Tag: Eastern Maine Labor Council

RadioActive 11/20/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Solidarity Harvest and comments on Faripoint Strike and Bucksport Mill Closure

Key Discussion Points:
a) This Thanksgiving marks the 12th annual Solidarity Harvest, a food distribution effort organized Food AND Medicine and the Eastern Maine Labor Council, in concert with union members, local farmers, laid off workers, the underemployed and other area organizations.
b) Solidarity Harvest distributes food for Thanksgiving time for laid off workers and others struggling in Maine, but it is also specifically designed to be a model of solidarity, rather then charity, an example of an organized community response to an often unjust economic system.
c) Jack Mckay also comments on the issues surrounding the Fairpoint workers strike and the closure of the Bucksport paper mill.

Guest: Jack McKay, director of Food AND Medicine and president of Eastern Maine Labor Council. www.foodandmedicine.org

RadioActive 7/4/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Action in Fairfield blocking railway carrying fracked oil from North Dakota to New Brunswick; The proposed cancellation of a bus route in Bangor; Food and Medicine and Eastern Maine Labor Council’s annual 4th of July event

Key Discussion Points:
a) We hear a report on last week’s action in Fairfield, where activists blocked a train carrying fracked oil from the Bakken shale fields in North Dakota to an Irving refinery in St. John, New Brunswick.
b) We also discuss campaigns they are working on, including the city of Bangor’s plans to cancel their Odlin Road bus route, which would deeply effect a number of people without other transportation options. FAM also discusses their involvement in a national campaign to improve the quality and availability of in-home care and better conditions for home care workers.
c) We speak with members of the Brewer based organization Food and Medicine and the eastern Maine labor Council about their annual 4th of July event.

Guests:

A) Bob Toole, president of Food and Medicine. Member of Eastern Maine Labor Council
B) Ethan Drutchas, intern with Food and Medicine.
C) Jack McKay, president of Eastern Maine Labor Council, organizer with Food and Medicine
D) Read Brugger, 350 Maine, arrested in train blockade civil disobedience
http://www.350maine.org/
E) Sass Linnekan, resident of Benton, arrested in train blockade civil disobedience