In This Issue    Young Democratic Socialists Update: June 26, 2007
Socialist Summer School
 
 
  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Forget the Three R's, It's Time for the Three S's
YDS Socialist Summer School is Almost Here!
 
The Socialist Summer School is only weeks away!  Join YDS activists and allies from around the country for an intimate gathering this August 11th and 12th in New York City.  You will gain valuable insight with our workshops on the democratic socialist perspective regarding capitalism, feminism, fighting racism and heterosexism.  Workshops will also offer tools for becoming better activists on our campuses and communities.  The smaller setting will make it easier for us to get to know one another and make our voices heard.
 
At the Socialist Summer School YDS activists elect our new Coordinating Committee (CC) and vote on the 2007-8 Activist Agenda.  Click here to learn more about the responsibilities of the CC.  Click to see last year?s Activist Agenda: The National Immigrant Rights Project. 
 
A campaign against student debt has been submitted for the Activist Agenda.  Lucas Shapiro, a YDS CC member, was featured in a Campus Progress article on the burden of student debt and the need for student unions and a widespread and unified movement for student rights.  You can view it on our blog, The Activist, here.
 
For questions about the Summer School, Coordinating Committee, and Activist Agenda please email yds@dsausa.org.
 
The United States Social Forum is Now!
Check Out These Democratic Socialist Activities in Atlanta
 
The United States Social Forum is here!  The Young Democratic Socialists is excited to join thousands of other activists in the first ever Social Forum held in the American South.  Among a ton of great events, workshops, concerts, and more, we have two activities you don't want to miss.  See below and contact YDS organizer David Duhalde at david@dsausa.org for more information. 
  • "As Radical As Reality": Pragmatic Politics and the Student Left
YDS members Edward Elam, Emahunn Campbell, and Mary Smith (YDS Feminist-Issues Coordinator) will discuss organizing in the South, making radical politics effective, and building a democratic socialist voice among youth.
 
When: Thursday June 28th at 1PM
 
Where: Progressive Sunshine Room at Trinity United Methodist Church
 
How to Get There: 265 Washington Street (Corner of Trinity & Washington) North-South line - Garnett Street station.  Exit the station to Broad Street.  The first cross street you come to is Trinity Avenue.  Take a right and walk about 3 blocks to Washington Street.  The Church is on your right.
  • National Youth and Student Peace Coalition Social and Happy Hour
When: Thursday 6:30 to 8:30 PM
 
Where: East Atlanta Graveyard Tavern (1245 Glenwood Ave SE)
 
Call 404-622-8686 for directions to the tavern.
 
YDS is meeting at the Civic Center at 6 PM to take cabs to the restaurant.
 
Farm Worker Rights: The Struggle Continues!
Coalition of the Immokalee Workers Takes on Burger King
  
The Young Democratic Socialists have constantly stood in solidarity with the farm workers in their struggle for justice and fairness.  The suffering of farm hands is rooted in the capitalist system: a system that is a cause not only of labor exploitation, but also exacerbates the racism and sexism directed at immigrant workers.  While YDS believes that workplace (and most) injustices can not end until capitalism is abolished, we also believe that all immediate gains for social justice under our current system are the foundation for a better future.  
 

In recent times, we have worked with the Coalition of the Immokalee Workers (a primarily migrant collective) in their fight for fair food and farm worker rights.  With the solidarity of student activists, CIW has successfully won improvements from industry leaders such as Taco Bell and McDonalds, and has now turned their focus to Burger King.  We encourage you to support the CIW call for Burger King to raise the wages for the tomato pickers a mere one penny per pound picked.  You can send Burger King?s executives a message here.

  
Freedom at the Workplace?
New Book Challenges the Notion of "Free" American Workers
 
Are workers in the United States free? In her book, "Freedom in the Workplace?," Democratic Socialists of America (YDS?s parent organization) member Gertrude Ezorsky shows the severe limits imposed on their freedom by illegal coercion against organizing unions, by low wage offers to workers - barely enough to feed their families - which they are forced to accept and by exhausting jobs that sick, older workers must keep for pension eligibility. She shows that the notion of freedom held by contemporary social scientists and philosophers do not account for the reality of the workplace where lack of freedom abounds. Students preparing for the workplace will learn about that reality by reading "Freedom in the Workplace?"  
 
Ensuring freedom at the workplace is of special importance to the struggle of socialists.  Without such rights as the freedom of association, speech, and from discrimination at our workplaces our society can not truly be considered economically or politically free and democratic.  Reading this book will give activists an important foundation into why the Young Democratic Socialists worked for the Employee Free Choice Act this year.  That legislation, if passed, will make it easier for workers to democratically form unions and punish employers who unfairly try to break organizing drives.  This bill is a step in the right direction for establishing guaranteed freedom at American workplaces.
 
To purchase ?Freedom in the Workplace?? click here.
 
 
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