Fellow Travelers' Advisory from Anne Feeney - MAY 2007, VOLUME THREE, #2

Fellow Travelers' Advisory from Anne Feeney - MAY 2007, VOLUME THREE, #2
IMMEDIATE DESTINATIONS:

May 1st - Haledon, NJ
May 4th - Harrisburg, PA
May 5th - Troy, NY
May 11-13th - Darlington, MD
May 19th - Chicago, IL

ACTIVELY BOOKING CA, OR, WA, BC in June/July!! Find a hole in the tour dates below and invite me to play!!!

Do you live near any of these places? I hope to see you at one of these upcoming shows! check out http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html for continuously updating tour dates.

Do you know anyone who lives near any of these places? PLEASE spread the word. This is a word-of-mouth 'career' I have... I count on you to let folks know I'm performing in their hometowns!

I'm very excited about the Darlington, MD Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival... It's a camping-optional festival located halfway between Baltimore and Philadelphia at the charming Ramblewood Resort. This year's lineup is fantastic!

And if you have friends in Chicago, please send them to the People's Church for my May 19th concert. This is the same wonderful room where we had the 100th anniversary of the IWW concert a few years ago with Utah Phillips, Charlie King, Len Wallace, Mark Ross, Rebel Voices, Citizens' Band, Mark Ross -- what a night!!

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Details, details
MAYDAY, MAYDAY!
SPECIAL MAYDAY CONTEST
SUPPORT CONN-SELMER STRIKERS
GOOD NEWS!
MAY BIRTHDAYS
THE TOUR

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Details, details.....

Your interest in my music and your support makes my so-called career possible. Please forward it widely!

BUY CDs at: http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid

I try very hard to keep my tourdates current and accurate. It's always a good idea to check with the venue, though.

Four Dogs Music is a new UK music site operated by Ethical Wares and featuring great music from all over the world... including mine! If you're across the pond, order from Four Dogs for prompt delivery. Click here to visit Four Dogs Music: http://www.fourdogsmusic.co.uk/_P_544_if-i-cant-dance-anne-feeney/

Most of my music is available for digital download at Itunes and dozens of other digital music outlets.

and....

I'VE MOVED!!

New address:

2240 Milligan Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Same phone: 412.241.7664
Cell Phone: 412.877.6480

Best email: anne@annefeeney.com

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MAYDAY!! MAYDAY!!

(sung to the tune of "Daisy, Daisy")

MAYDAY, MAYDAY that's the real workers' day
Labor's History says, "Don't give our day away!"
It's time that the working class says
"Stick Labor Day up your (somewher appropriate)!"
And ain't it great to celebrate on the glorious first of May!

This Mayday I'll be at the National Labor Museum in Haledon, NJ. The Botto House was generously offered by the Botto family to the strikers during the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913 as a meeting place. You can read a memoir of that strike by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (Joe Hill's "Rebel Girl") here:
http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/njwomenshistory/Period_4/flynn.htm

All over the world today workers will sing "The Internationale" and they will honor the memory of the Haymarket Martyrs. If you don't know the story of Mayday, here's a terrific article I found on Portside, a great digest of labor news. If you like the article, you can subscribe to Portside at http://www.portside.org/subscribe2

THE REAL MAY DAY
By Dick Meister

May Day. A day to herald the coming of Spring with song and dance, a day for children with flowers in their hair to skip around beribboned maypoles, a time to crown May Day queens.

But once it also was a day for demonstrations that were crucial in winning the most important right ever won by working people -- the right demanded above all others
by the labor activists of a century ago:

"Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight
hours for what we will!"

The changing economy has forced many workers in recent years to regularly exceed the eight-hour workday that their predecessors won. But eight hours for work nevertheless remains the standard in the United States and every other industrial nation and at least an aspiration in others.

Winning the eight-hour workday took years of hard struggle, beginning in the mid-1800s. By 1867, the federal government, six states and several cities had passed laws limiting their employees' hours to eight per day. The laws were not effectively enforced and in some cases were overturned by courts, but they set an important precedent that finally led to a powerful popular movement.

