Oct 31 – Nov 5, 2005

Ghoulish Employers Exploit Halloween Costume Workers

With Jorge Pérez Ibarra, Organizer, Vanguardia Obrera Union, Mexico

Costume factory workers in Hidalgo, Mexico formed a union. They frequently suffer puncture wounds from sewing machine needles and work in roach infested shops, subject to forced pregnancy tests and overtime work without pay.

The response was to lock them out rather than recognize their demands.

Rubie’s, Mattel (Barbie), and Warner Brothers are behind the union-busting efforts of Mexican manufacturers.

Support to stop sweatshop conditions is growing for these workers who produce costumes for Rubie’s, Mattel (Barbie), and Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter and Star Wars labels.

WBAI’s Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report, National Edition, Produced by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash

In My Name – Civil Disobedience

With Anne Wright, Retired Army Colonel and US Diplomat. Anne Wright resigned her post over Iraq War and risks arrest in protest over war dead.

Anne Wright is a retired US Army Colonel who also served in the Diplomatic Corp in Somalia, Sierra Leone, Uzbekistan and reopened the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan in Dec, 2001. She was one of the three US Diplomats who resigned in March, 2003 in opposition to the War in Iraq. She is now a peacemaker and describes her decision to participate in and advocate for mass acts of civil disobedience to stop the War on Iraq.

WBAI’s Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report, National Edition, Produced by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash

Radio City Rockettes Wouldn’t Kick as High Without Live Music for the Holidays

Featuring members of the Radio City Orchestra.

Hundreds of supporters joined members of Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, elected officials, and union leaders to rally in support of the Radio City Orchestra. Cablevision, the multi-billion dollar corporation that bought Radio City, wants to cut the musicians’ pay for the Christmas Spectacular — or use canned music.

WBAI’s Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report, National Edition, Produced by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash

The Kansas City Building Boom: Is It a Boom for Minorities in Construction? Utah Coal Miners Organizing

WorkWeek Oct 28: Jeff Humfeld and Judy Ancel interview Keith Washburn and Doug Schafer from MORE Squared (Metropolitan Organization for Racial and Economic Equity) about their initiative to bring more minorities and women into construction • Albert Lakona on Utah Miners on strike • The News from Our Side • Economics Unmasked with Prof. Gene Wagner on Alan Greenspan’s award this week

The Heartland Labor Forum: Thurs 6:00-7:00 pm, Fri 5:00-6:00 pm on KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio