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