one of the things I love about the left blogosphere, and the Kos community particularly, is our generosity. Well here is a place we can make a difference as progressives...
and since I've received so many interesting and helpful comments, I'm reposting this appeal with new information--
Nearly 600 workers were locked out of the giant Rio Tinto Borax mine in Boron last Sunday, after the workers, members of ILWU Local 30, unanimously rejected the company’s latest contract offer. The company immediately shut off further contract talks and brought in replacement workers.
London-based Rio Tinto operates on five continents and reported $2.5 billion in net earnings for the first half of 2009. Yet the company is demanding the right to hire more nonunion workers and to change the seniority system. In a town with only l000 people, they have found 600 scabs!! this is horrifying and exactly why the top of Obama's agenda should have been,as well as every Democrat worth the name, the passage of the desperately needed Employee Free Choice Act. (Unions will not survive without a ban on replacement workers!!! please help!!)
Gray Brechin's "Imperial San Francisco" includes info on Rio Tinto,
controlled by the Rothschilds in the 19th century. It started with the revival of the ancient Phoenican/Roman mines in SE Spain, and expanded from there, allowing the Rothschilds in the 9th century to recapitulate the power of the Fuggers in the 16th century. They also controlled the world's mercury supply (essential for refining gold and silver) until the discovery of New Almaden in California just before the Gold Rush.
These locked out workers need your support – please send contributions to "Local 30 Lockout" c/o ILWU, 1188 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109.
You can learn more at http://boraxminers.com
Solidarity from the progressive community made the difference for the workers I helped in the early 20th century, speaking as Elizabeth Gurley Flynn...please send a small check if you can.