(Read the Gainesville Sun coverage HERE)

Thank you to all Labor Party Members whose effort and support helped pass this ordinance. It has been rewarding to work side by side with other labor party members and the Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force. All the hours spent raising the issue of wage theft with the community, faith leaders, organizations, and businesses, has shown that the driving force of committed and concerned citizens is how we can bring progressive change to the community.

A message from the Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force:

The Task Force believes that Alachua County’s passage of the state’s third Wage Theft Ordinance (Wage Recovery Ordinance, in our case) will be recognized as a model to follow in order to improve business relations and fairness in the workplace.

We would like to thank every single individual, business, and organization who came together to make democracy work in favor of those who need it most. We would also like to recognize Alachua County Commissioners Mike Byerly, Hutch Htchinson, and Chales “Chuck” Chestnut for their leadership and willingness to work with the Task Force in order to protect their constituents and businesses.

(Click on each commissioner’s name to send them a Thank You Note!!!)

As we celebrate, we should also bear in mind that our work is not over. We must continue to organize against Tallahassee’s preemption bills that could undo all of our hard work.

The last day of session is Friday, May 3rd, and even though the senate bill has ran into some obstacles, we shouldn’t put it past Tallahassee to pull a stunt at the last minute. Keep making phone calls to the Judiciary Committee until the 23rd!!

Together we can celebrate a complete victory on Friday, May 3.

-The Task Force

Another thanks to the Labor Party being a forefront group to this campaign!

-Marie

The post Wage Recovery in Alachua County appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

The Just Health Care Committee of the Labor Party is holding an event on May 11th, Health Care From Around the World: the French Connection. Philippe Engammare, Marilyn Eisenberg’s son-in-law and French chef, will be speaking about health care in France, as well as specially preparing some home-made desserts and drinks. The event will take place at the West Wing of the United Church of Gainesville and is free and open to the public. There will be drinks, desserts and appetizers.

WHEN
Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm

WHERE
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave Gainesville, FL 32603

The post The French Connection: Just Health Care Event appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

Farmworker Awareness Week

Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 6:30pm
Alachua County Downtown Library, Room B, 401 E. University Ave. Panel discussion entitled “The Human Rights of Farmworkers in American Life,” with Nico Gumbs, Florida YAYA Organizer for the National Farm Worker Ministry; Sam Trickey of the National Farm Worker Ministry; and Dr. Paul Ortiz and students from the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. The students will be presenting podcasts of oral history interviews they did with Student Action with Farmworker advocates.

Thursday, April 4, 2013, afternoon
UF’s Turlington Plaza. CHISPAS presents a “Theater of the Oppressed” performance related to the plight of migrant farmworkers; themes will include instances of modern day slavery, poor working conditions, and sexual harassment

Friday, April 5, 2013, 5:00 pm
Publix at 34th Street & University Avenue: Solidarity protest in support of Immokalee Farmworkers and their ongoing struggle to urge Publix to join the Fair Food Agreement.

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
University of Florida’s Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures. Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day of Service: Honoring the Legacy of Service. During this service learning event you will be able to learn more about their work and legacy. Registration required at http://tinyurl.com/buawjna.

Labor Party members are encouraged to attend and show their support at all events.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at 7:00pm
ACLP Board Meeting at the Alachua County Labor Party office.

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Just Healthcare will be tabling at the Pleasant Street Farmers Market located at the corner of NW 5th Ave. and NW 10th St.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 6:30pm
Just Health Care Meeting at the Labor Party office.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 5:30pm
There will be a public hearing on the Wage Recovery Ordinance at the Alachua County Administration Building.

Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 9:00am to 3:00pm
The Labor Party will be tabling at the 34th Annual Fifth Avenue Arts Festival. If you are available to volunteer, please call the office at 352-375-2832 or e-mail us at aclp[at]floridalaborparty[dot]org.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 6:15pm
Labor Party working general meeting at the ACLP Office to discuss and plan upcoming May 11 event.

The post April 2013 Events appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 5:00pm
Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force Meeting at Maude’s Cafe

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 5:45pm
Show your support for an Alachua County Wage Recovery Ordinance by attending the Board of County Commissioners meeting to hear the report on wage theft in Alachua County conducted by the BoCC staff. The meeting will be at the Alachua County Administration Building at 12 SE 1st Street.

Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 11:00am
Help us renew old members and encourage donations from current members at our Annual Membership Drive Phone Bank at the Labor Party Office. If you’d like to help out just show up at the Labor Party office and we’ll provide you with a phoning list and script or email aclp@floridalaborparty.org for more info.

Friday, March 22, 2013 at 6:00pm
Presenting of the Penrod Award at the CMC Springboard Fundraiser. Buy tickets beforehand at the CMC or Citizen’s Co-Op or at the door.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 5:45pm
Speak up for the Wage Recovery Ordinance at the Board of County Commissioners Meeting at the Alachua County Administration Building. Support the Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force and voice your support!

Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 3:00pm
Just Health Care reading group. For more info email Gaby Gross at aclp@floridalaborparty.org.

The post March 2013 Events appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 5:30pm
Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force Meeting at the Labor Party Office

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 5:30pm
Just Health Care Committee Meeting at the Labor Party Office

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 6:30pm
ACLP Board Meeting at the Labor Party Office

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 6:30pm
General ACLP Meeting at the ACEA Hall

The post February 2013 Events appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

The post Winter 2013 Newsletter appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 3:30pm
Just Health Care Reading Group. Contact Gaby Gross at 256-4222 for location.

Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 5:30pm
Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force Meeting at the Labor Party Office

Monday, January 28, 2013 at 7:00pm
Join Labor Party member, Kali Blount, as he presents a Single-Payer Presentation and The Health Care Movie at the Story Hour Room in the Downtown Library.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 6:30pm
ACLP General Meeting at the ACEA Hall

The post January 2013 Events appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

Jeremiah Tattersall speaks before the Alachua County Commissioners about wage theft.

On January 8th, 2013, Alex Cardelle, Jeremiah Tattersall and Diana Moreno, all members of the Alachua County Wage Theft Task Force, which is co-sponsored by the Alachua County Labor Party, spoke before the Alachua County Commissioners about wage theft and introducing a wage recovery ordinance for the county.  The ordinance would provide an avenue for Alachua County residents to take their complaints about employers not paying them what is owed.  Broward County and Miami-Dade County already have similar ordinances in place.

Over 40 citizens attended and filled the room to hear and participate in the two-hour discussion.   Commissioner Chestnut expressed concern over what the ordinance would mean for small business owners, worrying that employees would abuse the ordinance and unjustly target employers for money.   Representative Keith Perry, who attended only the public comment section of the discussion, agreed the ordinance would be a hardship on business owners and that business owners might even hire less workers than they could afford or need in fear of possible employee retaliation via the ordinance.

However, many citizens gave personal testimony to the fact that the ordinance would have given them a way to pursue justice and keep them from being in desperate situations.  Because, as Commissioner Byler pointed out, simply having a law in place is not enough.

“Having a law and being able to receive justice under that law are two very different things, and that’s why we’re here tonight,” said Byerly.

Over 40 people showed up to hear the presentation by the Wage Theft Task Force before the Alachua County of Commissioners.

Coverage from the Gainesville Sun.

Coverage from WCJB local news.

The post County Commissioners Hear Wage Recovery Ordinance appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

The ordinance will protect employees from wage theft, the theft of earned wages by employers. This includes working off the clock, withholding tips or not receiving full paychecks. Wage theft not only affects hundreds of thousands of workers, particularly those in low-wage jobs, but it also undermines businesses that pay their employees fairly.

It’s important to have good attendance for the presentation to show that the community supports a county-wide Wage Recovery Ordinance. Also, after the 30-minute presentation there will be time for comments from the public.

WHERE
Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
12 SE 1st St.
Gainesville, FL 32601

WHEN
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013
4:45pm

Click here for the Facebook event.

The post Wage Recovery Ordinance Presentation appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.

Coffee, refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Where
Civic Media Center
433 S. Main Street

When
Sunday, January 6, 2013
11am to 2pm

The post 2013 Strategy Planning Meeting appeared first on Alachua County Labor Party.