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<P align=center>For Immediate Release</P></B>
<P>Contact:</P>
<P>Bill Bumpus</P>
<P>Industrial Workers of the World</P>
<P>Phone: 617-625-9070</P>
<P>Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:wbumpus62@comcast.net"><FONT
size=2>wbumpus62@comcast.net</FONT></A></P><FONT size=2><B>
<P align=right>Industrial Workers of the World to hold fundraiser for Food and
Allied Workers Union in New York</P>
<P align=right></P>
<P align=center>Lowell, MA, September 15<SUP>th</SUP>, 2007.</P></B>
<P align=justify>Two years ago, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) – I.U.
460/640 launched a campaign to organize the dozens of Asian restaurant supply
warehouses that litter the industrial areas of East Williamsburg, Bushwick,
Ridgewood, and Maspeth. Since then over 75 workers in seven shops have joined
the union. Through the IWW’s minority unionism approach, workers have
successfully enforced their right to minimum wage and overtime, won contracts,
and brought Fair Labor Standard Act class actions against their employers in
five warehouses totaling more than five million dollars.</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P>Unfortunately, the union’s success has provoked a backlash: during the week
after Christmas, two warehouse owners, acting in concert to halt the expanding
union campaign, illegally fired 20 union workers while a third owner temporarily
suspended five. The NLRB has issued complaints in the cases of both the firings.
I.U. 460/640’s modest defense fund has gone deeply in debt to support the fired
workers until they found new jobs. Donations are needed for the relief fund,
organizing and overhead.</P>
<P>The Boston General Membership Branch of the IWW will be sponsoring a
fundraiser on behalf of the Food and Allied Workers Union.</P><B>
<P>Date: Saturday, September 15, 2007</P>
<P>Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.</P>
<P>Place: Center for Family, Work and Community, 600 Suffolk St., Lowell</P>
<P>Suggested donation: $10.00</P>
<P>Featuring:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Live music</LI>
<LI>Film Showing</LI>
<LI>Speakers from the union and community
supporters</LI></UL></B></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>