Philadelphia

Reposted from the One Love Movement Blog. This was written in response to the Obama administration's recent announcement that it will now focus immigration enforcement on people with criminal records.

On Tuesday, July 26, the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA), Disabled in Action and ADAPT/Liberty Resources, Inc. honored the 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by rallying in protest of the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s failure to purchase wheelchair accessible taxis.  See a photo slideshow of the rally here.

Private security officers in Philadelphia are joining together in a civil rights campaign for fair wages, benefits and dignity on the job.

Guards are signing up with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ and anticipate upcoming employer contract negotiations.

Produced by Kistine Carolan.

On Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 17th, join us to honor MLK and all the families that make up our city and our movement.

"How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust."
-- Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963

Monday January 17th - MLK Day of Action

Interviews with workers without sick time benefits on proposed legislation in city council that would extend a minimum number of paid sick days to the 40% of Philadelphians who currently lack them. The Philadelphia City Council bill is called "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces." Call your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for legislation that would provide paid sick days.

Hourly workers wishing to feed their infants breastmilk are now protected by law to take unpaid breaks and have a private space that is not a bathroom to pump milk while at work. As of March 23, the Affordable Care Act, known as health reform, began requiring employers to support breastfeeding employees. Three local businesses are models of how employers can give the time and space necessary to support working mothers in providing the best nutrition to their babies. For more information, visit www.momobile.org

Produced by Kistine Carolan.

Nurses and other healthcare professionals share stories that expose the impact on patients when Temple Hospital maximizes profits by cutting medical supplies, understaffing and decreasing patients' length of stay at the hospital. PASNAP (Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals) are striking over a contract that would institute a 'gag clause,' effectively barring these health professionals from advocating for patient safety.

The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) is winning an ongoing battle against Temple University Hospital. PASNAP wants reimbursement for tuition benefits that Temple abruptly stopped providing last March despite the fact that the benefits are part of their current contract. Jerry Silberman, staff representative, spoke with me about this legal fight and also discussed PASNAP's negotiations for a new contract.

On this show:

+Interviews with leaders of the Save the Libraries Coalition  

+A cab driver speaks about how the Philadelphia Parking Authority is mismanaging the taxi industry

+The Coalition of Immokolee Workers comes to Philadelphia to take on Aramark

+Immigrant worker's face the loss of driver licenses

+Music and other news

Philadelphia is in crisis. People across the city are feeling the effects of the global economic downturn and wondering what the future will bring for them and their families. The city has finally resolved a long, drawn out, and deeply unsettling budgeting process, and it feels now like the dust has finally settled. But even though massive service cuts and layoffs are off the table for now, this economic crisis is far from over, and we in Philadelphia now have a clear idea of the kinds of solutions our city government is willing to present.