Winter 2021 Highlights
With the power of your solidarity, Brandworkers is full of hope for the struggle ahead in 2021. Your support has strengthened the organization of food factory workers building a worker-led union in the local food production industry. Here are some highlights from the past few months:
- New organizing in factories in NYC and NJ. In the last few months, we have increased the number of food factory workers we’re in contact with, allowing us to initiate organizing campaigns in NYC and NJ. As the organizing gathers momentum, stay tuned for opportunities to show up in solidarity.
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Holding Peter Sonenstein, General Manager of Tom Cat Bakery accountable online and in his community. Allies are showing up week after week in El Hormiguero meetings and beyond to plan and take actions in solidarity with Tom Cat Bakery workers’ demands for accountability. You can support by tweeting your message to Sonenstein and joining one of our upcoming Wednesday night El Hormiguero meetings on Zoom.
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Participating in a coalition of 100+ orgs fighting for funding for 1.2+ million workers excluded from emergency income in New York during the pandemic. Sign up to support the hunger strike that launches on March 15th.
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Expanding worker leadership of Brandworkers by welcoming Tino to the board. A longtime NYC-based baker and former Tom Cat Bakery worker, Tino has been organizing with Brandworkers since 2017. “I thank God for allies and for Brandworkers. And we continue in the struggle together forever.”
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Brought together more than 400 food factory workers and allies for Brandworkers Awards Gala honoring the Children of Smithfield, Rebecca Dixon of NELP, and featuring Patricia Campos-Medina as host and Phela Townsend as special guest speaker. Together we raised over $137,000 for food factory worker organizing.
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Co-hosted an online book talk with the Murphy Institute – CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies discussing Black-led Antiracist Unionism: The Legacy of Ben Fletcher & I.W.W.
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Welcomed River Wasserman as an intern with Brandworkers this spring! River is participating in a unique semester-long program at the Murphy Institute that combines academic study with first-hand experience within the labor movement.
ICYMI: Brandworker is in transition! Join us in welcoming Brandworkers Program Director Gabriel Morales as Interim Executive Director. If you’re able, make a special contribution for Brandworkers to have the expert support and space for an outstanding handoff to the first executive director after the founder: