9to5 Regional Leadership Conference

Dear Special Friends of Peace & Justice,

This is it. This is the fight of our lifetimes. Working families are fighting for their lives in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. This war on workers is not being waged on the other side of the world, but right here in Santa Clara County, California. More than 400 Santa Clara County workers continue to face abusive misclassification as "dependent contractors".

Each year, the Bay Area Chapter of 9to5, National Association of Working Women convenes a public leadership conference to highlight changes needed for family friendly workplaces. Click the picture below to view a 6-minute video about issues at our upcoming conference:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFX_dS0afcs

What:

Changing the Workplace, Changing the World
Leadership Conference

Welcome:

Erik Larsen, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Keynote Address:

Kim Bobo, Executive Director and founder of Chicago’s Interfaith Worker Justice Center

Special Luncheon Guest:

Sally Lieber, Former Speaker Pro Tempore California State Assembly

Presenters:

Brandy Davis, Labor Project for Working Families
Peter Woiwode, California Partnership
Tiffany Crain, Young Workers United

When and Where:

2302 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA – Second Floor
San Jose, CA 95131
Saturday, April 2, 2011
8:30 AM

Noted community organizer, author and workers' rights advocate Kim Bobo will address 9to5’s 7th annual leadership conference, "Changing the Workplace, Changing the World", in San Jose. Bobo is Executive Director and founder of Chicago’s Interfaith Worker Justice Center, the nation’s largest network of people of faith engaging in local and national actions to improve wages, benefits, and conditions for workers, especially those in the Low-wage economy. She is co-author of "Organizing for Social Change", a widely used manual for organizers, and of "Wage Theft in America: Why Millions of American Workers are Not Getting Paid and What We Can Do About It."

As I write this, it appears the State of California is headed for, yet another, budget meltdown. Join us for a day of workshops and discussions about how to fight for California's working families.

More Info:
408-2066-7992
http://9to5.org/local/california/RLC

9to5 Bay Area, National Association of Working Women
2302 Zanker Road
San Jose, CA 95131



We really need your support, now more than ever.

I Don't Know Where to Vote! Where Do I Vote!?

Relax. 9to5 California has got your back. Enter your address in the textbox below and click the button. The address of your polling place will be returned.

The Finale: The Fate of Paid Sick Days Superwoman

In our last post, Denise had gone to Dr. Virus' office to meet with his cronies. Dr. Virus tricked her into touching a specially made typewriter that was designed to destroy her writing powers. Denise felt horrible. How could she have been so naïve?

Denise locked eyes with Dr. Virus. "How could you do this to me?" she howled.

"Paid Sick Day Superwoman, we had to stop you," Dr. Virus said with an evil laugh. "We couldn't allow the paid sick days movement to grow. Now that your writing powers are destroyed, the movement is over."

"That's not true," a woman shouted.

"Yes it is," said Dr. Virus.

"Our movement will not be defeated," the woman replied. "We will find a way to restore her powers."

Denise looked at the woman. It was the woman who had recruited her to be Paid Sick Days Superwoman.

"That's impossible," said Dr. Virus. "There is no substance on Earth that will restore Paid Sick Days Superwoman's powers. Her writing days are over."

"I don't believe you," said the woman. "If there's a will, there's a way."

"Stop it," laughed Dr. Virus. "You need to admit defeat now."

"Never," shouted the woman.

"Lady, you are a stubborn community activist," said Dr. Virus. "You need to face reality. Paid Sick Days Superwoman put her writing hand on the typewriter and her powers were destroyed."

Denise stared into Dr. Virus' eyes and said, "I didn't put my writing hand on the machine."

"Yes you did," insisted Dr. Virus. "You put your right hand on the machine."

"I'm left handed like President Obama who supports paid sick days," said Denise.

"You're lying," said Dr. Virus.

"No, I'm not," said Denise.

She then took a pen from her purse and began to write her name with her left hand.

"It's a trick," cried Dr. Virus. "I don't believe you're left handed. There's not one superhero in existence that is left handed."

"Then I am the first and I'm proud of it," said Denise.

Denise then began to write a speech on paid sick days. Within a few minutes, she was done. She handed it to the woman.

The woman read the speech and remarked, "This is a fantastic speech."

"Let me see the speech," said Dr. Virus. The woman handed the speech to Dr. Virus. He took his reading glasses from his pocket and read the speech.

"This speech is very well written," said Dr. Virus. He then turned to Denise and said, "Paid Sick Days Superwoman, we've failed our mission. Now, we have no choice but to let you go. We will come up with a better plan."

"You don't need a better plan," said Denise. "You need to come to our side."

"Never," said Dr. Virus. "I have been on the side of evil for over twenty years. It's too late for me to change my ways. However, I will not block your path for paid sick days. Instead, I will find a new challenge."

"Like what?" asked Denise.

"Concocting next year's flu virus," said Dr. Virus with an evil laugh.

"Can't you do something positive?" asked Denise.

"Never," said Dr. Virus. "Now go."

Denise and the woman walked out of Dr. Virus' office in silence.

When they were on the street, Denise asked, "How did you find me?"

"I heard the radio ad," replied the woman. "So I knew where to find you."

"I'm glad you came," said Denise.

"You're welcome," said the woman.

Denise and the woman hugged and then departed separate ways. Since that day, Paid Sick Days Superwoman has continued her fight for paid sick days for California workers. She has been spotted in cities throughout California from Redding to San Diego. Every day, the movement for paid sick days grows stronger.

To help Paid Sick Days Superwoman, please sign the petition for paid sick days for California workers. If you have already signed the petition, please tell your friends and family members to sign. Every signature will make a difference.

Vermont Workers Fight for Paid Sick Days

TimesArgus.com recently published an article regarding Vermont's workers fight for paid sick days.

The article states in part:

When the swine flu broke out in the United States last month, President Barack Obama and the U.S. Center for Disease Control warned people to stay home from work if they had flu symptoms.

Unfortunately, for workers at more than half the state's businesses, that would mean taking time off without pay.

"Hard working Vermonters shouldn't have to choose between being healthy and getting a paycheck," said Colin Robinson, the spokesperson for the Vermont Livable Wage Campaign.

Several Vermont organizations and a handful of lawmakers vowed Wednesday to push for a new law in the 2010 Legislative session that would give many more workers in the state paid sick days off.

To read more, click here.

Paid Sick Days Superwoman Meets Dr. Virus

After hearing last week's radio ad, Denise wasn't sure whether Dr. Virus' plea for her help was real. However, Denise decided to take a chance. The meeting place was only a few blocks from her apartment in downtown San Jose. If the meeting turned out to be a hoax, she would leave.

Denise changed into her Paid Sick Days Superwoman outfit. She glanced at herself in the mirror and smiled. She looked like a powerful superhero. Her purple t-shirt had Paid Sick Days Superwoman emblazoned on it and her purple leggings fitted her perfectly. Her shoulder-length auburn wig along with wire brimmed glasses were a great disguise. Nobody would know who she was.

Denise locked her apartment door and walked to the corner of First and Santa Clara. People cheered when they saw her.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around. Standing next to her was a man who looked quite sickly. His skin had a greenish cast and his eyes were bloodshot. He had a wad of tissue in his left hand.

"Paid Sick Days Superwoman, I'm glad that you came to meet me," said the man. "I'm Dr. Virus."

"I'm pleased to meet you," said Denise.

"Let's go to my office and get some tea. My people are waiting for you," he said.

"That sounds good," replied Denise. "I'm eager to meet your folks."

"I bet you are," Dr. Virus said with an evil laugh.

Dr. Virus and Denise walked in silence for a couple blocks until they reached his office. Dr. Virus opened the door. Inside were about a dozen people. All of them looked like they had a bad case of the flu. They were coughing and sneezing. Their eyes were red and their noses were runny. Denise wanted to tell them to go home and get some rest.

