Monday, January 3, 2011

Check it out - issue #3 of our newsletter

News, views, tirades and a fun crossword from the point of view of America's congested avenues and smelly loading docks. Important material for couriers who are fed up *and* ready for change. Finally something stimulating to pass the time waiting for that freight elevator!

Get in touch to get a copy or a bundle for your area.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy new year, etc

This is an online placeholder for us. Messengersunion.org is in the works. Check out what we're up to in the meantime here. And contact us if you're interested in it.

What We Want

Courier Industry Aims & Demands

A Living Wage: Fight poverty with adequate pay and fair commissions. No messenger should ever be paid less than 50% of each tag. No messenger should be paid less than $12/hour, or the living wage for their area (higher in New York City, San Francisco, etc). All messengers should be fairly compensated for oversize and overweight parcels and waiting time.
Health & Wellness Benefits: Affordable employer-provided benefits and workers compensation. Paid sick days and bonuses for extreme weather days. Retirement opportunities and pensions for all throughout the industry.
Fair Hiring Practices: An end to nepotism and discriminatory hiring and firing. No more over-hiring that keeps pay low.
Transparency: Hold companies accountable for customer rates and your pay. Full commission reports for work performed, and access to records of customer rates.
NO to NICA (National Independent Contractor Association): End all pay-to-work scams that misclassify workers as Independent Contractors and force them to pay for their own employment, while taking away our rights and failing to provide quality benefits. Organize workers classified as ICs alongside workers classified as employees.
Grievance Procedures: Efficient and accessible processes for resolving workplace grievances, involving the grieved in the process every step of the way.
Dignity and Respect on the Job: Dignified and respectful treatment from bosses, dispatchers, clients, and security guards. We demand the right to refuse service to rude or threatening clients and building security.
Union Democracy: We are strongest when leadership stays on the job. Our organization will foster the attitude that 'we are all leaders', as each and every member is a vital component of a healthy whole. We will achieve all of the above and more as an organized, self-reliant and empowered courier community.
Absolute Solidarity: Stand together with messengers in the industry everywhere regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation or immigrant status. Honor all picket lines in any industry with our proactive support. We will strive always to live by our motto: 'An injury to one is an injury to all'.

messengersunion

Saturday, January 29, 2011

London organizes, imparts lessons

The Despatch Industry Workers Union, 1989-1992

Monday, January 24, 2011

messengersunion.org

Monday, January 3, 2011

Check it out - issue #3 of our newsletter

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy new year, etc

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