[Sdalliance] Open Letter to May 1st Coalition

Tue Mar 7 12:10:50 PST 2017

Greetings Comrades,
First and foremost I want to extend my apologies for not keeping up with the listserv and missing some critical information. Today, I went through the communications from the end of February up until now. I have a few questions:

1. Self Defense Committee: How were the delegates or members for the Self Defense Committee selected? What is the power structure? There seems to be a few issues regarding this. 
2. Communications Committee: Who are the people on this listserv? What organizations do they represent? How can we ensure our people are protected in their communication? There are a few people engaging in discussion and others are just looking which could potentially be an unsafe place for many. 
3. Colectivo Zapatista Demand Letter: What is the Collective Resistance stance on supporting our comrade's stance on protecting workers? If enough delegates ratify this don't we then support them as a collective? What does this support look like in action? I may not understand the true governance and function of our committees and delegates. 
4. In Person Meeting: was there a meeting scheduled in person to iron out some of these issues? 
5. Healing Circles: Have we incorporated what our comrades are offering into our alliance to make communication more effective? If so when will this take place? 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 6, 2017, at 9:27 PM, Ryan Stray <ryanstraysd at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> PSL San Diego's letter on Kasparian/UFCW/the Labor Council question.
> 
> https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoPSL/posts/1287922804623314
> 
> In light of the recent allegations that Mickey Kasparian has engaged in sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation, the Party for Socialism and Liberation calls for his immediate resignation or termination as president of both the San Diego Labor Council and United Food and Commercial Workers.
> As a working class party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation defends the rights of all workers, including those employed by a union. We defend the right for all workers to work in a safe environment. It is shameful that a union, whose very reason for existence is to fight for the rights of its workers, has refused to even investigate the serious allegations of abuse, bullying, and retaliation within its own ranks. Those who are protecting and defending this sexist behavior are guilty of supporting it. We hold all bosses accountable to the rights of workers regardless if they are union bosses. At a time when workers’ rights are under attack we need real leadership and strength, not weak abusers of power who undermine everything organizers have fought and struggled for.
> Reactionary patriarchal forces will always try to put the victims of abuse on trial rather than their abusers. The PSL has worked closely with Sandy and Anabel in the past, and we know them to be trustworthy and honest fighters for working class people. These Chicana organizers have helped improve the lives of untold numbers of workers through their work for the union; that union should be rewarding them for their accomplishments, not degrading or abusing them because they speak up in their own workplace. We encourage other workers within the United Food and Commercial Workers to come forward and to know that the PSL stands with you. We are also calling on other progressive, leftist, and revolutionary organization to join us in our defense of Sandy, Isabel, and Anabel, and we invite others to sign onto this letter.
> If you support this effort, let us know and add your name to a list of community and grassroots organizations that demand justice and real union leadership.
> The San Diego branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation
> sandiego at pslweb.org
> 
> 
> 
>> On Mar 6, 2017 7:10 PM, "Tanner Smith" <gulfcoastsurfer at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Just seconding what Yesi said.  No problem with the letter being sent.  I was only referring to this debate via email.
>> 
>>> On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 2:28 PM, Yesenia Padilla <yeseniatpadilla at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi Compas:
>>> 
>>> I don't believe Tanner was saying that Colectivo shouldn't have sent out the email, as we did agree at the mass meeting that Colectivo should send the letter for orgs/individuals to review, and to contact Colectivo directly about signing on if they choose to do so. 
>>> 
>>> Colectivo sending the letter out through the listserv is absolutely fine, it was agreed to, and it was agreed to that people would contact Colectivo directly if they chose to sign on. 
>>> 
>>> I believe what Tanner was referring the ensuing debate only, not the sending of the email. 
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> Yesi
>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 2:08 PM, colectivo zapatista <colectivozapatistainfo at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Its a little late in the game. Folks should have said, when Colectivo Zapatista brought up the letter in the mass mtg,  "Compas, can you please send the letter in xyz way"? Now. It seems like a quick "let's not talk about this issue, cause it could be divisive", approach. Where was the protocol notice before? What other way could we have sent the letter for ; all folks to review?
