June 11, 2003
Dear Friend,
We are writing to share the amazing achievement of fourteen workers
who rose from extreme hardship to complete a daring seven-day,
around-the-clock hunger strike, and to ask your support for the
It's About TIME! Campaign.
With their health already frail from years of injury, the hunger
strikers were uncertain that they could last seven days sleeping
in the cold rain without eating, but after suffering years of
humiliation and poverty caused by Governor Pataki's brutal administration,
these injured workers were determined. On the seventh day, nine
remaining hunger strikers stood together to salute their five
colleagues that were hospitalized or ended the hunger strike for
medical or family emergencies. Their energy and resilience amazed
all who came to provide overnight security, bring water, attend
rallies and candlelight vigils, and sing songs of protest.
The hunger strike openly challenged Governor Pataki's insidious
policies that punish injured workers by forcing them to wait as
long as 11 years, as in the case of one hunger striker, for benefits
and medical treatment while workers' compensation insurance profits
climb to their highest levels. It demanded answers for low-income
people facing escalating health problems resulting from the September
11th catastrophe who are being forced to choose between paying
for treatment and medicine or paying for food and rent.
In this climate of uncertainty - when many workers are forced
to endure longer hours on the job, increased health risks, wage
and benefits cuts, and mass unemployment - the hunger strike inspired
thousands, from immigrant workers to midtown office workers, to
fight vigorously for their rights, health and lives. The strike
reached into communities of faith, activating religious institutions
and churches, and it sensitized elected officials on the local,
state and federal levels. Despite the blackout among some mainstream
media, the message of the hunger strike prevailed. It spread to
many diverse communities through television and ethnic media,
which covered the strike several times during that week. New York
Newsday's coverage also reached a large group of readers across
the New York State.
And for that entire week, Pataki did not dare to show his face.
Instead, just days after the strike ended, Governor Pataki - in
his typically under-handed manner - attempted to discredit injured
workers by using the media to focus attention on the arrests of
a few injured workers for workers' compensation "fraud."
This only fueled people's anger even more and let the public witness
Pataki's contempt for the poor and disabled, especially immigrants
and people of color.
"Governor Pataki thinks that insurance company money will
propel him to the White House. But we injured workers drew a line
on the street of New York City outside his office to fight to
defend our health and our lives. Our challenge now is to work
together to organize our communities, build new alliances and
strengthen old ones, so that a person with Pataki's disdain for
the poor can not have a political future."-Maria Reyes, hunger
striker
The seventh day of the hunger strike was not an ending but rather
the beginning of a massive community education and outreach effort.
We urge you to join us as we launch this effort across the country
and throughout New York State, to every city and neighborhood
so that all of us and our families have a fighting chance at a
healthy life.
Sincerely,
Shahensha Begum
(Workers' Awaaz)
Wing Lam
(Chinese Staff & Workers Association)
JoAnn Lum
(NMASS)
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