly community on July 16th, 2005. The march occurred on the 4th anniversary of the closure of Kelly Air Force Base for the health and regeneration of the community. A ceremony opened the march by offering a blessing and calling upon the four directions. The march was led by 4 generations of the Alvarado family with all marchers wearing T-shirts demanding healthy communities and the cleanup of military toxics. Marching through the community, the neighborhood filled with chants like “Vida Si, Cancer No” and “We want a cleanup not a cover-up.”

Carrying purple crosses in remembrance of the victims of the Kelly AFB toxics, nearly 200 community residents together with the international presence of the conference participants completed the two mile march that rallied at the main entrance of Kelly USA. Local organizations participating included Fuerza Unida, San Antonio Cultural Arts, and the PEACE Initiative. Under a fighter jet, a broad range of leaders gave solidarity statements from a 10 year old girl to great- grandparents, from local community to a Hawaiian native. The convergence between the conference participants into the local march for health, cleanup and regeneration provided a powerful space to exchange stories, build power, inspire and educate the local and global leaders. This powerful event encapsulated the concept of connecting local resistance to global struggles.

Marisa reflecion on YLO internship

this my last day of the internship. I had a good time with SWU and the group. my three favorite things were:
(1)getting to know the people and going to oklahoma rafting down the river
(2)torreon mexico - we had alot of important meetings about the october mobilizations
(3)kelly contamination march was a great experiance and I liked carrying my dog through the march
(4)and learning how to protest

-marisa

Why the Purple Cross?

Southwest Workers Union and the Committee for Environmental Justice Action (CEJA) are placing purple crosses to remember the people impacted by the Kelly Air Force Base Toxics. The contamination still is widespread across the southwest part of San Antonio, threatening the health of residents and ex-workers. Unfortunately there are alarming rates of cancer, reproductive problems and kidney and liver disease in the community.

Please contact us for more information.