The movement was launched in 1886 by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, then one of the country's major labor organizations. The federation called for workers to negotiate with their employers for an eight-hour workday and, if that failed, to strike on May 1 in support of the demand.

Some negotiated, some marched and otherwise demonstrated. More than 300,000 struck. And all won strong support, in dozens of cities -- Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Boston, Milwaukee, St. Louis, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Denver , Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Washington, Newark, Brooklyn, St. Paul and others.

More than 30,000 workers had won the eight-hour day by April. On May Day, another 350,000 workers walked off their jobs at nearly 12,000 establishments, more than 185,000 of them eventually winning their demand. Most of the others won at least some reduction in working hours that had ranged up to 16 a day.

Additionally, many employers cut Saturday operations to a half-day, and the practice of working on Sundays, also relatively common, was all but abandoned by major
industries.

"Hurray for Shorter Time," declared a headline in the New York Sun over a story describing a torchlight procession of 25,000 workers that highlighted the eight-hour-day activities in New York. Never before had the city experienced so large a demonstration.

Not all newspapers were as supportive, however. The strikes and demonstrations, one paper complained, amounted to "communism, lurid and rampant." The eight-hour day, another said, would encourage "loafing and gambling, rioting, debauchery, and drunkenness."

The greatest opposition came in response to the demonstrations led by anarchist and socialist groups in Chicago, the heart of the eight-hour day movement. Four demonstrators were killed and more than 200 wounded by police who waded into their ranks, but what the demonstrators opponents seized on were the events two days later at a protest rally in Haymarket Square. A bomb was thrown into the ranks of the police who had surrounded the square, killing seven and wounding 59.

The bomb thrower was never discovered, but eight labor, socialist and anarchist leaders  branded as violent, dangerous radicals by press and police alike -- were arrested on the clearly trumped up charge that they had conspired to commit murder. Four of them were hanged, one committed suicide while in jail, and three were pardoned six years later by Illinois Gov. John Peter Altgeld.

Employers responded to the so-called Haymarket Riot by mounting a counter-offensive that seriously eroded the eight-hour day movement's gains. But the movement was an extremely effective organizing tool for the country's unions, and in 1890 President Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor was able to call for "an International Labor Day" in favor of the eight-hour workday. Similar proclamations were made by socialist and union leaders in other nations where, to this day, May Day is celebrated as Labor Day.

Workers in the United States and 13 other countries demonstrated on that May Day of 1890 -- including 30,000 of them in Chicago. The New York World hailed it as "Labor's Emancipation Day." It was. For it marked the start of an irreversible drive that finally established the eight-hour day as the standard for millions of working people.

Copyright © 2007 Dick Meister, a San Francisco writer
who has covered labor issues for four decades as a
reporter, editor and commentator. Contact him through
his website, http://www.dickmeister.com.

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SPECIAL MAYDAY CONTEST: NEW FRONTIERS OF CORPORATE PIGDOM

Read the full article at the link below, or the excerpt included here, and then send me your most creative idea for retaliating against this mean-spirited greed machine. Refusing to patronize Circuit City somehow doesn't seem to be punishment enough. The three or five most creative ideas will be published in next month's Fellow Travelers' Advisory, and the person submitting the best idea will win an appropriate prize.



Circuit City Cuts 3,400 'Overpaid' Workers

By Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 29, 2007; Page D01

Circuit City fired 3,400 employees in stores across the country yesterday, saying they were making too much money and would be replaced by new hires willing to work for less.

The company said the dismissals had nothing to do with performance but were part of a larger effort to improve the bottom line. The firings represent about 9 percent of the company's in-store workforce of 40,000.

"Retail is very competitive and store operations just have to contain their costs," said Jim Babb, a Circuit City spokesman. "We deeply regret the negative impact that was had on these folks. It was no fault of theirs."

