On Sunday, April 13th, in Watsonville, 30,000 supporters of the United Farm Workers gathered to march for rights for the 8,000 to 10,000 strawberry workers who labor on farms in the central coast of California. At issue is the right to form and join a union without fear of reprisal from management, a reality that most wage earners readily understand.
Approximately 40% of the workers are year-round residents, our neighbors here on the central coast. For the year leading up to the march, workers have been going through the normal and time-consuming channels available to settle the many claims of unfair labor practices that are fueling the drive to unionize. With internal resolution bogging down, and with local organizers' families facing severe hardship because of their union ties, the march was planned to bring the issue to public attention.
In preparation for the march, I was able to meet some of the workers who have lost their jobs as a result of their union organizing efforts. Men and women whose work experience ranged from 5 to 25 consecutive years working on the same farm were suddenly told that they were "unqualified" for work this year, or that they lacked seniority in some undisclosed and never before heard of system of categorizing jobs. Furthermore, when they went to other farms in the area, they were also passed over, that is, if they were even given applications. All this in spite of the fact that less experienced workers, even first year workers, were being hired.
Although most of the growers claim that it has nothing to do with the fact that these individuals are leaders in union activities, others have been reported to be blatant in their discrimination. One worker said a grower told him flat out, "If you are union, there is no work for you here." La bola negra, or the blackball appears to be flourishing in the fields of the central coast. Listening to these stories from brave and credible human beings, I felt displaced in time. It's the 1990's, but it might as well be the 1930's. In my generation, I grew up knowing that some unions can be corrupt or inefficient. Take away the presence of a union, though, and the alternative is unthinkable. For the example that hit me hardest, where the growers participate so freely in union harassment, I cannot even imagine the extent of sexual harassment that could go on, unreported and surely for the benefit of the same chilling effect. It was that thought that prompted me to see this struggle as a "women's issue," and to be proud to represent NOW at the march and beyond. More representatives are needed to continue to show our support for the struggle ahead. If you can occasionally volunteer some time to do site visits (approximately 3-4 hours midday, from briefing to debriefing), please call Julie at 728-3988 h. The visit times are set up about a week in advance.
You do not need to be bilingual or to be an experienced organizer. You will be in a large group visiting various sites to show the broad base of support for this struggle. You will be the face of the 200 members of Santa Cruz County NOW.
Conference Report: Ending Violence Against Women ~by Julie Skilton
Pride Busting Out All Over!
NOW News - Local & State
Egad! - Elections Again!
California NOW - Conference Report
Legislative Items - Your Voice Counts!
Dear Senator McPherson: Dear Assemblymember Keeley:
Parental Consent - The Debate Rages On
Chapter Calendar
The Santa Cruz County NOW Clothesline Project hung in good company with 1200 shirts from across the state at a statewide display on April 3, 1997.
Shirts from over 20 different Projects commemorated the survivors and victims of violence.
The occasion was the Ending Violence Against Women Conference organized by San Fernando Valley/ North East L.A. NOW. The event was cosponsored in part by many departments and individuals at Cal State Northridge, where it was held. A wide variety of community organizations, commissions and services were cosponsors, donors and advocates as well.
It was pretty much everything you could want a feminist conference to be.
Every session was almost completely filled - these were 2 large rooms seating over 100 easily, and they were in use all day from 8 am. until 5 pm. Many teachers from colleges all over the Los Angeles area gave their students credit for attending, so a high percentage of young women and men got to hear from impressive and compelling speakers actually working in the field of ending violence against women. Every panel that I saw was multi-cultural and multi-racial, with professionals from law enforcement, academia, shelter workers, medical personnel and politicians.
Looking at all these competent and caring individuals gathered in one place, I felt I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, like at last this problem was no longer the battered woman's problem. Like there might be a day when this society truly said "Enough." Powerful.
