Sept
23 - News clips on the Living Wages Hunger Strike and Historic
Victory for Human Rights
Sept
8 - United Workers celebrates historic victory at the Concert
for Human Rights
Strikers prepare for the human rights victory celebration
by painting banners for the Concert for Human Rights.
|
Strikers
took the stage, joined by United Workers ally Rev. Powers,
inviting everyone to celebrate this historic human rights
victory, and join them in the next steps to break the
chains of poverty everywhere and for everyone. |
The United Workers has long been inspired by the Coalition
of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and were privileged to
be able to share this victory with them. A representative
of the CIW speaks at the Concert for Human Rights. |
Etan
Thomas of the Washington Wizards layed down some of
his amazing poetry, lending his star status to support
the movement of low-wage workers in the struggle to
secure human rights for all. |
The Concert
for Human Rights was full of much deserved joy and celebration
after a long and difficult three-year struggle at Camden
Yards. The blazzing heat of the day was no match for the
occasion and the energy brought by allies and an incredible
lineup of performers and speakers.
The day was
set aside to reflect on the United Workers historic feat,
as the first ever human rights organization led by low-wage
workers to secure a living wage for day laborers. Yet we
know that much work still lies ahead. The United Workers
has committed to ensuring that the current cleaners have
a fair opportunity to work next season for a living wage.
The struggle to secure work with dignity will continue and
to put an end to the human rights violations at the stadium.
Sept
6 - Historic Human Rights Victory at Camden Yards!!!!!

Members and
allies of the United Workers celebrated tonight's historic
victory at a vigil and rally at the Light Street Presbytarian
Church held just hours after the MSA voted to pay cleaners
a living wage. Members and allies made speeches, sang together,
cut off the yellow unity bands and held a candle light vigil.
We reflected on the long and difficult struggle to get to
victory and on the next steps that must be taken to ensure
the current cleaners all get an opportunity to work at a
living wage when the new contract goes into effect at the
start of the next baseball season.
Following the
MSA Board meeting on Sept 6, 2007 the United Workers called
off the planned Living Wages Hunger Strike and declared
a living wages victory for the cleaners at Camden Yards.
The Living Wages Hunger Strike was called off in response
to the Maryland Stadium Authority's decision to re-bid the
current cleaning contract and to include living wages in
the request for proposals.
While celebrating
the living wages victory, the United Workers remains committed
to ensuring that working conditions at Camden Yards improve.
The United Workers will work to ensure that the current
cleaners at MSA sports facilities have a fair opportunity
to keep their jobs and to work at the new living wage rate.
"After
three long and difficult years of struggle, we're very excited
about today's living wage victory at Camden Yards,"
said Carl Johnson of the United Workers. "Our next
priority will be making sure that the current cleaners get
a fair opportunity to keep their jobs next season and to
work at a living wage."
Sept
6 - Etan Thomas, Washington Wizards Center will be headlining
the Concert for Human Rights
The
Concert for Human Rights will feature Etan Thomas. Etan
Thomas is a professional basketball player with the Washinton
Wizards, an author, and a poet. He is truly "more than
an athlete". Come see him and plenty of other talented
artists at the Concert for Human Rights on Sept. 8, 2007
at 2:00 PM at 1410 Bush St. (behind the AFSCME offices).
Sept
3 - Labor Day Prayer Breakfast
See
all the photos from the exciting day here.

From
the Baltimore
Sun:
Preaching
the importance of respect, dignity and justice for low-wage
workers at a Labor Day prayer service and rally, the men
and women who clean Camden Yards called off a planned hunger
strike today to give the Maryland Stadium Authority a few
more days to sign a binding "living wage" agreement
that the workers have demanded.
Organizers
with the United Workers Association, a human rights group
founded by homeless day laborers in Baltimore, said they
were encouraged by public remarks Friday from Gov. Martin
O'Malley and Frederick W. Puddester, chairman of the stadium
authority.
Read
the entire article
Sept
2 - Stadium Worker Allies Group (SWAG)
The
Stadium Worker
Allies Group (SWAG) started in the Summer of 2007 when
they heard about the United Workers Sept. 1 deadline to
reach a binding living wages solution from the Maryland
Stadium Authority. SWAG is a community based group working
with the United Workers, focusing on educating Baltimoreans
about the United Workers Living Wages campaign at Camden
Yards and the movement led by the poor to end poverty. Visit
SWAG on the Web.
Sept
2 - In response to Governor and MSA Chairman's positive
comments, United Workers to postpone Living Wages Hunger
Strike at Camden Yards
On Sept. 3,
2007 at 11:15 AM the United Workers will announce that due
to positive signs coming from both the Governor and the
Chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) that the
Living Wages Hunger Strike will be postponed until Sept
8, 2007. The announcement will take place during the Labor
Day Prayer Breakfast at Light Street Presbyterian Church
(809 Light Street), which was to be the kick off event for
the hunger strike.
The postponement
of the hunger strike is intended to allow breathing room
for the MSA to work out specific plans for securing a living
wage for the cleaners at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium.
Aug
31 - Sports Illustrated: Doing the Dirty Work
Read this excellent feature from SportsIllustrated.com:
Judging by the streams of fans flowing out of Oriole
Park at Camden Yards, you'd swear the game had ended. The
driving rains sent even the most loyalOrioles' supporters
running to the shelter of their cars, or the cover of the
nearest bar. But beneath her broken-down umbrella, Bernadette
Scudder stood, waiting and wondering if the umps would ever
call this game. She can't tell you the name of a player,
the outcome of a single game or the Orioles' standing in
their division, but no matter how late the hour, Scudder
would see this, and every home game, through to its end.
None of the fleeing fans seemed to notice Scudder or
any of the other 118workers jockeying for the dry piece
of concrete beneath the Gate F overhang. It is here, toward
the end of every night game at Camden Yards, where the field
lights cast a shadow upon the workers who will soon help
the stadium regain its shine. read
more
Aug
30 - Permit or No Permit, Hunger Strike Set to Start
The United Workers
will hold the Living Wages Hunger Strike on Maryland Stadium
Authority (MSA) property with or without a permit issued
by the agency. Despite repeated assurances by the MSA that
a permit is forthcoming, no permit has been issued. The
United Workers is prepared to defy the Maryland Stadium
Authority and conduct the Living Wages Hunger Strike even
if a permit has not yet been issued in time for the hunger
strike
Aug
28 - Tom Perez seeks "win-win solution" at Camden
Yards

