Hi, I approve sending this message to the action list. We need one more approval for the message to be sent...the first hearing is March 23, so send your approval ASAP. Thanks, Erika Protect the Rights of Workers to Organize in SF! Big companies who recieve franchise grants from the city to provide a utility or public airwaves service don't always respect the rights of their workers to organize. Help give workers a fighting chance in San Francisco by supporting Supervisor Mirkarimi's legislation to protect employees of franchise grantees. This legislation declares that San Francisco expects the rights of workers to respected. The legislation makes sure that companies can't discriminate against a worker who chooses to join a union. It also protects workers who are employed by contractors and subcontractors. Our workers need our support. Take action to protect their freedom of association now. What You Can Do! Attend the Rules Committee Hearing at City Hall on March 23th (room 263 at 10am) and tell the Board you support protecting employee rights, especially the right to organize. Also, please show your support for this important legislation by thanking the Supervisors who have co-signed the legislation: Daly, Ammiano, McGoldrick, Peskin, Dufty, Ma, Maxwell and Sandoval. Then call and email the Mayor and the other members of the Board and urge them to support this bill too. Mayor Newsom - (415) 554-6141, gavin.newsom@sfgov.org Pres. Aaron Peskin - (415) 554-7450, Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org Sup. Michela Alioto-Pier - (415) 554-7752, Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org Sup. Tom Ammiano - (415) 554-5144, Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org Sup. Chris Daly - (415) 554-7970, Chris.Daly@sfgov.org Sup. Bevan Dufty - (415) 554-6968, Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org Sup. Sean Elsbernd - (415) 554-6516, Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org Sup. Fiona Ma - (415) 554-7460, Fiona.Ma@sfgov.org Sup. Sophie Maxwell - (415) 554-7670, Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org Sup. Jake McGoldrick - (415) 554-7410, Jake.McGoldrick@sfgov.org Sup. Gerardo Sandoval - (415) 554-6975, Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org Don't know which is your supervisor? Here's a map: http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp?id=4385 ### Expand the First Source Hiring Program The city currently has a 1st Source Hiring Program that is supposed to connect low-income and historically disadvantaged peoples with job opportunities. Companies list job openings for entry level positions with the program and the program distributes this information to public assistance programs, community organizations and other centers that serve the disadvantaged. Low-income people then have an advantage of applying for the jobs early. Unfortunately this program has not be given the resources to be effective. Support Supervisor Mirkarimi's legislation to improve the program and bring more jobs to the poor. Supervisor Mirkarimi's legislation will do the following: 1.Expand the types of jobs available to low-income and disadvantaged people to go beyond construction into other industries with more growth in SF. 2.Ensure that the program gets enough resources to be successful via fines that will be strictly enforced on companies that don?t comply with offering jobs to low-income and disadvantaged people first. 3.Reduce poverty in SF by increasing creating more avenues for low-income people to get access to jobs with the opportunity for advancement. Take Action! Attend the Budget and Finance Committee Hearing at City Hall on March 29th (inside the Board chambers at 1pm) and tell the Board you support expanding the First Source Hiring program. Also, please show your support for this important legislation by calling and emailing the Mayor, your Supervisor, and the other members of the Board. Ross Mirkarimi - (415) 554-7630, Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org ###