WHAT YOU CAN DO - Are you on the internet? Go to the site for Assembly member Sheila Kuehl and subscribe to one of her excellent bills protecting families from violence (this is one of her specialty areas). Her office will contact you by e-mail when action is needed on a bill.
Not on the internet? Do the same thing by the U.S. mail. Write to the attention of: Laurie Newman, Office of Speaker Pro Tem Kuehl, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The annual Santa Cruz Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Pride Celebration is on Sunday, June 1. The Celebration will be held in San Lorenzo Park at 12:30 p.m . The as always fantastic parade will gather at Cedar and Cathcart in Santa Cruz , and will step off at 12:00 noon, after which we will wind our way to San Lorenzo park.
As always, we could use some help with our booth, where we generally sell stuff, provide information about NOW, and twist arms to get signatures on petitions and letters. If you have an hour or two to help out, call Shannon at 728-3988.pride busting out all over!
Coordinator's Report - Whither the Chapter? - Part II Last month we sent out a newsletter in which we informed members that we were going to have a meeting regarding where the chapter was going. Board members have been concerned that whether we had board, combined board and action, or action meeting, it appeared that only board members were attending. In addition, it appeared as though only board members wished to remain active in community activities and actions.
One thought we had was to have ourselves deconvened. While this might be more honest in its portrayal of what was going on with the chapter, board members felt that NOW's perspective and participation in community activities, no matter how small, was vitally important. Another thought was that we could ask the state Membership Coordinator to come to Santa Cruz to help us re-organize.
The meeting did occur last month as planned, but we understand that there was a snafu in the newsletter mailing, so many of you either did not have your newsletter in order to make the meeting, or you had no time to plan to include a "Whither the Chapter" meeting in your schedules. We received several (!) calls from members and were approached by more at the Strawberry march in Watsonville, who expressed concern for the chapter and a desire that it not be deconvened.
Since there seems to be interest in our membership for the chapter to continue, and since the notice regarding the planning meeting was botched, we have planned another "Whither the Chapter" meeting, which will be on May 22nd, at 7:00 pm at LGBTCC (on Commerce Lane around the corner from "99 Bottles of Beer"). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss/plan the future of our "Little Engine that Could," which has such a strong reputation outside of our community, but which is being nursed along by five very tired leaders.
We want to know what you want from the chapter, and we want to know what you plan to do to help make it happen.
It's that time of year again: time for elections. Every seat is up for grabs this year, and the contest looks to be a lively one! The seats in contention include:
* Coordinator (or co-coordinators)
* Treasurer
* Membership Secretary
* Newsletter Editor
* Cal NOW board delegate/Legislative Action As a general rule, if you are a member for six months at least, the top two may be for you. You only have to be a member if you wish to serve on the last three. You may run individually, or if you wish, in a "slate," with a group of others. If the above jobs do not interest you, consider this: a task force chair also has a seat on the board. Task forces that might interest you may be:
* Lesbian Rights
* Reproductive Rights
* Diversity
* Domestic Violence
* Constitutional Equality Amendment (ERA) * Title IX
* Pay Equity
* Any other Issue you think is Important to Women So consider yourself a potential Santa Cruz County NOW Board member and get involved at the highest levels of the Chapter! Nominations close on the day of the elections. If you are interested in running, or wish more information about elections, requirements or task forces, call Shannon at 728-3988.
It was a beautiful weekend in Sacramento April 25-28, when SCCNOW members Christian Selling, Liz Taylor Selling, Julie Skilton and Shannon Sullivan attended the 25th Anniversary of California NOW. One plenary included a spirited message from Senator Barbara Boxer who told us NOW members need to be as vigilant and determined as ever to protect a woman's right to choose.
According to Senator Boxer, later term abortion ban (AKA partial birth abortion), was clearly a first step in targeting for elimination each method of abortion.
After the rousing beginning, SCCNOW chapter activists attended workshops on advanced lobbying and the new PAC rules, family law, single parent adoption, welfare reform, sexual harassment and constitutional equality.