Tom
Perez speaks at the United Workers Freedom from Poverty
All-Night Vigil in 2006
In an appearance
on WYPR's Mark
Steiner Show today, Tom Perez once again demonstrated
his support for the cleaners at Camden Yards. In response
to a question from Mark Steiner about the Living Wages Hunger
Strike, Tom Perez said that he's met with the United Workers
on several occasions and that he'd like to help facilitate
a win-win solution at Camden Yards.
Aug
28 - Medical Screenings for Hunger Strikers

Carl
leads the discussion at today's health and well-being meeting
for hunger strikers.
Today the hunger
strikers met to discuss plans for health and well-being
during the Living Wages Hunger Strike. A medical doctor
volunteered to conduct a free screening for each hunger
striker to assess if there are any health issues that prevent
participation. All hunger strikers must pass the medical
screening to be sure that there are no known health risks
related to fasting for as long as it takes to secure a living
wage at Camden Yards. Some of the hunger strikers will receive
additional check ups later this week.
Aug
23 - Carl: "Speaking Up for Justice!"
by Carl Johnson, former stadium cleaner and hunger striker

Today I was
on the radio (WPFW 89.3) to speak about the United Workers
and our three years Living Wages Campaign at Camden Yards.
I was really
nervous when I got the phone call to say I have 2 minutes
until we go live. My hands started shaking and my voice
started to tremble. But when she said
"Hi Carl",
a feeling of calmness came over me especially with Communicatons
Organizer Greg standing right by my side.
I was able to
share my story of joining the United Workers when I never
got paid as cleaner at Camden Yards, and the importance
of the United Workers in my life as a Human Rights organization
in the fight to end poverty.
The host asked
how I felt about Dan Gainor, of the Baltimore Examiner.
I told her that our members are outraged about his article
saying we deserve to be poor and don't deserve a living
wage.
I talked about
how fed up we are, and our next move being the Living Wages
Hunger Strike to get better wages. We start on September
3 and that we are notgoing to stop until we get a living
wage.
Immigration
with Dignity is a Human Right

The
United Workers stands in solidarity with Mexicanos Sin Fronteras
and Casa de Maryland. The
United Workers will stand up in solidarity with our brothers
and sisters in Prince Williams, VA to fight for the human
rights of immigrants and for immigration with dignity. The
day before the Living Wages Hunger Strike begins, hunger
strikers will join in protest with Mexicanos Fronteras to
send a strong message: We are united for human rights of
all. The United Workers will join Casa de Maryland, St Patrick's
Parish and others to show solidarity for human rights of
all.
Aug
19 - Protest in Ocean City

Yesterday the
hunger strikers protested outside of the Maryland Stadium
Authority's Ocean City Convention Center. This wrapped up
an intense week that started with the announcement press
conference on Wednesday and included time for reflection
and planning and conducting outreach to state leaders and
policy makers. We were able to directly make our case to
the state's political leaders while they met for the MACO
conference. And we were also able to focus on the steps
ahead as we prepare for the Living Wages Hunger Strike to
start on Sept 3. read
more in blog
Aug
15 - Stop passing the buck

We are disappointed that Camden Yards keeps passing the
buck when it comes to living wages. Rather than address
the issue of poverty wages at Camden Yards now the publicly
owned stadium passes the buck to other state agencies
and claims there is not enough time for action. Camden
Yards can and should act on its own accord by rebidding
the cleaning contract, with a living wage included in
the request for proposals (RFP). They have known in writing
for six months of the Sept 1 deadline. Face-to-face talks
started in April. The stadium did not inform the United
Workers that the deadline would likely be missed until
Aug 7.
There's no excuse for passing the buck or delaying action.
Camden Yards can and should act on its own and take the
lead on living wages. The stadium has had over six months
to get the information required to rebid the cleaning
contract and include living wages in the RFP. It's time
to include Camden Yards in Maryland's living wage legacy.
Aug
15 - Living Wages Hunger Strike Announced

The cleaners
at Camden Yards declared today that on Sept 3 they would
begin a hunger strike until living wages at the publicly
owned stadium are secured. The cleaners compared poverty
wages to slavery, calling for an Underground Railroad to
freedom from poverty.
AFRO
Coverage |