tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83519896676587998822024-03-06T12:02:14.770-08:00Americorps Workers UnionA website for the Americorps Workers Union.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351989667658799882.post-63162556757163543362013-11-27T09:50:00.002-08:002013-11-27T09:52:41.766-08:00Americorps Workers Should be Employees, not "Volunteers"We've heard about the working conditions at Walmart and fast food
jobs were bad, but have you heard about Americorps? Check out this
e-mail IWW Union Delegate Alex Lotorto sent back to the Public Allies'
fundraiser.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hello, <br />
<br />
As
an alum of Public Allies and during my time in the program, I became
very aware of the ambiguous employment status of Public Allies and
Americorps members at large. I've concluded Americorps workers need to
be classified as employees and given the rights of employees for me to
support the program vocally or financially.<br />
<br />
Currently,
the only rights under labor law afforded to Americorps workers are the
Family Medical Leave Act and workers compensation. Rights that are
denied include harassment and discrimination protection by the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration protection, the right to form a union, the right to
unemployment compensation, and the right to access state labor
departments to resolve wage disputes and harassment on a state level.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
This
problem stems from a single clause in the National and Community
Service Act which says Americorps members will not be considered Federal
employees [<a href="http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/cncs_statute.pdf">SEC 199M (b)(1)</a>].
In addition, courts hearing cases about worker misclassification in
regard to Americorps have dictated, in the instance of unemployment
compensation, that states can afford members their rights, but
Americorps members are not protected federally [<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8C7l9u-tCRLOTdiZjk3YjMtNGMyMi00YjJhLWIzYTctZmQ3MmQ0YzE3ZDli/edit?usp=sharing">US DOL 1995</a>].<br />
<br />
A
simple re-writing of that clause would provide Americorps workers with
hard-fought for workplace rights. With 75,000 Americorps members
participating every year, surely there are instances of harassment or
workplace hazards that should be reported to the EEOC or OSHA. Surely,
workers should enjoy the basic protections of the National Labor
Relations Act and Universal Declaration of Human Rights that allow
unionization. Surely, Americorps workers should be able to access
unemployment compensation at the end of their terms when they are laid
off due to lack of work, just like any construction trades worker or
temp worker can.<br />
<br />
I have witnessed and experienced
instances of injustice due to this misclassification. It's something
high on my list of concerns for my generation. The scenario contributes
to the larger narrative regarding Millenials being subject to job
insecurity through a terrible job market and common labor practices like
unpaid internships, canvassing for a commission, independent contractor
status, and working on political campaigns. A simple classification as
"employee" may only provide marginal new improvement in the working
conditions of Americorps, but it would transform the narrative and
trajectory of injustice for young people.<br />
<br />
We live in an
age where we condemn Walmart and fast food companies for their working
conditions, yet many people who consider themselves leftists turn a
blind eye to what's going on in one of their most beloved programs,
Americorps. In fact, a worker at Walmart or McDonalds enjoys more
workplace protections and job security than a twenty something
Americorps worker.<br />
<br />
Please consider making this employee misclassification issue a priority before seeking my support again. Thank you.<br />
<br />
Alex Lotorto<br />
Union Delegate<br />
Industrial Workers of the World<br />
570-269-9589<br /><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeisBNk9HUbwj_kFRp6phNAnzD5QZ73X0a5o6BMW3TGiHSd6erGUCbeXsDEPiUAtlPs7kqnW7awphWm2KBJM_CmfOUkkna0hoZeM9iTATkxjcUQ43wPH18fxSylOkNsLWF4O4PpuOKos/s320/AWU.jpg" width="320" /></blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351989667658799882.post-11873331457932159672013-10-08T20:38:00.001-07:002013-10-08T20:38:21.931-07:00VISTA SHUTDOWN INFORMATION:<br />
Received this in an Americorps Alums e-mail, contact e-mail was minstej@gmail.com and website <a href="http://www.americorpsalums.org/">www.americorpsalums.org </a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Good Evening,<br />
<br />
Tonight we received an update from AmeriCorps Alums on the status of the
impact on AmeriCorps with the continued government shutdown.<br />
<br />
