Friday, August 17, 2012

Nurses walk the strike line with Teamsters in Washington

Thanks to Ben Tilden, WSNA, for the photo.
Striking Davis Wire Teamsters got some morale-building solidarity from the Washington State Nursing Association yesterday, the hottest day of the year.

Nurses showed up on the picket line outside the sweatshop wire mill, where workers have been on strike since May 21.

It's especially appropriate that nurses walked the line, as the Davis Wire employees work in extremely dangerous conditions. Some have lost fingers and broken bones on the job.

The Stand reports the nurses spent,
...part of the day in the 93-degree heat showing solidarity on the picket line with striking Davis Wire workers in Kent. 
The 85 workers at the company’s Kent facility have been on strike since May 21 after working without a contract since Dec. 1, 2011. Just three days after these workers voted to authorize a strike over dangerous working conditions, the company laid off 27 employees — nearly a third of its unionized workforce. Their union, Teamsters Local 117, contends that the layoffs were retaliatory. 
Show solidarity on the picket line — Many other unions and union supporters — including a number of elected officials– have shown their solidarity on the Davis Wire picket lines, and their participation has lifted the spirits and energy of the Davis Wire strikers. Come down to the strike line at 194st & 80th Ave. S. in Kent  and walk the picket line (workers are picketing 24/7). If you like, bring coffee, water, wood, or food (the healthier the better!) down to the line. 
Please make a contribution — and ask your union organization to make a contribution — to the DAVIS WIRE – ONE MORE DAY fund. Local 117 set up this fund to help the strikers’ families, which are struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet as they make the brave stand up for fair treatment. Click here to contribute via PayPal, or mail checks made out to the “Davis Wire ONE MORE DAY Fund” to Teamsters Local 117 at 14675 Interurban Ave. South, Suite 307, Tukwila, WA, 98168. 
Thank you for your support! 
Learn more about the Davis Wire struggle by watching a video clip of their appearance at the WSLC 2012 Convention on Aug. 6 in Wenatchee. 
For the latest updates on the Davis Wire strike, visit www.Teamsters117.org.