All of West Virginia’s public school teachers are on strike

Educators from Beckley Elementary wanted to make sure
all students could have the opportunity to eat lunch.
Across the state, public schools serve more than
 180 thousand breakfasts and lunches to students;
 but these kids cannot receive the free meals
 from their public schools during the walkout.

West Virginia’s teachers are the 48th-lowest-paid in the country.

By Emily Stewart  Feb 24, 2018, 12:25pm EST

Thousands of public school teachers across West Virginia went on strike this week in protest over their pay and benefits, affecting more than 277,000 students. It began on Thursday, a day after West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, a Republican, signed legislation providing teachers, school service personnel, and state police with a 2 percent pay increase starting in July and scheduling 1 percent pay hikes for teachers in 2020 and 2021. The strike is poised to extend into Monday.

Teachers’ unions say the raises won’t cover cost-of-living increases, and the bill doesn’t address other concerns related to public employee insurance programs, health care costs, and payroll tax deduction options.

Christine Campbell, president of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, told CNN that’s a reduction from an earlier version of the bill — which would have instead added a total 5 percent increase in wages. She also said teachers in surrounding states make $5,000 to $20,000 more than West Virginia teachers. In 2016, the average salary for West Virginia teachers ranked 48th in the country, according to the National Education Association, ahead of only Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Dakota.

“These things got everyone here, brought everyone here, and signing a bill at 8:00 at night wasn’t going to change that,” Campbell said.

Thousands of teachers, parents, and supporters descended on West Virginia’s Capitol in Charleston on Thursday and Friday to protest. “We’d like to have a decent wage. And we’d like to have our PEIA [Public Employee Insurance Agency] fixed. We want then to quit trying to take our seniority and attacking our leaders in legislation,” said Betsy Atwater, a Fayette County teacher, told local news outlet WOKW.

Regarding the decision to extend the strike into Monday, Dale Lee, West Virginia Education Association president, told reporters at a news conference on Friday that “our members have spoken, and are not prepared to go back to work yet.”

t’s actually illegal for teachers to strike in West Virginia. They’re doing it anyway.

West Virginia’s 680 public schools employ 19,488 classroom teachers and have enrolled 277,137 students, Alyssa Keedy, a spokeswoman for the state’s education department, told the New York Times. All 55 counties in West Virginia closed schools this week and are poised to do so for at least part next week as well.

Steven Paine, West Virginia superintendent of schools, in a statement ahead of the strike said he fully recognizes and supports the work of teachers and that they “deserve more,” but “the economic realities of our state may not allow everything teachers deserve to take place immediately.” He also pointed out that work stoppages by public employees are “not lawful” in West Virginia. State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the strike was “illegal.” Both officials also said the strike would be detrimental to students and families.

Per the Times, state food banks have helped feed students who depend on school meals during the strike, and supplemental child care centers have been set up, according to local news reports.

Thus far, educators seem to be shrugging off concerns over the legality of their move. Kym Randolph, West Virginia Education Association director of communication, told the Washington Post it’s been a long time coming. “This is a cumulative strike,” she said. “I mean, the pay and the benefits have been problems for years, and there’s constantly been the promises of, ‘We’ll take care of this, we’ll take care of this.’ It’s finally gotten to the point where, you know, the promises aren’t enough.”

Stop the drive to war

CPA statement

With the appointment of Admiral Harry Harris, Pacific Commander of US forces in the Indo-Pacific, as the new US ambassador to Australia, the Trump administration has in place the main link in its chain of command for overseeing Australia’s role in a planned Asia-Pacific conflict.

The Harris appointment came as PM Malcolm Turnbull last week concluded talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, officially signing off on the deployment of Japanese military forces in Australia’s north, joining the growing US military presence in the top end.

Australia’s intended role is as a platform for land and air attacks and provision of facilities for the planned joint naval offensive, a scenario constantly rehearsed in war games and the development of the inter-operability of the US-Australian militaries. This strategy is integral to the role of the US bases on Australian soil, in particular the Pine Gap spy base.

Preparations are underway for Australia’s part in a predatory, imperialist war fought on behalf of the transnational corporations challenged by Asia’s – in the first place China’s –emergence as an economic powerhouse.