The company gave the dismissed workers severance pay and told them that after 10 weeks they were free to apply for any openings. Employees reached by a reporter said they were notified yesterday morning and told to leave immediately.

The firings, along with several other moves, are expected to reduce expenses for the electronics retailer by $110 million in fiscal year 2008 and $140 million a year starting in fiscal 2009. Circuit City said sales would be volatile for the next several months as the company adjusts to the changes.

"It's definitely going to have some cost-savings, but I think the bigger impact could be seen in weaker, poor service," said Timothy Allen, an analyst with Jefferies & Co. "I have a feeling the people they're letting go have probably been there longer, have more experience, more product knowledge."

Steven Rash, 24, said he was one of 11 workers fired at a Circuit City in Asheville, N.C. The store manager broke the news during a meeting at 8:15 a.m. and escorted them out of the store. Rash said he has worked for the retailer for seven years and was one of the most junior members of the affected group.

He said he earned $11.59 an hour and worked from 15 to 20 hours a week. He received four weeks of severance pay. Though he has a full-time job at Bank of America, he said he needs to find part-time work to help pay his student loans.

"It's not just a part-time job," he said. "It's about paying the bills."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for retail salespeople was $11.14 in May 2005, the latest data available.

Circuit City chief executive Philip J. Schoonover received a salary of $716,346, along with a $704,700 bonus last year. He also has long-term compensation of $3 million in stock awards and $340,000 in underlying options, according to company filings.

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HELP CONN-SELMER STRIKERS

My visit to Champaign/Urbana was a total blast... thanks to the very hard work and creative ideas of Dave Johnson and the music of the amazing "Orn'ry Duffers" - the kickass backup band assembled by the wonderful Paul Kotheimer ... It was so much fun to perform with a band!!!

But the most touching moment of the day was when Deneen Sigler of the striking Conn-Selmer workers took the stage.

230 union musician instrument makers at the Conn-Selmer Vincent Bach plant in Elkhart, Indiana have been on strike since April of 2006. This is the longest ongoing strike in the United States. The company which owns this plant, Steinway Musical Inc was taken over by Dana Messina and other speculators who got their "training" under stock manipulator Michael Milken. They have sought to destroy the health care and pension rights of the workers and drive out those workers who were over 50 years of age. In an effort to break the strike, 120 scabs have been brought into the plant and management has obtained injunctions severely limiting picketing by striking workers.

Send your donations to:

Food 4 Strikers
58558 Ardmore Dr.
Elkhart, IN 46517

An injury to one is still an injury to all!

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GOOD NEWS!



A year after their fabulous victory with Taco Bell, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers managed to sign McDonald's on to the Fair Food Campaign. McDonald's will pay an extra penny a pound to the workers who pick their tomatoes, and will be involved in a campaign to improve living and working conditions for tomato pickers. YES!!!

Now, on to BURGER KING!!

more good news...

Chez Panisse among restaurants leading bottled water backlash


BERKELEY, Calif. Bye-bye bottled water. Hello tap.
Chez Panisse (shay puh-'NEES) in Berkeley is among several upscale Bay Area restaurants that are ditching bottled water in the name of conservation.The bottled water backlash is being spurred by environmental concerns over the energy used in transportation as well as the disposal of all those containers.Chez Panisse stopped serving bottled non-sparkling water last year and expects to stop serving bottled carbonated water in a few weeks.

