Difference between revisions of "Chris Michalakis"
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DSA member [[Al Fishman]] spoke to the audience about how the disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined Obama’s domestic agenda in a manner analogous to the way in which the Vietnam War undermined President Johnson’s Great Society programs. DSA Executive Board member [[Dave Ivers]] spoke about the imperative for a national jobs program, shared a personal anecdote about how the health care crisis had affected his family, and stressed the importance of Congress passing the Employee Free Choice Act to make it easier for workers to organize unions. Other speakers included [[Chris Michalakis]], Legislative Director of UFCW Local 876, who spoke about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform. [[Luke Canfora]] of [[Repower America]] described the huge potential benefits of investment in renewable energy (decreased reliance on foreign oil, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, and job creation). [[Marcia Boehm]] and [[Altheia Henry]] discussed the urgent need for health care reform. [[John Freeman]], Michigan Director of [[Health Care for America Now]], moderated the event.<ref>http://detroitdsa.com/March%202010%20DSA%20Newsletter.pdf GDDSA newsletter. March 2010 Volume 11, Issue 2]</ref> | DSA member [[Al Fishman]] spoke to the audience about how the disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined Obama’s domestic agenda in a manner analogous to the way in which the Vietnam War undermined President Johnson’s Great Society programs. DSA Executive Board member [[Dave Ivers]] spoke about the imperative for a national jobs program, shared a personal anecdote about how the health care crisis had affected his family, and stressed the importance of Congress passing the Employee Free Choice Act to make it easier for workers to organize unions. Other speakers included [[Chris Michalakis]], Legislative Director of UFCW Local 876, who spoke about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform. [[Luke Canfora]] of [[Repower America]] described the huge potential benefits of investment in renewable energy (decreased reliance on foreign oil, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, and job creation). [[Marcia Boehm]] and [[Altheia Henry]] discussed the urgent need for health care reform. [[John Freeman]], Michigan Director of [[Health Care for America Now]], moderated the event.<ref>http://detroitdsa.com/March%202010%20DSA%20Newsletter.pdf GDDSA newsletter. March 2010 Volume 11, Issue 2]</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Occupy Detroit== | ||
| + | [[UAW]] and [[AFL-CIO]] members joined Occupy Detroit protestors during a Nov. 6 march and rally to collect winter supplies. The demonstration highlighted a continuing alliance between the region’s labor unions and Occupy Detroit activists. | ||
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| + | [[Chris Michalakis]], legislative and political director of the UFCW and secretary treasurer for the metro Detroit AFL-CIO, has spent several nights in Grand Circus Park. | ||
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| + | He says labor has supported the Occupy movement from the beginning, but the Nov. 6 rally was a significant indication of solidarity. | ||
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| + | “It’s good for the Occupy movement to see labor’s contributions,” Michalakis told the [[Michigan Citizen]]. “It’s also good for the labor movement’s rank-and-file members to see the occupation for themselves and see a lot of the contributions being put to good use.” | ||
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| + | Labor is part of a wide-ranging coalition, according to Michalakis, and not in a leadership capacity. He says that gives the movement the best chance to grow organically and create positive political change for all working people. | ||
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| + | “The camp is the symbolic center of the Occupy movement and the General Assemblies will be going on well into the winter — committee groups are meeting and putting together a lot of great actions,” says Michalakis. “This is really the beginning of what’s going to be a very politically charged election cycle next year.” | ||
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| + | AFL-CIO’s Michalakis says observers should refrain from narrowing the political framework of the Occupy movement. | ||
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| + | “While this movement isn’t political specifically — it doesn’t endorse candidates and its not about partisanship — we hope they are going to raise a lot of issues that we hope our elected officials take up in the next election,” said Michalakis. | ||
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| + | He added that the city, including the police, has been fair in its hands-off approach and he hopes that will continue through the holiday season.<ref>[http://michigancitizen.com/unions-rally-with-occupy-detroit-p10466-1.htm, The Michigan Citizen, Unions rally with Occupy Detroit, Nov 13, 2011, By Eric T. Campbell]</ref> | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
[[Category:Union personnel]] | [[Category:Union personnel]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Occupy Detroit]] | ||
Revision as of 05:38, 8 December 2011
Chris Michalakis
DSA sponsored rally
Over 300 people attended the Call to Action Rally at the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 876 Hall in Madison Heights on February 18th 2010. The rally was organized to press members of the Michigan Congressional delegation , particularly in the Senate, to pass key components of the progressive agenda including health care reform, cap and trade energy legislation, immigration reform, and the Employee Free Choice Act. Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of America co-sponsored the rally along with 31 other organizations including Health Care for America Now, the UAW, the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union ), UFCW, UNITE-HERE Local 24,AFSCME Council 25, Reform Immigration for America, Repower America (the organization founded by former Vice-President Al Gore to promote investment in renewable energy), Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit, Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network, the Arabic Community Coalition for Economic and Social Security, Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice, MoveOn, and MOSES.
