News on the Living Wages Hunger Strike

The announcement press conference will be held at Camden Yards (gate F) tomorrow at 10:30 AM.  We will leave from the press conference directly to Ocean City for the Step Up to Living Wages Tour.  The tour concludes with a protest demanding that the cleaners at Camden Yards be included in Maryland's living wage legacy.  More info: http://UnitedWorkers.org

Check out the latest news stories:

Camden Yards Cleaners Threaten Hunger Strike on September 3 - 08/14/07
Cleaners at Camden Yards – home to the Baltimore Orioles – have announced plans to launch a living wage hunger strike starting September 3. The workers have been protesting for a living wage for more than three years and after all of those promises fell on deaf ears, they have decided that September 1 is the deadline. The workers are being supported by United Workers, an organization founded by day laborers seeking to lift themselves out of poverty. If Camden Yards and the contractor that hires the workers can not meet the deadline the hunger strike will begin.

Baltimore Stadium Workers Plan Hunger Strike for Living Wage

The workers who clean up plastic cups, peanut shells, spilled beer and hot dogs left by nearly 49,000 fans after games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions for three years.

The United Workers Association (UWA), a Baltimore worker center, which represents the nearly 800 mainly immigrant workers, says the subcontractors who employ them have reneged on promises to pay a living wage. The workers make about $7 an hour. The national median hourly salary of janitors and cleaners is $9.58, according to the U.S Department of Labor.

Earlier the Balitmore Sun reported on the struggle for living wages at Camden Yards:

For three years, the group representing workers who clean up plastic cups, peanut shells, spilled beer and hot dogs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions.

Thanks to everyone at Kos who is helping spread the word!  Tomorrow we publicly annouce the strike - we will post early on Daily Kos after the press conference.

Too busy with prep work to write more today.... thanks again!  

•  I liked your last diary

  And I wish you all well.  That whole paying for the van that you are forced to take is utter bullshit and I hope you all succeed in getting your grievances addressed.

  by Sychotic1 on Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 03:48:52 PM PDT

  •  thank you - we think it's bullshit as well

    we plan to post more in-depth stories in the days leading up to the Living Wages Hunger Strike

    by Harriet Tubman on Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 03:52:42 PM PDT

•  Good luck. I agree we should all be making a

  living wage. Sales are down at Wallmart and they are complaigning that people aren't buying anymore because of high prices of things like gas and food. This Country needs a major overhaul.

  by Owllwoman on Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 04:03:34 PM PDT

  •  agreed

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 03:54:11 AM PDT

•  Not much lifts my spirits any more

  but your struggle and your determination give me a little glimmer of hope.  Nothing is more important than the kind of fight you're engaged in.    

  I'm not sure whether it's been a goal you've discussed internally or articulated to the boss yet, but I'd love to see a day when the shape-up is a thing of the past, and you can assign your work in a democratic fashion amongst the membership.

  Stay strong, let us know how you're doing, and tell us what we can do to support your struggle.

  by Pesto on Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 04:36:33 PM PDT

  •  we are pushing to replace the temp agencies

    with a co-co -- The Living Wages Co-Op --- which would end the shape-up and bring not only living wages but dignity to the workers at Camden Yards.

    Thank you for being there and standing in support of us.  Your encouragement goes a long way.

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 03:53:53 AM PDT