[OccupyCU] FlexNGate

[ya'aQov]

*Follow up on GA+Outreach interest in update on FlexNGate, I asked Rick,
and he gladly and promptly send this:
*
===============================

I'm glad you mentioned it, because no one had asked for any updates and i
didn't know anyone was waiting on me.  I did meet with Chris Schwarz and
Stephanie and Katie about a week ago to discuss next steps.  I know the
workers were very encouraged by the show of community support at a couple
events last month.

FlexNGate workers are filing a hiring discrimination suit, since the local
plant reacted to Congoleses workers' activism by ceasing to hire Congoleses
workers.  Such retaliation must be resisted.  It's the kind of thing that
can have a chilling effect on standing up at work or in the community.  But
they had some community supporters who were white and applied for jobs at
the same time that FlexNGate was turning away Congolese workers, and this
helped them show what was going on.  Hopefully the suit itself will stop it.

My understanding is that there has been a great deal of work going on in
the plant among the workers around trying to get the health and safety
concerns addressed.  Apparently OSHA is moving at a snail's pace, which
should surprise noone, but this is a problem because not only do the
conditions continue, but Management is aware of the complaints and sble to
retaliate in the interim.  This is a huge problem with the regulatory
system in this country, which is quite the opposite of the way employer
groups try to present it: it's very underfunded and timid, while the
hazards workers face are very real and life-threatening.

There is also a plan for the 26th of this month to embarrass Khan at some
events related to his football team - I do not know much about football.

More soon - I have to run  - work, work, work -
Ricky
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