Tag: unions

Maine Currents 9/9/15

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

The Eastern Maine Labor Council and Food AND Medicine hosted their annual Labor Day Celebration at the Solidarity Center in Brewer Monday. This year’s theme was “When We Unite, We Win!”. In keeping with that theme, representatives from area unions talked about the successes they say have been brought about in recent months when workers acted in solidarity. Former Maine Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson was the emcee:

(NOTE: This is a special 30 minute edition of Maine Currents which was aired only via our internet stream while our transmitter was off-air for tower repairs. We’ll return to our regular hour-long format next week)

RadioActive 2/27/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: U Main Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement; Public Hearing on Metallic Mining Bill; Work to Connect Local Farms to Unions and Low Income Mainers

Key Discussion Points:
a) Today we hear some of the testimony given before legislative committee on a bill aimed at opening the state for metallic mining. Water quality, cleanup, and the democratic process were all brought into question at Monday’s hearing.
b) We also look at work to support local farmers and connect them with union members and low income Mainers.
c) But first, we speak with a member of Divest UMaine. This afternoon students met with the University of Maine’s Investment Committee on the impacts the institution could have, if the divested from the fossil fuel industry.

Guests:
A) Iris SanGiovanni, Divest UMaine
B) Senator Chris Johnson, Maine Legislature
C)Chief Brenda Commander, Houlton Band of the Maliseets
D)Rep. Ralph Chapman, Maine Legislature
E) Erin Sweeney, agricultural organizer, Food and Medicine, www.foodandmedicine.org

WERU Community SoapBox 4/10/12

Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Joel Mann

Issue: Open-mic style call-in show

Key Discussion Points:
Bipartisan politics, political participation, upcoming events, drones, Mirza Shahzah Akbar denied visa, Juniper Ridge/Old Town landfill, Casella, chicken jerky treats for dogs- danger, CSAs, local food, unions, Governor LePage

Guests: n/a

Call In Program: Yes

RadioActive 6/9/11

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Today we look at Maine’s high ozone alert with a DEP meteorologist and talk with a member of the Union for Concerned Scientists on the connection to climate change.
Then we speak with a member of the Laborers union about and upcoming “Maine Worker’s Forum on Jobs”, featuring a presentation of the Living Labor Mural.
Guests:
-Maine DEP meteorologist Martha Webster.www.mainedep.com (click “Maine Air Quality Forecasts”) or toll free hotline (800) 223-1196
– Union of Concerned public health expert and co author of report “ Climate Change and Your Health : Rising Temperatures, Worsening Ozone Pollution”
Report at: www.ucsusa.org/climateandozonepollution
-Chris Tucker (Laborers 327) and Eastern Maine Labor Council
For registration and information on the “Maine Worker’s Forum on Jobs” : www.foodandmedicine.org

Bangor Area Commons 5/5/11

Producer/Host: Meaghan LaSala
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Topics: First, a brief interview with Charlene Francis about the Penobscot Nation’s hosting of the Mother Earth Water Walk that will pass through the Bangor area on Sunday 5/8 on its way from Machias to Bad River, Wisconsin. Then, a conversation about the recent contract agreement between Eastern Maine Medical Center and unionized nurses.

Guests:
Charlene Francis, of the Penobscot Nation organizing events for the Mother Earth Water Walk.
Coralee Giles, President of the Maine State Nurses Association
Jessie Mellott, Eastern Maine Medical Center nurse, Med/Surg floor
Jack McKay, Director of Food and Medicine, Worker Rights Board of Eastern Maine

WERU News Report 3/23/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributor: Marge May

**NOTE: There are a few seconds of hissing sound at the beginning of this audio file before the show starts.**

Segment 1: Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance of 2011

These ordinances have now been passed in Penobscot and Sedgwick, and been defeated in Brooksville voters by a margin of just 9 votes. The town of Blue Hill will be voting on the issue on April 2nd. For some background on the movement, WERU’s Marge May spoke with a local farmer Heather Retberg, owner of Quill’s End Farm in Penobscot. (Note: This interview originally aired on WERU’s “Women’s Windows”)

Segment 2: Local News Headlines
As hundreds of workers rallied in support of unions in Augusta yesterday, Governor LePage has ordered that a mural depicting labor history in Maine, be removed from the lobby of the Department of Labor. He has also ordered that conference rooms bearing the names of heroes of the labor movement be renamed…
At a statehouse news conference earlier today, sportsmen, lake advocates, and experts on wildlife, water quality and fisheries decried legislative attacks on Maine’s natural heritage (LDs 1, 156, 159, 219, 341, 434, 872, 888, 1022 and 1031)…
A group of small business owners and the Maine Small Business Coalition, held a press conference in Portland yesterday, ahead of the Maine Bureau of Insurance’s public hearing on Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s proposed rate increase on individual health insurance plans…
Animal Welfare Advocates to plan to Lobby State Legislators at the Capitol Tomorrow…

Segment 3: LePage TV
Governor LePage– well known for avoiding talking to media or attending debates when he was on the campaign trail, now has his own TV show. “Inside the Blaine House”, which premiered this week, is hosted by Chamber of Commerce employees and stars the Governor himself… (Time Warner Cable TV and www.MaineVOD.com)

WERU News Report 3/15/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributors: Meaghan LaSala, Carolyn Coe

Segment 1:
Produced by Meaghan LaSala
Meaghan LaSala joins Florida’s Immokalee farm workers at a recent protest

Segment 2:
Reported by Carolyn Coe with assistance from Lindsey Saunders
Topic: sick and injured coal mine workers in Colombia–their struggle for worker protections and union rights
What are the risks these unionists face in the workplace and as trade unionists? How have sick and injured workers organized?
Interviews in Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia
Estivenison Avila, press secretary for the ElPaso local of Sintramienergetica
Eliecer Rojas, vice president of ASOTRED, an association for sick and injured workers in Drummond
Joaquin Villadiego, president of ASOTRED

Related web sites:
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
http://www.business-humanrights.org

Drummond Company
www.drummondco.com

Voices 10/26/10

Executive Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producers: Meaghan LaSala, Larry Dansiger

Segment 1: Local Workers Groups Hold Campaign Rally Opposing Gubernatorial Candidates Eliot Cutler and Paul LePage. Recorded by Meaghan LaSala
Segment 2: “Why Vote?”, an episode of the short-feature “Outside the Box”, produced by Larry Dansinger.