“Traditional” and “new” labor movements to showcase new organizing efforts

CHICAGO, IL –  Rasheen Aldridge, a Jimmy Johns worker active with St. Louis’ “Can’t Survive on $7.35 an Hour,” has been rewarded by his company for his activism. They have fired him. Aldridge will join labor leaders long associated with unions and others who are up and coming in the non-traditional labor movement at a special panel sponsored by PeoplesWorld.org here on June 13.

The event, titled “Working for a Living: New Challenges,” will take place at the University of Illinois at Chicago at 7 p.m. in the Illinois Room.  The panel also includes Howard Kling, secretary of the International Labor Communications Association (AFL-CIO and Change to Win), Naquasia LeGrand, New York City Fast Food Forward activist and Colbert Show guest, and Teresa Albano, co-editor of the People’s World.

“In addition to denying people their right to a living wage, big box stores and fast food chains hurt everyone, forcing workers on public assistance and food stamps and forcing taxpayers to pick up the cost,” said John Wojcik, People’sWorld.org labor editor. “People are waking up to the fact that the so-called low cost of fast food and big box store items isn’t really low at all.”

Event sponsor PeoplesWorld.org publishes a daily news website that traces its origins back to the Daily Worker, founded in 1924.

Co-editor Teresa Albano sees the forum as a continuation of its coverage of the major new turn in today’s labor movement. “This event will show how unions  are conducting joint operations with workers’ centers, Our Walmart, and the Fight for 15, civil rights, immigrant and LGBT organizations” she said.

Contact Joe Sims: 917-402-9220 or Rosanna Cambron 562-728-7895