For immediate release
April 17, 2008
Greg Denier or Noreen Nielsen, Change to Win
202-721-0660
Eric Sharfstein, UNITE HERE
212-332-9373
Change To Win Leaders March For Workers’ Rights
Join Thousands Of Workers And Community Members For The March From “Hollywood To The Docks
LOS ANGELES, CA. – Change to Win leaders James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President, Bruce Raynor, UNITE HERE General President, and Arturo Rodriguez, United Farm Workers President, will join thousands of LA County workers and members today at the closing rally for the march from "Hollywood to the Docks" to fight for good jobs and to restore the American Dream for America’s working families.
"The Teamsters took part in this march because we believe the fight for workers’ rights must be a top priority among lawmakers in this country," said Hoffa. "Our most immediate struggle is taking place now, as bad trade deals are taking the jobs of so many Americans in this country."
Hoffa, along with more than one hundred Teamsters on motorcycles, will lead a contingent of thousands of workers, local labor leaders and elected officials to the closing rally for the march at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. Environmentalists united in the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, a blue-green alliance, will also participate to spotlight the need to create good, green jobs of the future, starting with the Port trucking industry.
UNITE HERE President Raynor will be among the speakers at the rally stressing the importance of standing in solidarity in the fight to make the core jobs of L.A.’s economy into good jobs for L.A.’s workers.
"Employers don’t give workers better pay or benefits, career opportunities or a secure retirement because we ask nicely," said Raynor. "Our ability to make meaningful gains is in our numbers. When unions stand together as a united front, employers respond and we make progress."
Today concludes the three-day long march to highlight recent gains for workers while supporting the hundreds of thousands of working families struggle to protect their jobs in the uncertain global economy. The 28 mile march from Hollywood to the Ports of Los Angeles in San Pedro included workers representing the key industries reflecting the core of L.A.’s economy: actors, longshoremen, homecare workers, teachers and janitors. They were also joined by over 30,000 port drivers, security officers, hotel workers, car wash workers, construction workers and LAX passenger service workers.
**Note: For more information regarding the march from "Hollywood to the Docks" visit: www.hollywoodtothedocks.org.**
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About Change to Win
Change to Win is a six million member partnership of seven unions founded in 2005 to represent workers in the industries and occupations of the 21st century economy. Change to Win committed to restoring the American Dream for a new generation of workers – wages that can support a family, affordable health care, a secure retirement, and the opportunity for the future. The seven affiliated unions are: Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Laborers’ International Union of North America, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and United Farm Workers of America.