[Imc-newsroom] The challenge facing labor: Meetings at Socialism 2002

[Lee Sustar]

*Please re-post to labor activists, listserves and Web sites*

The challenge facing labor: Meetings at Socialism 2002
June 13-16, Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago
www.socialism2002.org

Saturday, June 15, 2:30 pm: Organizing the South
Donna DeWitt, South Carolina AFL-CIO
Leonard Riley, ILA Local 1422, Charleston Five Defense Campaign
Wayne Heimbach, Labor Express Radio

Sunday, June 16: 10:00 am: The Fight to Save the UAW
Billy Robinson, former president, UAW Local 2036, Henderson, Ky.
Gene Austin, shop chair, UAW Local 594, Pontiac, Mich.
John Martinez, UAW Local 22, Detroit

Other labor meetings at Socialism 2002 include: The Haymarket MartyrsŠthe
Rise of the CIOŠthe Teamster Rebellion of 1934ŠEugene Debs, Labor and
Socialism. Visit  www.socialism2002.org for details.

Information on featured speakers:

Donna DeWitt is president of the South Carolina AFL-CIO. A longtime activist
in the Communications Workers of America, she is also a leading member of
the Labor Party and the South Carolina Progressive Network. DeWitt played a
central role in the national campaign to defend the Charleston Five and is a
founder of the Campaign for Workers Rights in South Carolina, which opposes
the state¹s anti-union laws and assists union organizing drives. She will
speak on "Organizing the South," Saturday, June 15 at 2:30 pm.

Leonard Riley is a veteran activist in International Longshoremen¹s
Association Local 1422, where he has held executive board positions. He was
a key organizer in the campaign to defend the Charleston Five‹four ILA Local
1422 members and one ILA Local 1771 member who endured 18 months of house
arrest for walking a picket line until an international solidarity campaign
won their freedom. Leonard, who frequently speaks before labor, student and
progressive groups, will join Donna DeWitt on the panel discussion,
"Organizing the South," Saturday, June 15 at 2:30 pm.

Billy Robinson is the former president of United Auto Workers Local 2036 in
Henderson, Ky. After striking against Accuride Corp. and being locked out in
March 1998, Robinson toured the country to win restoration of strike
benefits after the UAW cut them off. Early this year, the UAW eliminated
Local 2036 members¹ benefits again and revoked their union charter.
Robinson¹s speech, "Take Our Unions Back," has been widely read by union
activists. It is available at http://hawk.addr.com/uawsc/brspech1.htm. After
taking Local 2036¹s case to the UAW Convention in Las Vegas in early June,
he will come to Chicago to speak on "The Fight to Save the UAW," Sunday,
June 16 at 10:00 am.

Gene Austin was recently elected shop chair of United Auto Workers Local 594
at the General Motors truck assembly plant in Pontiac, Mich. A 30-year
veteran of General Motors, Austin has served in a variety of UAW positions,
including committeeman and delegate. He has been centrally involved in a
campaign against union corruption in Local 594. Austin is also a former
co-chair of the UAW Solidarity Coalition, which supports the locked-out
workers at Accuride and fights for union democracy and reform. He will be
speaking with Billy Robinson on "The Fight to Save the UAW," Sunday, June 16
at 10:00 am.