Baltimore Sun: Low-wage workers demand living wage

Today 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.

Each seeming breakthrough has fallen through.

Now, the United Workers Association, a human rights organization in Baltimore, and the 800 workers it represents are stepping up their campaign. Through protests, rallies and concerts, they're calling on the state agency that owns Camden Yards to act by pushing for higher wages. Both sides met yesterday to discuss the issue.

On Sept 3 the United Workers will ramp up pressure, starting with a Labor Day Prayer Breakfast.  We have plans for events each day after, including the Concert for Human Rights - a major protest festival.  Check our website at http://UnitedWorkers.org for more information.

We will be making a major announcement on Aug 15. While we can't release the details yet, our plan for ramping up pressure will follow in the footsteps of Gandhi, Cesar Chavez and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.  We are moved to action by the words of Chavez:

We have suffered unnumbered ills and crimes in the name of the Law of the Land. Our men, women and children have suffered not only the basic brutality of stoop labor, and the most obvious injustices of the system; they have also suffered the desperation of knowing that the system caters to the greed of callous men and not to our needs. Now we will suffer for the purpose of ending the poverty, the misery, and the injustice, with the hope that our children will not be exploited as we have been. They have imposed hungers on us, and now we hunger for justice.

After three years of broken promises, the cleaners at Camden Yards are fed up.  We are prepared to take action to make our demands known. We are prepared to sacrfice for justice.  We demand that our human rights be respected and ask that you join with us in solidarity.  Starting today, we will be posting updates on Daily Kos as we build pressure to secure living wages at Camden Yards.

•  But wait a second, that can't be right.

  Republican Corporate Welfare advocates who threaten to move pro sports teams unless they receive millions in taxpayer subsidies said that pro sports stadiums would be good for the economy.

  by Utahrd on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:13:23 AM PDT

  •  depends on which America you live in

    Camden Yards makes millions for its billionare owner Peter Angelos.  Angleos claims to be a "friend of labor" even though he broke his 2004 promise to pay the cleaners a living wage.  We've given up on making him keep his promise and are instead demanding that the publicly owned stadium live up to Maryland's living wage legacy. Baltimore was the first city to pass a living wage law. Maryland was the first state to do so as well. But the cleaners at the publicly owned stadium are falling between the cracks and have a right to be included in the state's legacy for living wages.  

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:16:08 AM PDT

•  I'm sure if the O's were doing better

  the pay would be better.

  But regardless, Angelos gets his sweet stadium deal on the back of the taxpayers, and then he stiffs the people who have to pick up the trash that the Baltimore County folks leave under their seats?

  Foul ball.

  by zenbowl on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:18:56 AM PDT

  •  I doubt it

    I see no evidence that Angelos would be fair no matter how much money he makes.

    by jct on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:20:56 AM PDT

  •  what's worse is that he claims to be "friend"

    Angelos has told workers to "f__ off" when demanding that he honor his word. He's no friend of labor.  And yet he made billions off of labor.  We've given up on Angelos and are now placing pressure directly on Camden Yards. Hopefully as we ramp up pressure the state will force its stadium to live up to Maryland's living wage legacy.

    Workers have been making less than the state minimun, due to illegal deductions and unpaid wait times.  There is no excuse for the state to be payng poverty wages so that people like Angelos can make millions in profits.

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:23:48 AM PDT

    •  You just described the problem with our economy:

      People getting poverty wages so the few can be multimillionaires

      by jct on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:26:31 AM PDT

      •  the United Workers believes that poverty

        is an affront to human rights, to the santcity of human life and the dignity of human beings.  We believe that the value of respect and dignity should replace the values of greed.  We are fighting to secure an end to poverty by organizing low-wage workers to demand the right to freedom from poverty.  

        There are over 900 low-wage workers who make up the membership of the United Workers.  Together with our allies we are now ready to make our demand heard.  We have been preparing for the events starting Sept 3 for over a year now.  Your help is needed. Stand in solidarity with the United Workers as we fight to end poverty wages at Camden Yards.

        by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:31:47 AM PDT

        •  Not to be a buzzkill or anything

          But the United Workers are probably going to be replaced by guys with Photoshopped Social Security cards.  