Domestically, the means have been put in place to silence voices of dissent, including the introduction of laws to jail journalists who may be caught up in a net of legislation open to wide interpretation and based on the assumption of guilt for simply doing their job.

The word “treason” now accompanies laws threatening to de-fund advocacy groups critical of government policies or in receipt of monies deemed to be “foreign influence”.

War rhetoric

In terms of propaganda, it is instructive to note some of the contradiction in the war rhetoric coming from the US and its various lap dogs, including the Turnbull government.

The government is now labeling a growing number of things deemed “foreign” to be by definition “suspicious”, first and foremost things Chinese. This, even as last November’s foreign policy white paper noted with almost salivating anticipation that China’s domestic purchasing power alone is set to grow to $21 trillion by 2030.

At the same time the Communist Party of China’s “sinister” influence has supposedly spread to universities around the country. Foreign students are Australia’s third biggest export earner, including almost 132,000 Chinese citizens studying at more than 30 Australian universities.

The white paper also attacked China’s rightful land reclamations in the South China Sea, saying it is in contravention of international law, while hailing the US as “founder and chief defender” of the “rules-based order”, in spite of the US not even having ratified the maritime law it insists China is breaking.

The government of the US is now an open and unambiguous dictatorship of money with, as its crowning achievement, a billionaire property developer. Those elements of the ruling class which support Trump and ensured his enthronement in the Oval Office have set the US on the path of the most reactionary and militaristic elements of monopoly capital toward war and destruction, no less than nuclear conflagration.

A few facts

The US refusal to accept the legitimacy of the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is part of a long-term policy – that any state in the world that follows an independent course is subject to being overthrown by the US. The DPRK, Vietnam, Cuba, the USSR (and now Russia), Syria, Venezuela, China … have all been targeted by the US politically and militarily.

In terms of the region, the notion that DPRK poses a threat to the US and international security and peace, is false to the point of absurdity.

CONCLUSION (for your enhancement)

• The danger is clear and present
• Peace movement splintered
• Need for union involvement
• The urgent need to build broad united movement against war, for peace.

Ten actions that hurt workers during Trump’s first year

How Trump and Congress further rigged the economy in favor of the wealthy

Report • By Josh Bivens, Daniel Costa, Celine McNicholas, Heidi Shierholz, and Marni von Wilpert • January 12, 2018

One year ago, upon his inauguration, Donald Trump described a bleak future for U.S. workers, but declared that, “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

Since then Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have passed a massive tax cut for wealthy business owners, rolled back critical protections for working people, and advanced nominees to key cabinet posts and courts―including the U.S. Supreme Court―who are hostile to workers’ rights and wages.

Now, EPI has published a new report detailing the 10 worst actions taken by Congress and Donald Trump in the last year. Click here to read “Ten actions that hurt workers during Trump’s first year.”

Insider's Report: GOP Strategy to Slash Social Security Is Out of the Same Old Playbook

Right now GOP Senators are maneuvering to slash the already-hobbled Social Security Administration's (SSA) budget by an additional $400 million — continuing an alarming strategy by the GOP to target the Social Security program any way they can. Congress' failure to adequately fund the SSA has already resulted in a hiring freeze and the closure of more than 60 field offices across the country. While the agency's budget has fallen 16% since 2010, there are now 14% more beneficiaries counting on the SSA's valuable customer service.

Today's budget cutters are continuing that decades-long campaign to diminish successful government programs which, since the vast majority of the American public of both parties supports them, can't be killed outright. Yet, at a time when growing numbers of Americans are retiring and relying on the SSA's valuable customer service, these drastic cuts could cause even longer wait times and delays for Social Security beneficiaries counting on their earned benefits in retirement.

That's why the National Committee is using our clout in Washington to push back against these debilitating SSA cuts and urging Congress to restore much-needed funding for the SSA's critical services.

Congress' repeated refusal to provide adequate funding for the SSA demonstrates the GOP's relentless efforts to undermine the Social Security program and reduce critically important services the SSA provides to American workers, retirees, workers with disabilities and their families. This kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish budget approach imposes undue hardship and frustration on millions of Americans and their families.

https://secure.ncpssm.org/

A gift for the 17 years of Ahed Tamim

 The Palestinian girl who became a symbol of the Resistance of her People to the Israeli occupation, will turn 17 on January 31st.