Congressmen Sander Levin and John Conyers, Jr. addressed the audience. In addition, aides to Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin and Representatives Dale Kildee, Gary Peters, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and John Dingell attended the rally.
DSA member Al Fishman spoke to the audience about how the disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined Obama’s domestic agenda in a manner analogous to the way in which the Vietnam War undermined President Johnson’s Great Society programs. DSA Executive Board member Dave Ivers spoke about the imperative for a national jobs program, shared a personal anecdote about how the health care crisis had affected his family, and stressed the importance of Congress passing the Employee Free Choice Act to make it easier for workers to organize unions. Other speakers included Chris Michalakis, Legislative Director of UFCW Local 876, who spoke about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform. Luke Canfora of Repower America described the huge potential benefits of investment in renewable energy (decreased reliance on foreign oil, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, and job creation). Marcia Boehm and Altheia Henry discussed the urgent need for health care reform. John Freeman, Michigan Director of Health Care for America Now, moderated the event.[1]
Occupy Detroit
UAW and AFL-CIO members joined Occupy Detroit protestors during a Nov. 6 march and rally to collect winter supplies. The demonstration highlighted a continuing alliance between the region’s labor unions and Occupy Detroit activists.
Chris Michalakis, legislative and political director of the UFCW and secretary treasurer for the metro Detroit AFL-CIO, has spent several nights in Grand Circus Park.
He says labor has supported the Occupy movement from the beginning, but the Nov. 6 rally was a significant indication of solidarity.
“It’s good for the Occupy movement to see labor’s contributions,” Michalakis told the Michigan Citizen. “It’s also good for the labor movement’s rank-and-file members to see the occupation for themselves and see a lot of the contributions being put to good use.”
Labor is part of a wide-ranging coalition, according to Michalakis, and not in a leadership capacity. He says that gives the movement the best chance to grow organically and create positive political change for all working people.
“The camp is the symbolic center of the Occupy movement and the General Assemblies will be going on well into the winter — committee groups are meeting and putting together a lot of great actions,” says Michalakis. “This is really the beginning of what’s going to be a very politically charged election cycle next year.”
AFL-CIO’s Michalakis says observers should refrain from narrowing the political framework of the Occupy movement.
“While this movement isn’t political specifically — it doesn’t endorse candidates and its not about partisanship — we hope they are going to raise a lot of issues that we hope our elected officials take up in the next election,” said Michalakis.
He added that the city, including the police, has been fair in its hands-off approach and he hopes that will continue through the holiday season.[2]
References
- ↑ http://detroitdsa.com/March%202010%20DSA%20Newsletter.pdf GDDSA newsletter. March 2010 Volume 11, Issue 2]
- ↑ The Michigan Citizen, Unions rally with Occupy Detroit, Nov 13, 2011, By Eric T. Campbell