          What's worse, the replacements will probably be soccer fans.  At least they should hire some beisbol-loving Dominicans.

          by Utahrd on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:44:50 AM PDT

          •  You comment is offensive to us

            We are UNITED workers, which means that our membership includes both documented and undocumented workers.  We are fighting for HUMAN rights, which includes all people - not just those with documents to work legally in the United States.  We are fighting to end poverty, not just to raise the saleries of our membership.  

            We do not see any difference between denying the rights of the poor in the global south and denying the rights of those descended from slaves of the US south.  We are united to end poverty, and we are fighting together because that is how we win.

            by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:48:47 AM PDT

      •  Workers are the veins and arteries

        of our national body.  The more money everybody makes, the healthier our national circulation.

        It is immoral, but it is also  self-destructive to allow anyone to live in poverty.

        by LindaR on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 10:39:37 AM PDT

        •  democracy depends on a strong middle class

          ending poverty is essential for democracy

          by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 11:11:55 AM PDT

•  Exciting news

  I'm glad that that they are seeking support from the community.  

  by jct on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:20:11 AM PDT

  •  and we are glad to have it

    Everyone is invited to the Labor Day Prayer breakfast the the Concert for Human Rights.  A lot more info will be posted after Aug 15.

    We have been planning and preparing for this event for over a year now.  Solidarity has never been  more important in our campaign as it is now. Thanks.

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:26:56 AM PDT

•  DCers, anyone want to go with me?

  We can car pool and do some support work for these workers.  Our boots on the street will mean a lot to them.  I'm up for it, anyone else?

  by Bendygirl on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:21:12 AM PDT

  •  I'm going to stay tuned

    I followed the link and signed up for updates, since I'm local as well.

    by jct on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:23:20 AM PDT

    •  thank you

      we will be posting updates now through the end of the events starting Sept 3. Like we said, we cannot annouce the details yet, but a few weeks ago we met and many of the cleaners made a commitment to follow in the footsteps of human rights heroes like Cesar Chavez, Gandhi and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.  We intend to make a strong statement and to make a strong sacrafice until the living wages are secured.  Keep tuned.

      by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:29:05 AM PDT

  •  see you there

    If can only make one thing, come to the Concert for Human Rights.  We will have final information posted at the website in the next two days - things are getting finalized now.

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:33:37 AM PDT

•  The rumor I heard a few years ago was

  that some of the Camden Yards workers were forced to live out of their cars because of their low wages. Do you know if there is anything to this?

  Tell everyone you know about Iraq Moratorium Day!

  March for impeachment on September 15 in Washington, DC.

  UnitedWorkers
  

  by chesapeake on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 09:54:55 AM PDT

  •  It is true

    When we started organizing workers at the stadium they were paid a flat rate that was often below $4.50 an hour.  The workforce was largely homeless.  The United Workers was started by homeless workers at an abandoned firehouse turned shelter, and the campaign was decided on by the workers since so many of the workers at Camden Yards were also at the shelter.  Since the Code of Conduct that we won conidtions have improved, and so has the pay.  But it's still below poverty level, and we've always demanded no less than a living wage.

    by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 10:20:11 AM PDT

    •  Perhaps this information should be up there

      in the body of the diary so people who click and skim through can see it immediately.
       

      Our... constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds. Thurgood Marshall

      by bronte17 on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 10:33:45 AM PDT

      •  we are going to be posting strories from

        Camden Yards every day as we ramp up pressure and will be posting many stories about what it means to work for poverty wages.  Your suggesstion is good and will make sure that the details about the reality of the conditions are front and center.  Thanks!

        by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 11:13:40 AM PDT

        •  Personal stories get people to connect

          and, though you may not want to use them for personal reasons, images and pictures are worth a thousand words.  You may want to consider using those also in your diaries.

          Not trying to tell you your business...just trying to help.

          Our... constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds. Thurgood Marshall

          by bronte17 on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 11:22:03 AM PDT

          •  great suggestions, thank you

            by Harriet Tubman on Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 11:27:22 AM PDT