kennyyates's blog

Public bus users fight increasing fares, route cuts

Submitted by kennyyates on 火曜, 06/08/2010 - 11:14am.

[ http://rvanews.com/news/public-bus-users-fight-increasing-fares-route-cuts/28781 ]

Public bus users fight increasing fares, route cuts
by Erica Terrini
June 8, 2010

Rushing down East Broad Street on a Wednesday morning, 19-year-old Laura McWilliams dons her work uniform and a smile as she talks about her son, who she supports with her job on Virginia Commonwealth University’s MCV Campus.

As a life-long rider, McWilliams says she relies on the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) to get to work every day, traveling approximately 20 minutes from her apartment in Henrico Country to Downtown Richmond.

The roaring engine of the GRTC bus can be heard almost as soon as it becomes visible, and for many riders like McWilliams, the far off sound is as routine as their morning cup of coffee. However, with proposals of increasing fare prices and inaccessibility by cutting routes, public transportation is taking a back seat when it comes to funding, and commuters are beginning to notice.

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE] Richmond May Day 2010 VICTORY For Free Speech!

Submitted by kennyyates on 木曜, 04/29/2010 - 4:02pm.
Good News! Due to the success of an action taken by hundreds of activists in solidarity with Richmond May Day 2010 through a 24 hour letter writing campaign, with over 350 signatures, targeting Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood (Richmond City Chief of Police) and Mayor Dwight C. Jones (Richmond City Mayor) we were granted a permit allowing the use of the street to march. The letter was concerning their requirement that organizers be responsible for the hiring of off duty police officers, an infringement on our First Amendment Right to free speech and freedom of assembly. Without all of your diligent solidarity and action including the experience and advising efforts of the Virginia ACLU and Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, we have avoided a potentially dangerous situation.

For Immediate Action! Richmond Police Violate First Amendment! Solidarity for May Day 2010

Submitted by kennyyates on 水曜, 04/28/2010 - 3:31pm.
A coalition of local activist groups plans to hold a parade in Richmond this Saturday, May 1, to commemorate May Day. On March 16, 2010, Fellow Worker Kenneth Yates, one of the event organizers, submitted a parade permit application to Sgt. Selander of the RPD Special Events Division. According to the relevant city ordinance (Chapter 102, Article X of the City Code, pertaining to Assemblies, Demonstrations, and Parades), the police should have responded within five days. Instead, nearly a month went. On April 14, Sgt. Selander informed Mr. Yates that, in order to receive a parade permit, his group would have to pay for two off-duty police officers. According to Attorney Rebecca K. Glenberg of the Virginia ACLU, who has been in touch with both Mr. Yates and Sgt. Selander on this matter, the city code does not include any authority for the police to impose such a requirement. Sign the letter here: http://www.change.org/petitions/view/free_speech_for_richmonds_may_day Dear Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Police Chief Bryan T.

May Day 2010 Richmond, VA -- Press Release!

Submitted by kennyyates on 金曜, 04/09/2010 - 5:17pm.

May Day! Schedule of Events
http://maydayrva.org
maydayrva@gmail.com



May Day 2010 Richmond, VA | Workshops | Rally | Parade
April 30, 2010 – May 1, 2010

 

Who is Sabocat?

Submitted by kennyyates on 土曜, 03/13/2010 - 7:42am.

For May Day in Richmond, we made this poster to supplement another poster portraying workers, students and community leaders as cat people.  We wanted to shed some historical light on the image so people understand the connotations behind the "black cat".  Feel free to spread this poster around.  It's 11x17 and print ready.  Click the image for the .pdf

http://maydayrva.org

 

The image of a black cat arching it’s back, sometimes referred to as ’sabocat’, was utilized by organized labor to represent the prospect of sabotage.  Ralph Chaplin, a labor activist and anarcho-syndicalist, created the image while working with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).  Chaplin intended for employees to place the image around their respective workplaces as a symbolic threat to unethical and unrepentant bosses.

May Day Richmond, VA 2010!

Submitted by kennyyates on 月曜, 03/08/2010 - 9:29am.

There will be an IWW workshop at this years May Day in Richmond, Va.  Fellow Workers, from Virginia, are encouraged to attend, we will be discussinga brief history of the Industrial Workers of the World, solidarity organizing, and why Richmond needs a chapter of the IWW.   

Visit [ http://maydayrva.org ]

 

 

Letter of Solidarity to ATU Local 1220

Submitted by kennyyates on 金曜, 01/22/2010 - 5:16pm.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1220
2302 West Main Street
Richmond, VA
http://atu.org
http://www.ridegrtc.com/
 
 
Fellow Workers,
 
On behalf of the organizers of Richmond May Day 2010, an event geared at celebrating the history of working class struggle, we'd like to stand in solidarity with the union members of ATU Local 1220.  Among these organizers are individuals, students, union members, community activists, and above all, workers and riders of GRTC.

We've been made aware by the media that there is potential for a strike by GRTC union members of ATU Local 1220.  We'd like to know how we can show our solidarity.  We fear that the 40,000 daily passengers of GRTC do not understand the gravity of the situation, and likely view the strike as an inconvenience.  Local media has been breeding fear of job loss for those who depend on the transportation to move around the city. We'd like to help alleviate some of that sentiment.

Do Not Balance the Budget on the Backs of the People!

Submitted by kennyyates on 火曜, 01/12/2010 - 6:59pm.

Okay folks, I'm involved with Richmond Jobs With Justice and the Virginia People's Assembly, as well as May Day.  Comrade Breanne with Richmond Jobs With Justice and Vice President of Commincation Workers of American at Verizon in Richmond, VA was invited by the Teamsters to attend, on their behalf, a meeting with incoming Republican Governor Mcdonnell's administation about several pieces of legislation they intend to present at the General Assembly.  Abolishing the corporate tax was one of them... this has not been announced to the public as of 1/12/2010 by his administration. Here is a little informal press release we started spreading around...help us get the word out. 

 

Breanne Armbrust of the Virginia People's Assembly, Richmond Jobs With Justice & organizer with Richmond's May Day is being interviewed by Richmond's NBC 12 News Correspondent Laura Geller tonight, January 12th, about McDonnells yet-to-be publicly announced legislation to abolish the corporate tax completely. Be sure to see what she discovered! It's absolutely rediculous.

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