LET’S ORGANIZE! THE IWW NEEDS OUR HELP!

Hey folks - this is something I’m trying to cull together in response to a call from my fellow union members in the IWW to try and raise some desperately needed funds for a vital campaign, which you can read about below. In addition to the requests I make below, I could also use some info in terms of organizing such a thing. First off, it’d be great to get a sample copy of the HIMC food donations letter we’ve used in the past. The other thing I’d like to know was how we got around selling certain refreshments.

I am a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) here in the Hartford area, and I want to let you know about an important struggle going on right now in New York City. The Food and Allied Workers Union, I.U. 460/640 is a fast-growing organization of primarily immigrant workers, both documented and undocumented, based in the sweatshop industry of NYC’s restaurants and warehouses. As you can read below, this is a campaign that has reaped important, tangible benefits to the workers in these shops and in the industry at large, but at no small cost. Workers have lost their jobs in the process, and we are in dire need of funds to support our fellow workers who are either out on strike or out of a job. The IWW is a small union with few resources, and we are depending on the contributions of all of our sisters and brothers to win this fight.

With that in mind, I am asking you to please make a commitment to assist in organizing a major fundraiser for the 460/640 campaign in Connecticut. We are asking for the active participation of all pro-Labor, pro-Immigrant, and Progressive organizations in CT to make this a major success. Regardless of whether or not you can send a representative to be on the planning committee, please also consider having your organization sponsor or endorse the event. This will help us create an organizing budget, and show others that this is an event supported by a wide range of individuals and organizations. Also, if you can donate things like mailing supplies, postage, a venue, or food and refreshments, that would be equally appreciated.

Yours in Solidarity,

Matt

860.416.4575

circleamatt@gmail.com

Two year report on New York City Foodstuff Workers Industrial Union 460 organizing activities