Jacksonville, FL – On July 17, Dustin Ponder, the Florida Teamster union steward fired by UPS management for union activity, returned to work. After a month and a half-long campaign waged by Teamster militants and activists to get the steward reinstated, UPS caved to the pressure and offered Ponder his job back.
Chicago, IL – Representatives of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) met this morning, August 8, with Maria Rincon, Consul General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Tampa, FL – On July 31, over 200 people gathered at the Florida State Fairgrounds to protest against President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” rally. Trump’s rally was planned in anticipation of the upcoming local and gubernatorial elections. Trump’s personal pick for the future governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, was invited on stage and received praise from the president.
Los Angeles, CA – On August 2, family and friends held a loud protest over the July 14 killing of Erick Aguirre by the Rialto Police Department (RPD). The 50-person protest included a picket line in front of the RPD, posters and a large banner with Aguirre’s image. The protest got wide coverage by local media and received support from passing cars with waves and horns honking.
Jacksonville, FL – Over the next month, the Jacksonville City Council will review and vote on Mayor Lenny Curry’s proposed $1.3 billion budget for 2018-2019. With mayoral elections less than a year away, Curry hopes his budget will pass the Council and pave the way for his second term in office.
Dallas, TX – On July 31, Dallas County District Judge Brandon Birmingham denied former Balch Springs Police Officer Roy Oliver's motion to change venue.
New York, NY – Almost 100 activists and community members gathered in Brooklyn on July 29 to mourn the murders of Black women. The vigil was held after the murder of Nia Wilson, who was recently stabbed to death by a white man in Oakland, California. The vigil also brought attention to the violence that Black trans women face.
Louisville, KY – The Teamsters Local 89 E-Board has unanimously voted to recommend a “no” vote on the UPS National Master Agreement (NMA) and the UPS Central Region Supplement (CRS). Local 89 represents about 10,000 Teamsters at UPS.
Chicago, IL – Hundreds of thousands of UPS Teamsters received a robocall, July 28, from UPS management announcing a “Town Hall” conference call to sell the tentative five-year agreement by UPS and Teamsters national negotiating committee.
New York, NY – The same right-wing organizations that funded the legal case of Janus v. AFSCME are now funding round two of the assault on public sector unions all across the United States.
New York, NY – Around 70 people gathered on Monday evening, July 23, outside of the Philippines Consulate General to hear the People’s State of the Nation Address.
Chicago, IL – Over 500 people rallied and marched for a third night in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood, July 16, where Harith “Snoop” Augustus was murdered by a Chicago police officer on Saturday evening. The protest was called by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Black Lives Matter-Chicago.
Jacksonville, FL – On July 13, around 45 people, including family members of Harold Kraai along with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Jacksonville Progressive Coalition and other community members gathered for vigil in the San Mateo area of Jacksonville to protest against this police killing of an innocent civilian. Harolf Kraai was a 52-year-old mentally ill man who was gunned down by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer (JSO) cop Richard Futch on the morning of July 7.
Chicago, IL – The Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and Black Lives Matter-Chicago are calling for a protest Monday, July 16, 6 p.m., at 71st and Jeffrey to demand Justice for Harith Augustus, who was shot in the back Saturday afternoon by a Chicago police officer.
Interview with Bassem Kawar, of the Campaign to TAKE ON HATE
Fight Back! interviewed Bassem Kawar, national coordinator of the Campaign to TAKE ON HATE, a project of the National Network for Arab American Communities.
Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following July 11 article from Tribuna Popular, a publication of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV). The article was translated by the staff of Fight Back!
“The combination driver will create animosity in the work place” —Teamster Central Region International VP Robert Kopystynsky
Chicago, IL – Teamster Chief Negotiator Dennis Taylor and UPS shook hands on a tentative agreement, June 22, which will include a new driving position called Full-Time Combination Drivers (Combo Driver). Full details were released July 10. UPS Teamsters across the country are calling the new position a two-tiered concession that spells doom for future package car drivers.