MonsterPalooza Concert and Car Caravan a Success!

“BOYCOTT MONSTER CABLE!”

On Sat. May 5^th, nearly 80 workers, community supporters and musicians marched up and down Burlingame Ave. The protesters chanted to the swinging rhythms of a brass band (The Brass Liberation Orchestra), offered curious onlookers “WANTED: The Head Monster” flyers and attracted lots of attention. Joining laid-off workers in their march were members of local labor unions and community groups, including UFCW Rise Up, Unite HERE!, the Teacher’s Union, the American Federation of Musicians Local 6, the ANSWER coalition, and many others.

The march ended in front of the Apple store for “MonsterPalooza” concert and rally, featuring Folk This! and Seth Newton as musical performers, as well as words from Monster Cable worker Yijun Huang, San Mateo Labor Council Executive Director Shelley Kessler, San Francisco Day Laborer Program Womens’ Collective leader María Fernandez, and Bob Twomey, District Director for State Assemblymember Fiona Ma.

Protestors then boarded cars decorated with bright red “Boycott Monster Cable!” slogans and caravanned around downtown Burlingame and finally to the Head Monster’s mansion in Hillsborough, where they marched and held a final brief rally accompanied again by the Brass Liberation Orchestra.

Workers denounced the company for failing to fairly resolve their demands despite the wealth they have generated for the company, for refusing to meet with the team of elected worker representatives, and for stonewalling on resolving this 6 months old issue.

For some great pictures by the amazing David Huang ("Poetic Dream"), check out:

http://www.poeticdream.com/gallery.php?gid=462