July, 29 2014, 08:45am EDT
SEIU's Second Round of Ads Stress Shameful GOP Record & Rhetoric on Immigration
SEIU launches new radio ads urging Latinos to register to vote, targeting Republican Party and Congressmen Gardner, Coffman, Valadao and Heck
WASHINGTON
At the height of a national debate where Republican members of Congress have veered to extremist tactics and rhetoric to address immigration and the children seeking refuge, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) launches its second series of ads, highlighting the Republican Party's appalling language and record on immigration.
As part of SEIU's multifaceted campaign to mobilize Latino voters and hold Republicans accountable for blocking immigration reform, the series of radio ads will run in Colorado, California and Nevada--targeting Congressmen Cory Gardner (CO-4; current Colorado Republican candidate for U.S. Senate), Mike Coffman (CO-6), David Valadao (CA-21) and Joe Heck (NV-3).
The new ads also urge the Latino electorate to register to vote online at www.mifuturo.org. The ads will run for two weeks as members of Congress head back to their districts for the August congressional recess.
"Republicans have been using such shameful language when they talk about the children at the border," stated Rocio Saenz, SEIU's Executive Vice President. "As a mother and a Latina, this is simply unacceptable and I can't in good conscience give my vote to candidates who either insult my community and criminalize children or allow their party to do so while blocking any opportunity to fix our immigration system."
Saenz added, "While these Republicans are back home, they will not only have to hear about their failures on the radio, but we will be in every town hall, making sure they hear from their Latino and immigrant constituency. Make no mistake, this August, we're making our voices heard and registering to vote."
The series of Spanish-language radio ads underscores House Republicans' votes against DREAMers and their current rhetoric on the Central American children who have fled from violence and poverty.
"One Republican Congresswoman even said that immigrants are invading the United States and suggested many recent immigrants could be rapists and murderers," the ad says as it references Rep. Michelle Bachman's recent comments on the issue. "We need leaders who will fight for our community. That's why this November we will vote against Mike Coffman, Cory Gardner, and the Republicans."
The radio ads are the latest series following the national television ad campaign that aired earlier this month.
Listen to ads here: https://action.seiu.org/GOPAttacks
Script:
(English)
It's simply unacceptable: Mike Coffman & Cory Gardner, together with the Republicans, have blocked immigration reform.
Worse yet, they voted to deport our DREAMers.
And now, this is the limit--Republicans attack our children at the border as if they were criminals.
One Republican Congresswoman even said that immigrants are invading the United States and suggested many recent immigrants could be rapists and murderers (https://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/15/michele-bachmann-calls-immigrant-children-invaders-and-compares-them-to-rapists/)
Stop with the attacks! Our community is united.
We need leaders who will fight for our community. That's why this November we will vote against Mike Coffman, Cory Gardner, and the Republicans.
We ARE registering and we ARE voting.
Go to MI FUTURO DOT ORG and register today!
VO: Paid for by SEIU COPE, SEIU.org, which is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
(Espanol)
Es simplemente inaceptable: Mike Coffman y Cory Gardner, junto con otros republicanos, bloquearon la reforma migratoria.
Peor todavia, votaron para deportar a nuestros DREAMers.
Y ahora--!el colmo!--los republicanos atacan a nuestros ninos en la frontera como si fueran criminals
Una congresista republicana dijo que los inmigrantes estan invadiendo los Estados Unidos e insinuo que muchos inmigrantes recientes podrian ser violadores y asesinos
!Ya basta con los ataques! Nuestro pueblo esta unido.
Necesitamos lideres que luchen por nuestra comunidad. Por eso, este noviembre tenemos que votar en contra de Mike Coffman, Cory Gardner y los republicanos!
!Vamos a registrarnos y vamos a votar!
!Ve a MI FUTURO PUNTO ORG, y registrate hoy mismo!
VO: Pagado por SEIU COPE, SEIU.org, que es responsable por el contenido de este mensaje. No esta autorizado por ningun candidato ni comite de candidato.
With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.
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Holiday Season Ultimatum From Amazon Workers: Bargain or We Strike!
