(JAI: Released March 2009)
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE WORKERS
IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY
At a time when
many have lost their jobs and more cannot find them;
At a time when
donations to food banks, missions and charities are drying up;
At the same
time more and more people find themselves in dire need of assistance;
At such a time
we must all pull together lest we all fall apart.
Let us face it.
The system of capitalism is failing the majority of the people. Because
profits can no longer be made, workers are laid off:
In March of 2009, 742,000 people joined the ranks of the official 6,000,000
laid off workers receiving unemployment compensation. Many more are receiving
the pitiful benefits of general relief and welfare payments. Many, many more
get no benefits at all.
Workers terminated from their positions find that there are no jobs to be
found. Yet we still have bills to pay, rent to cover and the mouths of our
families to feed. Having been expelled from what is called the formal economy,
an economy that has failed, we humans struggle to find ways to keep our
families together, to keep themselves sane.
New methods of making a living are and will continue to arise in the informal
economy:
Day Laborers: skilled plumbers, masons and carpenters who can find no regular
work stand in front of Home Depot hoping for jobs that pay a fraction of their
just wage;
Urban Miners: collect aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic
from trash cans;
Concessionaires: cook hot dogs, tacos and burritos, and pupusas, etc;
Street Vendors: sell jeans, dresses, appliances, dishes, etc. at prices less
than the stores charge.
At a time when workers' efforts to generate and create work are more and more
necessitated, the LAPD has increased its efforts against those whose only crime
is to try to make a living. Day laborers are driven away from their posts;
Urban Miners are given a ticket for having the shopping cart they must have;
Concessionaires are given violations of a health code designed to ensure that
only the well-off can start a business; and, Street Vendors are hassled with
their goods confiscated and/or trashed.
RAC says
"Hands off the Workers of the Informal Economy"
"Living-wage Jobs for All"
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: jubilee shine
To: [email protected] ; keli ;
[email protected] ; answer ; [email protected] ;
[email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ;
[email protected] ; ernesto arce ; [email protected] ;
[email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ;
[email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ;
[email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 11:50 PM
Subject: [lac4jog] FW: Foto of Police Attack/ rally thursday 4pm 7th &
alvarado!
l.a. sheriffs have been attacking im/migrant vendors on alvarado by macarthur
park. attached is a photo from today's raids.
the vendors & westlake community are calling a rally 4pm thursday to stand up
against police abuse. 7th & alvarado.
unite the many,
defeat the few!
> Subject: Foto of Police Attack
> To: [email protected]
> From: [email protected]
> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 07:00:53 +0000
>
> Three LA County Sheriffs attacking a small young vendor Feb. 8 2011.
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
--
stop killer cops!
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/la-coalition-for-justice-for-oscar-grant?hl=en
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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