Dr. Virus introduced Denise. "Hello, this is Paid Sick Days Superwoman. She's come to help us."

"That's great," one person said.

"Please tell me how I can help you," said Denise.

"We have a special machine that writes speeches," Dr. Virus replied. "We asked it to write a speech on paid sick days because we plan to hold a rally on Saturday. But for some reason, it's not working."

"I can write the speech for you," said Denise. "It won't take that long."

"What we really need is for you to fix the machine," said Dr. Virus.

"I'm not a mechanic. I'm a writer," said Denise.

"We were told by the inventor that we needed you to touch the machine," said Dr. Virus. "Your super writing abilities will be transferred. The machine then will work again."

"That's it," said Denise. "Just show me the machine."

Dr. Virus pointed to an old-fashioned typewriter.

Denise smiled. "This is an antique. I love things from the past."

Dr. Virus said, "This is an antique that has a twist. It's been updated with a special function for writing paid sick days speeches. Just touch it for sixty seconds and it will work again."

Denise put her right hand on the typewriter. "Like this?" she asked.

"Yes, you're doing it correctly," Dr. Virus replied.

The room became silent. Dr. Virus said, "Just two more seconds and you'll be done."

"Stop," a voice shouted. "Dr. Virus wants to destroy your super writing powers."

Denise immediately removed her right hand from the typewriter.

Dr. Virus laughed, "It's too late. By touching the machine for sixty seconds, your writing powers were destroyed."

Denise felt too weak to say anything. She couldn't believe that she had been so naïve.

"Dr. Virus, you're an evil man," the voice cried. "Now, we'll be doomed forever."

Did Dr. Virus succeed in destroying Denise's super writing powers? Is her fight for paid sick days over? Stay tuned for the next post.

And remember you can still help by signing the petition for paid sick days for California workers.

California Worker Works While Sick With Flu

California worker Claire lives in Los Angeles. Because she could not afford to take off from work, she had to work while she had the flu. Watch her story.




To help workers like Claire, please sign the petition for paid sick days for California workers.

Dr. Virus' Radio Ad to Lure Paid Sick Days Superwoman

Denise was driving home from the airport. She was in good spirits. She had spent the week at her aunt's house in Inglewood. Denise and her aunt were very close. Her aunt had raised her after her parents had died in a car accident when she was eight years old.

Denise turned on the radio and listened to her favorite radio talk show. The host discussed the importance of treating workers with respect and dignity. Denise smiled.

Midway through the program, a radio ad aired. Sinister music played in the background. A man with an evil laugh announced,"Paid Sick Days Superwoman, I'm Dr. Virus. My people have looked for you all over town and we can't find you. We've walked the streets and no one knows where you live. You don't have a web site and you don't have an e-mail address. We've looked for you in the phonebook and you're not listed."

Dr. Virus paused for a second. He then said, "We're airing this radio ad in hopes that we'll find you. Paid Sick Days Superwoman, if you're listening, please come down and meet with us next Wednesday at 8:00 at night. We'll be on the street corner of First and Santa Clara in downtown San Jose. We'll be dressed in black with signs."

A muffled voice said, "Don't go, it's a . . ."

Dr. Virus shouted, "Get out of here. You're not going to ruin our plan."

The commercial then ended. Denise turned off the radio. She didn't know what to think. Who was Dr. Virus? Was he was a good doctor? Or was he connected to evil? And who was the person who had tried to warn her? Did this person have good intentions? Or maybe the person didn't want her help workers.

Denise wished she could talk to her aunt who was a longtime activist in the labor movement. However, no one could know that she was Paid Sick Days Superwoman.

Denise had about a week to ponder about her dilemma. By that time, she would know what her plan of action was.

Stay tuned for the next blog post. If you haven't signed the petition for paid sick days for California workers, please sign it. Every signature will make a difference.