"If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
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Workers at a Amazon warehouse and delivery center in New York announced approval of strike authorizations on Friday, giving the retail giant—who have refused to negotiate for months—until Sunday to come to the bargaining table or risk a major work stoppage at the height of the holiday shopping season.
The unions representing Amazon workers at two New York City facilities—the JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island and the DBK4 delivery center in Queens—cited the company's "illegal refusal to recognize their union and negotiate a contract" to address low wages and dangerous working conditions as the reason for the strike authorization.
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"Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien in a statement. "We've been clear: Amazon has until December 15 to come to the table and bargain for a contract. If these white-collar criminals want to keep breaking the law, they better get ready for a fight."
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In June, over 5,500 workers at JFK8—who first voted in favor of creating a union in 2022—joined the Teamsters and chartered the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)-IBT Local 1. Despite consolidating their organizing strength with the backing of the Teamsters, Amazon management has dragged their feet on bargaining a first contract, hardly surprising given the company's long-standing hostility to organized labor.
"Amazon's refusal to negotiate is a direct attack on our rights," said Connor Spence, president of ALU-IBT Local 1, on Friday. "If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
Rank-and-file members said their demands are reasonable, especially as the company—owned by the world's second-richest man, Jeff Bezos—continues to rake in massive profits year after year as one of the world's largest companies.
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In Queens, where Amazon workers at DBK4—the corporation's largest delivery station in the city—voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike of their own.
"Driving for Amazon is tough," said Luc Rene, a driver who works out of DBK4. "What's even tougher is fighting a mega-corporation that constantly breaks the law and games the system. But we won't give up."
"Every horror story you read about Amazon is true, but worse," said Justine, a warehouse worker in New York in a video produced by More Perfect Union.
BREAKING: Amazon workers in NYC are going on strike right before Christmas — the company's busiest time.
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A strike at this time of year, the busiest for the retail giant, reports labor correspondent Jessica Burbank for Drop Site News, "would hit them where it hurts. The scale of the strike would be unprecedented, including the major hubs of New York and San Bernadino, California."
According to Burbank:
Amazon now has a workforce of over 700,000, making it the largest employer of warehouse workers in the nation. If a contract is won at these initial 20 bargaining units, it has the potential to impact working conditions for thousands of workers, and inspire union organizing efforts at Amazon facilities across the country.
For Amazon workers who voted to unionize their warehouses in March of 2022, this has been a long time coming. “Thousands of Amazon workers courageously cast their ballots to form a union at JFK8 in Staten Island,” Smalls said in a text. “We shocked the world, we had won against a corporate giant and hoped that step would propel us forward to help create a better workplace.” For years, Amazon stalled on recognizing the union, and has not yet met union representatives at the negotiating table.
Smalls said, “I’m excited to see workers take control, take the next step and move even further down the path to victory when they exercise their right to strike.” He continued, “We celebrated as we inspired thousands of others to hope for the same.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday issued his support for the union workers.
"Amazon delivery drivers and warehouse workers deserve decent wages, benefits and working conditions—and the right to form a union," said Sanders. "I strongly support the thousands of Amazon workers who will go on strike tomorrow if Amazon doesn't end its illegal union busting."
The workers at JFK8 said people could support the union's effort in various ways "at this critical time," including:
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- Show Up on the Picket Line: Join workers at JFK8 to demonstrate solidarity and hold Amazon accountable for their illegal refusal to negotiate a union contract.
- Spread the Word: Use social media and local networks to raise awareness about the workers’ struggle and the importance of their fight for justice at Amazon.
- Contact Elected Officials: Urge representatives to publicly support JFK8 workers and pressure Amazon to negotiate in good faith.
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For his part, former labor secretary and economist Robert Reich said he had no sympathy for the retail giant's refusal to bargain in good faith with the workers who make its business model possible.
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Bernie Sanders talks about the oligarchy
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Ryan Cooper, managing editor at The American Prospect, warned that "they want your kids dead."
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Multiple critics altered Trump's campaign slogan to "Make Polio Great Again."
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) responded with a video on social media:
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