[Org4j-announce] Call for Hospital Crisis Solidarity - Labour Day and Beyond!

[Organizing For Justice]

*~~ please spread this message widely ~~*


This call is a response to rank-and-file health care workers feeling alone
and abandoned as they experience an unprecedented crisis of working
conditions and service provision in Ontario hospitals.


*** THE PROPOSAL ***

The primary idea is to hold autonomous events adjacent to hospitals, as
hospital workers arrive and leave work at shift change time (for example,
if afternoon shift change is at 3pm, the event could be from 2-4pm).

Some possible examples:
* A community BBQ picnic where the hospital workers can stop by for a quick
meal and mingle with supportive community members;
* A 'Speakers Corner' where hospital workers can record a quick video or
written note to be shared online;
* An action leafletting pedestrians and holding signs/banners visible to
cars passing by;
* Or whatever else is inspiring to do.

This opportunity is for each and every city and town where a hospital is
located. The call originates from the situation in Ontario, but applies
across Canada.

There is no centralized decision-making for this; it requires individuals
and organizations to step up as appropriate, to organize events customized
to local capacity and circumstances. Please see the bottom section, "Tips
and Considerations for Organizing" for further inspiration.

*And to be clear:*
(1) The suggestion is for events *near* hospitals, for example across the
street or in a nearby park, not obstructing anyone from accessing the
hospital - but in view if possible.
(2) #CovidIsNotOver - Along with mismanagement by government, COVID is a
primary cause of the hospital crisis, and events should have COVID
precautions implemented and communicated.


*** THE PURPOSE AND POTENTIAL ***

These #HospitalCrisisSolidarity events can gather people together, in shows
of support and solidarity with hospital workers. This provides a morale
boost, a possibility for hospital workers to mingle with supportive
community members, maybe even be offered a meal (if it's a BBQ picnic
event), and it can also draw more relevant media attention to the situation.

This is way for people, including organizations and union locals, to do
something solid in person respecting the current health care crisis. Health
care workers are unable themselves to take job action to force change; it
is also demoralizing for people in general to not be taking action - or
only virtual action - as the crisis deepens.

Such a gathering can also facilitate informal conversations amongst
attendees toward possible future actions and community-building. And it is
a way for organized labour to demonstrate their material relevance to these
struggles through these events.


*** MAKING IT HAPPEN ***

This idea requires autonomous initiative, relatively quick time frames, and
a level of risk-taking; it also requires strong communication and
coordination. With the situation we face, it is worth doing and it is
possible to do, wherever there is a hospital or alternate relevant location.

*To help make happen:*

* *Communicate this message ASAP *– to relevant organizers, to local
councils and unions, and more broadly – by direct email, over email lists
and social media*, and re-posted on web sites; also through printing off
pamphlets or posters. Who knows who it can reach, and who might take up the
initatiative. *(*Use the hashtag #HospitalCrisisSolidarity, or possibly a
provincial version, for example: Ontario = #HospitalCrisisSolidarityON)*

* *Actually talk with people about this*, whether in person or by phone.
Are they concerned about how the hospital situation is now, or what it
might become? What do they think people can do about it? Think about
bringing this topic up if you find yourself starting to talking about, for
example, the weather or sports or the latest TV program.

* *Depending upon your positionality:*

(A) If you are a member of a union or organization, get the idea on the
agenda of the decision-makers, and bring it to the awareness of other
members.

(B) If you are a decision-maker in a union or organization, see how you can
make this work, including with other community partners.

(C) If you are a non-affiliated community member, see how you can support
an existing initiative, or initiate an action yourself.

*See further tools and tips in the next two sections.*

This solidarity action idea will only work successfully if people
understand and communicate the value of doing this, and make it work!


*** TOOLS FOR COORDINATION AND ORGANIZING ***

The following tables of listings are crowd-sourced documents allowing
people to post relevant info and to see what others have posted.

This empowers decentralized decision-making, knowledge-building, and
connection. But they are only as useful as the number of people who know of
them, and who use them.

Please do check back on these tables in the days leading up to Labour Day,
and the weeks afterwards, to keep updated on what is being posted and
planned.

*Tables:*

** Local contacts looking to organize something*
A list of individuals or organizations willing to take the lead in making
something local happen, but without capacity to do it all themselves. Look
here to see if someone's added their name to contact where you are, or
consider adding your name if no-one else already has.

*View table: https://airtable.com/shrEFPIXYVmTsBINJ
<https://airtable.com/shrEFPIXYVmTsBINJ>Add an entry:
https://airtable.com/shr9vGReCm8qYzFTp
<https://airtable.com/shr9vGReCm8qYzFTp>*

** Confirmed event listings (including Labour Day actions)*
Once an event is planned and details are public, they should be added here
so people will know about them. A second section in this same table
includes listings of already-planned, non-hospital-focused, Labour Day
events across the country (September 5)

*View table: https://airtable.com/shr9EPdZ2wJkbM6aS
<https://airtable.com/shr9EPdZ2wJkbM6aS>Add an entry:
https://airtable.com/shr2QU7CzgXwL85n8
<https://airtable.com/shr2QU7CzgXwL85n8>*

** Print materials for use as handouts and posters*
PDF files can be uploaded here for people to print copies of and distribute
at upcoming Labour Day events, at Hospital Crisis Solidarity events once
they're happening, or in any other circumstances (at other community
events, with random people you meet during the day, or leave a few at your
workplace or in good community spots).

*View table: https://airtable.com/shryJTwuggetu4Z7a
<https://airtable.com/shryJTwuggetu4Z7a>Add an entry:
https://airtable.com/shrRRcFcs6VVJCccr
<https://airtable.com/shrRRcFcs6VVJCccr>*

** Media coverage from actions and on the crisis overall*
This is a two-section list for links to (1) media reports and self-made
media about #HospitalCrisisSolidarity events, once they start happening;
and (2) any general coverage of the hospital / health care crisis that's
worth highlighting.



*View table: https://airtable.com/shrkzKOVYEEU1dMmN
<https://airtable.com/shrkzKOVYEEU1dMmN>Add an entry:
https://airtable.com/shrtBHbd71Ntzlw1T
<https://airtable.com/shrtBHbd71Ntzlw1T>Questions or other correspondence
about these listings, can be emailed to org4justice at gmail.com
<org4justice at gmail.com>*


*** TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR ORGANIZING ***

This call originated in thinking about the traditional Labour Day march and
picnic in Ottawa: What if, instead of marching in Centretown and having a
BBQ at McNabb park, there was a march along Smyth and a BBQ across from the
General Hospital, or a march along Carling and a BBQ across from the Civic
Hospital?

But the timeline was too short for Labour Day, so the call is for events
whenever they can be organized, and wherever makes sense, and whatever
ideas for an event that can be pulled off.

***** (continues...) *****

To keep this email shorter, the tips are not included here,
but are instead posted in the full web version of this call:
https://mediacoop.ca/node/119094
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/org4j-announce/attachments/20220902/cebd6199/attachment.htm>