 Having been confirmed her detention until the trial, she won t be able to  celebrate her birthday, because she will spend it in prison.

Indeed, between the prison and the court having been set for that day the trial against her.

In defiance of Article 66 of the IV  Geneva Convention, she will be tried in Israeli territory by a military tribunal. So as gift for her 17-year-old Ahed Tamimi will receive from the so-called "only democracy in the Middle East": a conviction.

All the free men and women of the world join the Palestinian people in expressing their solidarity with Ahed, assuring their  that they  will not desist from the struggle for her liberation, that of the minors and of all who are locked up in Israeli prisons for having fought against the foreign state that has been improperly occupying its land for 50 years and now plainly manifests the claim to annex it.

USB stands by the side of Ahed Tamimi and demand the immediate release of the 17-year-old.

USB stands by the side of Palestinian people  and strongly condemns the oppression against the Palestinian people.

On Celebrating Kwanzaa

Courtesy of L.A. Progressive
http://laprogressive.com

BY CAROLINE HELDMAN

For me and 18 million other Americans, another holiday starts the day after Christmas: Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration from December 26th – January 1st. Created by Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is a non-religious, Pan-African and African-American holiday that means “first fruits” in Swahili. It was first celebrated during the turbulent 1960s to build community for African-Americans, but, as Lee Standberry writes, Kwanzaa can be practiced by anyone who shares its values:

“Kwanzaa has always been about the celebration of values that transcend through racial boundaries. The seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective  work/responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith; find purchase in the mind and hearts of everyone. These principles reinforce the  concept of community – in a community – not just African-American ones.”

There is variation in the practice of Kwanzaa, but one central activity is gathering with family each evening to reflect upon one of the seven principles (Nguzo Saba).

Another part of the Kwanzaa celebration is to display a candle holder (Kinara) surrounded by fruit and other symbols of harvest, history, unity, love, and commitment.  One candle is lit each evening of Kwanzaa to correspond with one of the seven principles.

We would live in a more loving world if everyone embraced Kwanzaa values, and this week of reflection can serve as an antidote to the personal and national toll of the hate-basedTrump presidency.

If you are white and want to celebrate this glorious holiday, be cognizant of the fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation. White privilege too often leads “whites” to assume that everything is for us, a “privilege” that comes at the cost of our humanity.

I follow two simple rules when I practice Kwanzaa: 1) Do so privately, and 2) step back.

My first rule is to celebrate Kwanzaa is with family members in the privacy of my home (or the home of someone who celebrates the holiday) so as not to take “ownership” of it in a public space.

My second rule is to step back and play only a minor role as a participant in the evening ceremony if African/African-American people are present. Akilah Bolden-Monifa writes about the importance of people who are not African/African-American to step back in Kwanzaa celebrations:

“When invited, I go to cultural and religious celebrations that are not part of my cultural or religious heritage. I participate in a way that is comfortable for my host and for me. It would be arrogant of me, a non-Jew, to dominate a Seder or Hanukkah celebration, for example. People who are not of African descent should approach Kwanzaa with the same attitude.”

Ican’t think of a better way to bring in 2018 than to learn more about the history of the people who built the Capitol Building, the White House, the U.S. economy, and the world economy, while reflecting upon unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, collective economics, purpose, creativity, and faith with loved ones.

Happy Kwanzaa!

NGO Action News December 15, 2015

Dear friends, 

This week's NGO Action News has just been published. The newsletter summarizes activities undertaken or planned by civil society organisations across the globe as well as UN action on the question of Palestine over the week. Please feel free to inform us about your activities and publications by emailing us at palestinianrights@un.org and to forward this newsletter to your supporters. We welcome your organization's contributions, questions or comments. 

Best wishes,

 

Division for Palestinian Rights

Department of Political Affairs

United Nations

Like us on Facebook: @UN.palestinianrights
Follow us on Twitter: @UNISPAL

UNISPAL website: unispal.un.org

Global

·        On 9 December, United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), at its World Council meeting in Hangzhou (China), reaffirmed the supremacy of international law to stabilize international relations, put an end to conflictand maintain the special status of Jerusalem.

