Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where we just released a moving piece about the death of Haitian immigrant Daphy Michel titled “After Death of Haitian Immigrant Daphy Michel, Pittsburgh Activists Build Community.”
Also, watch our interview with Haitian poet Sony Ton-Aime, who read a moving poem at her funeral. May her memory always be a blessing in the fight for justice.
Buffalo Immigrant’s Death Ruled a Homicide
The case of Daphy Michel, who died shortly after she was released from ICE custody far from her home, mirrors the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam. In February, Sham Alam, who is blind and didn’t speak English, was found dead after being released by the Border Patrol in the freezing cold, more than 5 miles away from his home.
Today, the Erie County Health Department ruled that Shah Alam’s death was a homicide. At a news conference, Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Brustein explained at a press conference why the death was ruled a homicide. From NBC News:
The Erie County health commissioner, Dr. Gale Burstein, said Wednesday that Shah Alam had a “stress ulcer” that burst open.
“If that is not repaired in a short period of time, it can cause death, which is what we have, we felt we’ve seen in this instance,” she said, later adding, “It’s a medical emergency.”
She said that Shah Alam experienced “severe stress” and that “stress was felt to be hypothermia, being in very cold temperatures, and dehydration, so no access to liquids.”
Burstein said homicide as a manner of death “refers to death resulting from volitional or through a choice or decision or an act of another, and so this includes negligent acts or omissions or inaction.”
Help Cover May Day Strike for Immigrant Rights
With immigrants being attacked around the country, many are standing up and fighting back. This May Day, immigrants and union activists across the country are going out on the May Day General Strike. (Read our story “‘No Kings’ Organizers & Indivisible Pivot to May Day General Strike”)
Corporate media is ignoring the growing May Day Strong strike movement, so it's crucial that a worker-funded outlet like Payday Report change the narrative.
During the pandemic, The Washington Post credited Payday Report with being the first news organization to systematically track the strike wave.
Mike Elk
Writers Guild Cut Off Healthcare for Their Own Striking Workers
In 2023, a strike by the Writers Guild kicked off a series of Hollywood union drives. The strikes inspired a wave of organizing that saw more than 22,000 workers unionize in a little more than 2 years.
For the past seven weeks staff at the Writers Guild have been on strike demanding that the union’s leadership sign a first union contract with their own staff union. Yesterday, the Writers Guild played hardball. cutting off health insurance to their own striking workers.
The staff union said they were shocked by the move since they weren’t informed of it first.
“I just find this very crazy that we weren’t notified of this,” Writers Guild Staff Union Co-Chair Missy Brown told the Hollywood Reporter. ”I’m sure there was something that could have been worked out to retain our healthcare.”
For more, check out the Hollywood Reporter.
70,000 LA Union Members Prepare to Strike
In Los Angeles, over 70,000 union members, of United Teachers of LA and SEIU 99, are preparing to go on strike on April 14th. Union members say they are frustrated by the lack of progress at the bargaining table.
"A strike is the last resort, but after two years of LAUSD stalling, our members are ready, and I know they're ready, and I know teachers are ready, and I know principals are ready this time as well," SEIU Local 99 Union President Max Arias told KABC.
Republican Indiana Governor Joins BP Picket Line
For two weeks, nearly 1,000 BP workers have been locked out in Indiana, which workers there say is illegal.
In a sign of the popularity of unions, Republican Indiana Governor Mike Braun has joined workers on the picket line.
"I was glad to come out and support the effort," Braun told CBS Chicago. "I built my own business in a little manufacturing town in the southern part of the state. It was a very simple formula. Put all your sweat equity back into it, you get good people to come along with you, you pay good wages, good benefits, you've got people coming to work for you."
For more, check out CBS Chicago.
General Strike in Palestine
Finally, Palestinian trade unionists in Bethlehem are on strike following the Israeli parliament approving a bill giving the death penalty to Palestinian prisoners.
“This criminal law will not break the will of our people or the determination of our prisoners, but will instead strengthen our resolve to continue the struggle for their freedom and legitimate rights,” said the Fatah political movement in a statement.
For more, check out the Middle East Eye.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- 5,000 Penn State faculty to begin voting on unionizing
- Wells Fargo pushing major decertification campaign
- 4,000 Colorado JBS workers plan to strike for third week
- As nuclear reactors proliferate, Trump Is scaling back rules that protect workers
- Running for Congress at 30,000 feet: a flight attendant’s campaign trail
- Finally, terminating protections for Haitians could deal a blow to elder care in Florida
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, comments, and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
Mike Elk