As you know, the Corporation for National and Community Service closed
their offices and website in response to the recent shutdown. There has
been much confusion on what will be affected and what will not be
affected during this shutdown period.<br />
<br />
State and National AmeriCorps members will continue to serve and will
continue to receive their stipends, as normal. FEMA Corps will also
continue to serve and receive their stipends with no change.<br />
<br />
NCCC members who are actively in the field serving will continue to
serve. However, those members who are not actively on assignments will
not be deployed for future assignments during the shutdown, but will
receive appropriate lodging. Although not confirmed, these members will
likely lose their living allowance in the case of a long-term shutdown.<br />
<br />
The nearly 8,000 VISTA members currently serving will still continue to
serve. Match VISTAs (1/3 of all VISTAs) will not be affected and will
still receive their stipends. It was just announced today that the
remaining 2/3 Standard VISTAs will receive 64% of their normal living
stipend <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1394013485" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">this Friday</span></span>. After <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1394013486" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Friday</span></span>,
those VISTAs are still expected to serve, but will not receive any
living allowance until the shutdown is over. VISTAs will receive backpay
for that period.<br />
<br />
What Alum Chapters Can Do<br />
<br />
It has always been truthful and evident that AmeriCorps members and
alums rise up to challenges. It is in our pledge that we carry for our
lifetime that when we are "Faced with Adversity, I will persevere". As a
community of current and past members, it is our duty to come together
in this unique time to help one another. Many chapters across the nation
such as San Antonia, Sacramento, Portland, and Washington DC have
already gathered to show the strength of the AmeriCorps community.<br />
<br />
AmeriCorps Alums has asked out chapter to come together specifically for
those Standard VISTAs currently serving who will still be expected to
serve at their agencies without pay after <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1394013487" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">this Friday</span></span>. Our parent organization has called on us to organize pot lucks and food drives for these VISTA members.<br />
<br />
If you are a current Standard VISTA in need of assistance, please feel
free to contact us directly so we can better help you with your needs.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, your Pittsburgh AmeriCorps Alum executive board will be
meeting to discuss immediate actions we can take to help our fellow
members. Additionally, if you are interested in participating in a pot
luck or food drive, please contact us.<br />
<br />
Thank You,<br />
<br />
Jeremy Martin<br />
Community Service Chair</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351989667658799882.post-59846273277821390082011-03-29T21:45:00.001-07:002012-01-17T15:37:48.492-08:00WE ARE THE UNION!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>e are a general membership union for all Americorps workers</b>, current and alumni. We pledge to defend each other and advocate for the expansion of Americorps funding and job opportunities against any attacks or cuts. In our jobs, we are paid by the federal government through non-profit corporations to serve communities with a diversity of direct assistance including teaching, counseling, labor, community organizing, health, the arts, and administrative support. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We commit ourselves to struggling for workplace democracy, protection of our rights, openness, and yet unrecognized reforms within the Americorps program. It is only by organizing a union among Americorps workers that we can grow our power to participate in the decision-making that affects us and our world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are a project of the Pittsburgh General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World. Check out <a href="http://www.iww.org/">http://www.iww.org/</a> for more information about the Industrial Workers of the World, "One Big Union", a union for all workers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeisBNk9HUbwj_kFRp6phNAnzD5QZ73X0a5o6BMW3TGiHSd6erGUCbeXsDEPiUAtlPs7kqnW7awphWm2KBJM_CmfOUkkna0hoZeM9iTATkxjcUQ43wPH18fxSylOkNsLWF4O4PpuOKos/s1600/AWU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeisBNk9HUbwj_kFRp6phNAnzD5QZ73X0a5o6BMW3TGiHSd6erGUCbeXsDEPiUAtlPs7kqnW7awphWm2KBJM_CmfOUkkna0hoZeM9iTATkxjcUQ43wPH18fxSylOkNsLWF4O4PpuOKos/s320/AWU.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3