Workers across the country are mobilizing this week to take part in rallies, marches and workshops designed to highlight the connection between rights at work and human rights. The Workers Independent News is carrying in-depth coverage from some of the more than 60 cities hosting events this week. Keep checking this page for updates.

December 12, 2005

• More than 1,500 march in New Orleans demanding the right to return home and denouncing the failure of the government to restore basic services. Christian Roselund covered the story.

December 11, 2005

Chicago Human Rights Day Rally (special thanks to Jerry Mead at Labor Express)

• Jerry mead interviews James Thindwa of Illinois Jobs with Justice
• A RN at Resurrection Hospital talks about organizing
• Temp worker talks about the hostile/racist/sexist atmosphere in her industry
• Illinois AFL-CIO President Margaret Blackshere gives a passionate speech
• A Comcast employee speaks out about the hostile anti-union atmosphere at his company

December 10, 2005

New Raw Audio added from Dayton rally:
• Delphi worker James petti speaks with Doug Cunningham
• CWA President Larry Cohen
• Wesley Wells, Executive Director of the Dayton-Miami Valley AFL-CIO
• James Clark, President IUE-CWA

Other Raw Audio added:

• UAW Legislative Director Alan Reuther
• NEA President Reg Weaver on National Security Personnel System & worker rights
• New York AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes on Human Rights Events

December 8, 2005

• WIN attended a workers' hearing in Milwaukee on December 7 to hear testimony from five workers about their experiences with union-busting tactics in the workplace. Attending the event was AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stuart Acuff and IFPTE President Gregory Juneman. Testimony was given by a hospital worker, a laborer, an immigrant worker, a pilot and a school bus driver. Listen to the workers testimony by going to this link.

  View pictures of the hearing at the Workers Independent News Flickr site.

• Six unions representing workers at Northewest Airlines gathered Wednesday to express solidarity. Although not invited, members of AMFA stood outside to show their support. Benno Groenenveld filed this report (click here to read).

December 7, 2005

• WIN founder Frank Emspak was a guest on Wisconsin Public Radio's show hosted by Joy Cardin to talk about the events surrounding International Human Rights Day and the state of organized labor in the United States. Clicking here will play the hour in Real Audio.

December 6, 2005

• Northeastern Oklahoma Central Labor Council President John Gaines speaks about the implications of being in a right-to-work state, International Human Rights Day and nurses at Hillcrest Hospital who have been without a contract for six years. Runs 2m 1s
• WIN-Cali Reporter Grace Turner attended a hearing in San Francisco concerning the increasingly militarized tactics of corporations. Click here to listen to the story.

December 5, 2005
Audio from AFL-CIO conference call discussing the kick-off of events leading up to International Human Rights Day

• AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
• Communication Workers of America President Larry Cohen
• Ameer Saleem, Dish Network Technician
• AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stuart Acuff - general comments on lead up to International Human Rights Day
• BONUS AUDIO:AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stuart Acuff - additional comments during reporter question/answer session outlining major successes of organized labor during the last year

A full calendar of events happening throughout the country is available on the Voice at Work website.

Below are just some events we hope to have reporters on the ground covering:

December 5

San Francisco

Location: San Francisco City Hall

Description: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Committee on City Operations and Neighborhood Services will hear testimony about what happens to workers when they attempt to exercise their basic human right to organize and bargain.

December 7

Atlanta

Location: IBEW Auditorium Pulliam Street

Description: Town Hall Forum in recognition of International Human Rights Day. The panel will include: Ajamu Baraka Executive Director US Human Rights Network Dr. Keith Jennings President/Founder African American Human Rights Tisha Tillman Executive Director Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF) Richard Ray President Georgia State AFL-CIO Al Williams State Representative District 165.

New York

Location: Washington Square Park

Description: Rally hightling organizing campaigns at Lifespire, NYU Graduate Employees, and NYC Childcare providers

December 8

Washington, DC

Location: The White House

Description: Workers' Rights are Human Rights Rally and March to the White House

Chicago

Location: Haymarket Memorial

Description: Rally in support of organizing drives across Chicago.

Boston

Location: Boston Common

Description: Rally at Boston Common - March to State House picking up simultaneous smaller rallies on route targeting national and local oganizing campaigns and issues.

St. Louis

Location: Kiener Plaza

Description: March and then rally in front of the Peabody Energy Headquarters and Governor Blunts Office at The Wainwright Building. Speakers from labor and the community also Members of the CFMEU from Australia. Deliver a message for workers rights to organize by telling Peabody Energy and Governor Blunt to respect workers' choice to form unions and bargain collectively-free of intimidation, fear and reprisal. Urging Congress to pass the Employees Free Choice Act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696) to allow workers to make that choice for themselves.

December 10

Dayton, OH

Location: Court House Square

Description: The AFL-CIO, Dayton CLUW Chapter and the Delphi Union Coalition (IUE-CWA, Steelworkers, and UAW) have issued a call to action on International Human Rights Day December 10, 2005. The AFL-CIO is placing an URGENT CALL for all employees and retirees of Delphi, General Motors and all Union members in the Miami Valley and State of Ohio to rally around our Brothers and Sisters in Dayton and the State of Ohio. Our Unions and coalitions will demonstrate to Delphi management that we will fight at the bargaining table or on the streets for our Brothers and Sisters at Delphi. On International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2005 we will demand that Delphi workers and retirees have an inherent and contractual right to: Decent Jobs, Decent Job Security, Decent Pay--A Living Wage, Decent Health Care and Decent Retirement Security.

Tulsa, OK

Location: City Park on South Side of Hillcrest Hospital

Description: Rally for the Rights of the Nurses at Hillcrest Hospital who thru a vote became members of the Teamsters Local 523 on Dec 3, 1999 and do still not have a contract.