>>>>  Just being real compas.
>>>> 
>>>>> On Mar 6, 2017 12:52 PM, "Tanner Smith" <gulfcoastsurfer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Just a reminder, and speaking from Communications Committee.  This listserv is strictly for discussing business of CRSD.  It is not an appropriate forum for debate.  This particular conversation needs to wrap up in this space.  Please email me if you have any questions.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tanner
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 11:53 AM, Rafael Bautista <rafadaone at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Fred, I am not sure if you are aware but this  is a list serv for SD Collective Resistance, not SDAJ.  Either way, this liberal ideology that is plaguing people on the "left" is very worrisome.  Here we have an adopted points of unity that explicitly states that we are anti-sexist but we have Fred talking about some kind of situation that is up for debate.  This is not up for debate.  Yes, It will carry its due process in the courts but people are already aware of the events.  Not only because the allegations come from very credible and incredible women, but because we have seen time and time again the tactics of petty bourgois bosses.  Mickey is a union boss that has sided with the wealthy time and time again, usually for self-gain.  
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The letter also mentions Genoveva, who comrades have been suppressed by.  I am actually even more disappointed when people who can make a difference, like Fred who is a delegate to the Labor Council (from UC/AFT Local 2034; not coming out in support of the workers who are being abused by corrupt union bosses. 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 10:57 AM, Fred Lonidier <pres2034 at san.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Rya,
>>>>>>> I am on the SDAJ listserve as a member so the emails about May 1 and the matter of Kasparian came to me that way.  It seems related to planning for May 1.  I am a delegate to the Labor Council (from UC/AFT Local 2034) which endorsed SEIU's plans.  I signed up to work on that event.  The matter of allegations is very serious but very hard to weigh in on without evidence or witnesses which can come to some adjudicating body, either internal to the UFCW, the CLC and/or the law.  The labor movement has had to be very diligent about due process as, in relations with employers, we have nothing without it and supervisors, owners and even other workers can make all kinds of claims which, without due process, can and has caused enormous damage to workers and our unions.  It is distressing to see the pickets and read the allegations but, at the same time, hard to take a stand on without the weight of evidence.  And I am aware that all kinds of acts against vulnerable people never get justice because they occur out of the sight of others willing to come forward.
>>>>>>> Fred
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Cw rape
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I don't know who you are, and I don't think you came to any mass meeting so i wonder how you got on this listserv, but I want to point out that (one of the) allegation(s) about Mickey specifically involves pressuring his staff into a sexual relationship. A claim of due process might mean something in a world where UFCW or any local or national labor body as investigating. But UFCW and the Labor Council have chosen not to, and there is no criminal case, and as such there is no possibility of due process from any body that could pass judgement.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> There are multiple claims from multiple female staff members of the UFCW. What is it that leads you to side eye these women who are coming forward in a climate that deligitimizes their claims inside the very union they fought for, not to mention society at large? Why are you siding with a literal boss in a clear harassment and discrimination case?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Rya
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Mar 5, 2017 8:38 PM, "Fred Lonidier" <pres2034 at san.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Well, Ryan, I think you want to be very careful here.  So far there are allegations leveled at Kasparian and we see the pickets at the Delegate meetings.  But he is entitled to due process and whether he "attacked his workers" or not has yet to be established.  So far, he has the full confidence of the CLC Executive Board and the Delegates.  At any rate, the CLC is on board with May 1 as it is being headed up by SEIU.
>>>>>>> My laptop is pretty old so I don't seem to be able to access the letter to which you refer.  Can you send it as an attachment?
>>>>>>> Fred 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Mickey Kasparian is named in the letter explicitly, right? The man attacked his workers.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Ryan
>>>>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Yesenia Padilla
>> 
>> 
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