Several local legislators spoke to or sent staff to speak to the conference at plenaries, in workshops, at the legislative reception, and for lobby day briefing. Senator Hilda Solis and Assemblymember Valerie Brown were honored as Cal NOW's legislators of the year, while Cal NOW's former lobbyist Roberta White Battle was honored for her work on our behalf.
Speaker Pro Tem Sheila Keuhl also addressed the conference, exhorting members in what became the common theme from all politicians who participated: more feminists should run for office! According to Keuhl, we've all had the experience of sitting across from a politician and thinking, "I could do the job better," and we probably can. So do it!
Two bills have been sent to committees that have our local Assembly and Senate members on them:
Please call or write Assemblymember Keeley in support of AB400 (Kuel, Spousal Support), as it has been sent to his Judiciary committee. AB400 revises 1996 law so that the goal is that the former spouse who is receiving support shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time based on the standard of living established during the marriage (as opposed to simply basing it on a time period).
The second bill we support is in the Senate Appropriations Committee of which our Senator McPherson is a member. SB341 (Watson, Training) requires employees who work with applicants for public assistance programs to receive training in domestic violence so that information can be passed on to clients.
To write letters simply address them to: Senator McPherson
State Capitol Rm 3076
Sacramento, CA, 94814
or
Assemblymember Keeley
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
Their phone numbers and email addresses are:
Keeley: 916-445-8496
email: FredKeeley@assembly.ca.gov
McPherson: 916-445-5843
email: Senator.McPherson@sen.ca.gov
Following are two sample letters. Please personalize your letters if possible!
I am writing in support of SB341 by Senator Watson. It is my understanding that it has been sent to your Appropriations Committee.
This is the bill that would Require employees who work with applicants for public assistance programs to receive training in domestic violence so that information can be passed on to clients. As over 1400 women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the US each year and every 15 seconds a woman is beaten, this bill should, in part, help to reduce these numbers.
I am writing in support of AB400 by Assemblymember Kuehl. It is my understanding that it has been sent to your Judiciary committee.
This is the bill that would revise the 1996 law so that the goal for spousal support is that one who is receiving support shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time based on the standard of living established during the marriage (as opposed to simply basing it on a time period).
The state Supreme Court will hear a second round of arguments on May 7 on California's never-enforced law that would require minors to obtain parental consent for abortions. In April, 1996, the court upheld the law, but voted to grant a rehearing before the ruling became final. The difference between the upholding of the law and a rehearing grant? One month, and the retirement of Justices Malcolm Lucas and Armand Arabian, replaced by Ming Chin and Janice Rodgers Brown.
MAY
22 SCCNOW Board Meeting, 6:00 pm
at "99 Bottles of Beer," Santa Cruz
22 SCCNOW General Meeting, 7:00 pm
at LGBTCC on Commerce Lane around corner from "99 Bottles of Beer"
JUNE
01 Pride March. 728-3988
TBA SCCNOW Board Meeting, 6:00 pm. 728-3988
TBA SCCNOW General Meeting, 7:00 pm. 728-3988
JULY 4-6 NOW National Conference, Memphis TN
Community Calendar
(not sponsored or endorsed by NOW)
MAY - Asian American Awareness Month
01 May Day
01 Int'l Worker's Day
04 Holocaust Remembrance Day
05 Cinco De Mayo
08 Muharram (Islamic New Year)
10 The Human Race. 423-0554
11 Mother's Day
15 International Conscientious Objector's Day
17 Ashura
18 Pentecost
19 Victoria Day (Canada)
24 Women's Int'l Disarmament Day
25 African Freedom Day
26 Memorial Day (Observed)
June - Gay Pride Month
11 Shavuot
12 Philippine Independence Day
15 Father's Day
19 Juneteenth
21 Summer Solstice
22 Gay Pride Day & Week
28 The Stonewall Rebellion, 1969