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MAY BIRTHDAYS

May 2 (I think) - High School Sweetheart Bill Deegan
May 3 - Pete Seeger and my sister Kathleen
May 13 - cousin Kevin McCahill
May 15 - Utah Phillips
May 23 - cousin Terry Donovan

and on May 6, my cousin Bill Feeney celebrates 35 years as a Catholic priest!

and coming up on June 4th, my Aunt Claire's 88th birthday! Send her a card:

Claire O'Connor
325 Magnolia Lake Court
Aiken, SC 29803

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The Tour:

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 7:00 PM
Mayday!!! Botto House American Labor Museum
83 Norwood St
Haledon, NJ

Friday, May 4th, 2007 8:00 PM
PA ACLU Statewide Convention
Radisson Hotel
Camp Hill, PA


Saturday, May 5th, 2007 8:00 PM
The Eighth Step@The Sanctuary presents:
A Capital District May Day 2007 Concert
with Anne Feeney and Evan Greer
Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Ave
Troy, NY
(518) 434-1703
Price: $15


Friday, May 11th-13th
Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival
Ramblewood Resort
2564 Silver Road
Darlington, MD 21035



Saturday, May 19th, 2007 8:00 PM
Benefit Concert for People's Church
People's Church
941 W. Lawrence St
Chicago, IL
773-784-6633
Price: $10-20 suggested
and bring a tax-deductible check to support People's Church - your voice for social justice in Chicago!

Sunday, May 20th, 2007 10:00 AM
Music to Inspire Agitators
People's Church
941 W. Lawrence St
Chicago, IL
773-784-6633
for more information -
inmusunka@sbcglobal.net


May 24th-June 5th
At the Kerrville Folk Festival
Kerrville, TX
this camping festival lasts 18 days. It's mecca for songwriters and a great reunion for us road warriors and veterans of this 36 year old festival.


June 18th-20th
30th Anniversary of UAW Local 2320 - The National Organization of Legal Services Workers
Circus Circus
Las Vegas, NV

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 7:30 PM
Music for Troublemakers
Presented by Longevity John
details tba
Duncan, BC - Canada
longevityjohn@shaw.ca is the contact

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 7:30 PM
House Concert
Ken Orchard and Sharon Hazelwood's
Victoria, BC - Canada
Price: $10-20 suggested
wy234@victoria.tc.ca for more info

Thursday, June 28th, 2007 8:00 PM
Anne Feeney in concert!
Sirens - Water St
Port Townsend, WA
Price: your generous tips!

Friday, June 29th, 2007 8:00 PM
Anne Feeney in concert!
tba - Bellingham, WA
Betsy Pernotto is organizing this show

Sunday, July 1st, 2007 9:00 AM
2007 Summer School for Union Women and Community Activists
The Evergreen State College Labor Center
2700 Evergreen Parkway
Olympia, WA 98505
360-867-6055

This conference begins on June 27th and it's a great opportunity for women activists, union members and community leaders...


Sunday, July 1st, 2007 8:00 PM
Adam & Kris and I do the big Canada Day + Anne's Birthday Show at
Sam Bond's Garage
407 BLAIR BLVD
Eugene, OR

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 9:00 PM
with Adam and Kris!!!
Alberta Street Pub
Portland, OR
more details soon

Friday, July 6th, 2007 8:00 PM
Music for Troublemakers
Cafe Mundo
NW Coast and 2nd St
Newport, OR
541-265-9747
more details soon


Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 8:00 PM
House Concert!
Ken and Janet Bates' place
Bandon, OR

Thursday, July 12th, 2007 7:00 PM
Anne Feeney "Sing for Justice" Library Concert
The LibraryBromley Room-Siuslaw Public Library
1460 9th St
Florence, OR 97439
997-3132 (Library)
Price: $donation for justice

July 13th-15th
Oregon Country Fair
Veneta, OR


Friday, July 20th, 2007 8:00 PM
Women United for Action - 26th Annual Western Summer Institute for Union Women
UC Clark Kerr Conference Center
2601 Warring St
Berkeley, CA

Contact: Karen Navarro
Phone: (510) 643-0910
Email: navarrok@berkeley.edu


Saturday, July 21st, 2007 3:00 PM
House Concert
tba
Watsonville, CA
Price: $10-20 suggested
Amy Newell is coordinating

Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 10:15 AM
Live on "Please Stand By"
KPIG-FM - streaming live at the URL listed below


Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 8:00 PM
Anne Feeney with special guest Jon Fromer!
La Pena Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-849-2568
Price: $10