Working people’s day of action to be held Feb. 24

https://www.facebook.com/AFSCME/videos/10155325175933061/
 

What is the Working People’s Day of Action?

In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life in Memphis, Tenn., to help African-American sanitation workers come together to win freedom and dignity on the job. Today, a handful of corrupt special interests, backed by the Trump administration, want the Supreme Court to turn back the clock and keep rigging the system against working people when the court takes up a case called Janus v. AFSCME.

If the Supreme Court sides with the corporate interests, those who work in public service — such as nurses, teachers and firefighters — would be denied the freedom to have strong unions that make our communities safe, healthy and strong. And it could cut off a path to the middle class for millions of Americans, especially minorities and communities of color.
The Working People’s Day of Action is about thousands of people nationwide demanding an end to the rigged system and those who seek to divide and silence us. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder uniting for freedom — for men and women, for immigrants and native-born Americans, for people of every race, religion and sexual orientation.

What is the Day of Action’s connection with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

In a March 18, 1968, speech in the middle of the Memphis strike, Dr. King said, “Freedom is not something that is voluntarily given by the oppressor. It is something that must be demanded by the oppressed.” At that speech, strikers carried signs that said “I AM A MAN.” As former Memphis sanitation worker Roger Taylor explained, “‘I AM A MAN’ meant freedom. All we wanted was some decent working conditions, and a decent salary. And be treated like men, not like boys.”

Today, a number of greedy billionaires, corporate lobbyists and their political allies want the Supreme Court to roll back our rights and freedoms. On February 24, we will demand an end to the rigged system and defend the freedoms for which Dr. King fought and died.

Where will the Day of Action take place?

Thousands of people will gather in cities across the country, including Los Angeles; San Diego; Memphis, Tenn.; New York City; St. Paul, Minn.; Philadelphia; Columbus, Ohio; Miami; Detroit; Chicago and Washington, D.C.

What is Janus v. AFSCME?

Janus v. AFSCME is about taking away the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions to improve our lives, support our families and contribute to our democracy and communities. Real freedom is about more than making a living; it’s also about having time to take a loved one to the doctor, attend a parent-teacher conference and retire with dignity. The wealthy elitists behind this case do not want us to have the same freedoms as they do to negotiate a fair return on our work. 

Who is behind this case? 

The National Right to Work Foundation is backing the case. The group is part of a network of extremists funded by corporate CEOs to use the U.S. legal system to rig the rules against everyday working people. For decades, these wealthy elitists have used their massive fortunes to gain outsized political influence, suppressing our voices, limiting our votes, restricting our health care, defunding our communities and chipping away at the progress unions of working people have achieved for millions of workers and generations of working families. Now they want the highest court in the land to take away our freedom to come together to protect the things our families need, like family-sustaining wages and jobs that make ends meet, retirement security, health benefits, quality public schools and services, and more.

STAND WITH THE WORKING PEOPLE’S DAY OF ACTION

On Saturday, February 24, stand with thousands of working people and our allies as we unite for our freedoms and demand an end to a system and an economy that’s rigged against us by the wealthy and powerful.
Because when we join forces and stick together, we are unstoppable. Enough is enough.
Rise with us as we reclaim our freedom to come together in unions and fight for decent and equitable pay for our work, affordable health care, quality schools, vibrant communities and a secure future for all of us.
Click here to see a flyer.
Click here to visit the official website of the working people’s day of action.