 

Middle East

·        On 15 December, Gush Shalom and other groups organized a demonstration in Jerusalem under the theme “Jerusalem is the Capital to both Peoples: Palestinians and Israelis March Together in Protest and Hope”.

 

·        On 14 December, Addameer reported an increase in arrests by Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank as well as raids conducted on Palestinian university campuses.

 

·        On 12 December, the Palestinian Human Rights OrganizationsCouncil (PHROC) issued a statement, calling on EU Member States to respect the legal status of Jerusalem and abide by their obligations under international law.

 

·        On 12 December, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research published the results of an opinion poll conducted in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from 7 to 10 December.

 

·        To mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December, Al-Haq released a short video providing a snapshot of human rights violations in the OPT through the example of life in the village of Nabi Samwil, located in the Jerusalem Governorate, in Area C of the West Bank. The organization called upon individuals and States to consider ways to realize the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in the world,including for Palestinians in the OPT, within Israel and in the Diaspora.

 

·        On 10 December, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) published its annual “SituationReport: The State of Human Rights in Israel and the Occupied PalestinianTerritories”.

 

·        On 10 December, AlMezan Center for Human Rights held the specialized workshop “Violence in Classrooms: The Reasons and the Solutions”. Participants included the Parent’s Council of UNRWA schools, UNICEF, OCHA and Defense for Children International (DCI)-Palestine.

 

·        Al Mezan and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights posted on their website's joint statements on the question of Jerusalem by Arab civil society organizations.

 

·        On 5 December, B’Tselem published a new report “Maiden Israel: Exploiting Palestinian Land for Treatment of Israeli Waste”.

 

·        As part of a project implemented in partnership with EuroMed Women, on 2 December, Miftah-The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy organized a meeting to discuss ways forward to strengthen the representation of youth and women in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

 

 

North America

·        On 11 December, CARE urged the U.S. Government not to overlook the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza amid the decision to move the U.S.embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The organization expressed concern that the decision would create a new obstacle to resolving a conflict that had resulted in Palestinian families living as refugees for the last 70 years.

 

·        On 5 December, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) criticized that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital violated the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force and the duty of States not to recognize an unlawful situation.

 

·        Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has compiled on its website the statements issued by its members following the U.S.recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Further statements  on the question of Jerusalem by faith-based and other organizations are available on the Palestine Portal.

 

Europe

·        On 14 December, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR) wrote a letter to the British Foreign Office, requesting its urgent action to prevent the forcible eviction of the inhabitants of three Palestinian West Bank communities (Umm al-Jamal, Ein al-Hilweh and Jabal al-Baba). On 5 December, LPHR published a briefing on forcible transfer which coincided with the parliamentary debate on the effect of Israeli demolitions on Palestinian communities, held on 6 December.

 

·        On 13 December, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned that the U.S. declaration on Jerusalem may have far-reaching consequences for its humanitarian work to protect the rights of Palestinians and prevent their forcible displacement.

 

·        On 8 December, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) expressed concern that Israeli policies and practices in East Jerusalem were creating a coercive environment, forcing Palestinians out of the city. MAP called on the British Government to redouble efforts to ensure a just peace, based on accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law in East Jerusalem.

 

 

United Nations

·        On 14 December, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People met to discuss diplomatic action to reaffirm the status of Jerusalem under international law and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. In addition,the Chair of the Committee drew attention to UNRWA’s current funding shortfall and launched an urgent appeal to donors to close the gap.

 

·        On 11 December, UNRWA published a video message by its Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl, assuring Palestine refugees that despite the challenging financial situation, services would continue without interruption until the end of 2017. Supporting Palestine refugees was not a matter of charity, he stated,but of rights, respect, hope and dignity.

 

·        On 11 December, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, launched events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, highlighting current challenges and UNESCO’s contribution. The statement delivered by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the occasion is available online.

 

·        The Verbatim Record of the UN Security Council emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian question, held on 8 December, is available online.