Help the Peter J. McGuire Group with Legal Aid

 

 

I’m Art Francisco, elected chair of the Peter McGuire Group, the largest rank and file Union Carpenters caucus in the Pacific Northwest. Thousands of union carpenters are involved in the carpenters strike in Seattle and Western Washington, one of the hottest construction and real-estate markets in the US where 5 of the 20 richest men in the world live. Controlling 40% of all union construction labor, union activists from around the country are watching the decision by these workers.

 

Tentative Mission Statement for PJMG:

"The Peter J McGuire Group is a caucus of, by and for workers in the carpenters union, with intent to fight for the economic, political, social, and organizational interests of all workers in the carpenters union which are in line with the interests of all workers and diametrically opposed to the interests of the class that employs them: by fighting for strong contracts, an accountable democratic union, and an educated membership that can aggressively organize all carpenters."

 

For more information see the following articles:

 

Labor Notes: After Voting Down Four Tentative Agreements Washington Carpenters Strike 

 

Jacobin Magazine: It’s Up to the Membership to Win This Strike 

The Stranger: A Fractured Carpenters Union Sits Together at the Bargaining Table for the First Time 

 

On Saturday September 11th, the Carpenters voted to go on strike. On September 15th, Matt Malsheimer, the attorney for the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters sent a cease and desist letter to me, Art Francisco, in an effort to intimidate me and the entire leadership team of the contract opposition. The letter essentially asked me to retract all of my previous statements and to stop my criticism of the union's regional council and the of the strike. The letter was sent shortly after identifying me as one of the leaders of the contract opposition and asking for unity as we entered the strike!

 

We replied that we would not be intimidated!

 

I hired an well-respected labor attorney to represent me, both for my own legal defense as well as the legal defense of other carpenters targeted for dissent. I am also using my attorney for legal advice as the strike continues, as well as to defend against further retaliation after the strike is finished.

 

All funds will be used to cover legal costs and educational materials for the Peter J. McGuire Group, both for myself and for others.

 

Carpenters are currently in an important struggle for a democratic, fighting union, and to revive the entire labor movement from the bottom up. I invite you to support those who are ready to fight today on the side of the working class in solidarity. “Single-handed we can accomplish nothing; but united, there is no power of wrong we may not openly defy!” -Peter J McGuire.

 

Thank you for your support in this historic struggle!

 

Follow us on Twitter!

https://twitter.com/PJMcGuireGroup

 

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