WORLD PREMIERE of "Boycott Monster Cable!" the MOVIE

Yes, it's finally here.
And if you've been at our actions--you may be in the movie!

Click here to see the 5-min video on YouTube NOW

(url is) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYM87ZEnvDM

Thanks to our volunteer Kennedy Helm for his many hours spent producing this movie for the workers. Feel free to post, link, and email out the link!

A Black Friday for Head Monster

On Friday the 13^th, laid-off workers and community leaders declared a “Black Friday for the Head Monster”. They denounced Monster Cable CEO’s latest moves to further prolong this “nightmare” conflict with workers. Joining them were San Francisco Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, local musician Jack Chernos, Pilar Schiavo from the San Francisco Central Labor Council, Chinatown Community Development Center, and UFCW Rise Up!, and. Workers also premiered the “Boycott Monster Cable!” video which will be released to the general public over the weekend (check this blog again on Monday!)

This week, Monster Cable CEO Noel Lee canceled a meeting with worker representatives and State Senator Leland Yee which had been scheduled for Tues, April 10, at 8:30 pm. Workers and community leaders alike blasted the CEO for this “ultimate act of disrespect to the workers who gave their lives to your company,” (Pilar Schiavo, SFCLC).

“This is the second time he agreed to meet with workers and then backed out (last time was with Supervisor McGoldrick). He has proven that he is not trustworthy—not to workers, not to the community, and not even with elected officials. It is wrong for him to say we are hurting current workers, when he has long planned to outsource jobs to Mexico anyways. If the CEO wants to improve his reputation—he must meet with workers and resolve our demands.”
Huilian Li, Monster Cable worker, 8 years.

“What we are asking for is fairness! It would take so little for the CEO to resolve our demands, some $500,000. We don’t understand why he won’t sit down at the table and meet with us.”
Lai Ping, Monster Cable worker, 19 years

“Spring is a time of rebirth and for a fresh start. It’s time to reconnect with your workers and hear them out. There is no need to be afraid. We welcome you back to meet with the employees who worked so hard for you.”
Supervisor Jake McGoldrick

“The workers only know victory. We will continue to fight for justice. We call on the CEO to honor his agreement to meet with us and advise him not to throw away his reputation in the Chinese community! Unfortunately the CEO forces us to escalate our actions. We will be contacting his clients, his family and his friends and plan a major boycott action on Sat. May 5th.”

Li Shen, Monster Cable worker, 9 years

Head Monster Tells Laid-off Workers to Go Find a Job

Over this past weekend, most of the 128 laid-off workers received a letter signed by "Head Monster" Noel Lee.

The letter:

• told them they should spend time finding jobs instead of fighting for a fair severance
• claimed that their protests hurt the remaining workers at the factory
• offered to meet personally with individual workers (while cancelling the 4/10 meeting with worker representatives and State Senator Leland Yee, which had not been publicized as per company request).

The CEO also reassured laid-off workers that he knows "that you are all good people" and that he did not blame them for anything, because it is CPA which had "persuaded" them to participate in protest actions.
Insulted and angrier than ever, the workers responded in writing. See below for the workers response and the Head Monster's letter.

The CEO's letter to workers:

Workers Response To the CEO (English translation and original below)

MONSTERpalooza & "Drive it Home to Monster!"

It’s time to DRIVE IT HOME to Monster that the company must treat workers fairly!!

No more excuses to workers, community and elected officials. We demand a FAIR SEVERANCE NOW!

WHO: laid-off workers, musicians, allies and YOU

WHEN: 11:30 am, Sat. April 14, 2007 (please note time change)

WHAT: MONSTERpalooza Outdoor protest concert in downtown Burlingame, followed by a car/truck caravan protest to the CEO’s mansion.

WHERE: Meet at the Chevron station on Burlingame Ave. and El Camino Real, downtown Burlingame.

To carpool from Balboa Park BART station (meeting at 10:30 am), please contact shawsan@cpasf.org by Thurs. 4/12.

Featuring Musical Guests:

• Julia Lau and bandmembers;
• S.O.M.O.S. ONE and the Brown Buffalo Project;
• and more! (check back for updates...)

Please contact shawsan@cpasf.org if you are a musician and can join us!

RSVP: Picnic Lunch for those who RSVP to shawsan@cpasf.org.

"Monster, We Won't Be Fooled!" April Fool's Day Protest

On Sunday, April 1, 2007, over 50 laid-off workers and community supporters marched in downtown Burlingame and declared, “Monster Cable, We Won’t be Fooled!”. Laid-off workers were joined by a number of community allies including 16 youth from AIWA (Asian Immigrant Womens Advocates). For nearly two hours, they marched and leafleted hundreds of curious shoppers and restaurant-goers on Burlingame Avenue, an upscale shopping area near the CEO’s home. The protest culminated in a boycott picket in front of the Apple Store, at 1301 Burlingame Ave.

“In response to overwhelming community support for the workers and pressure on Monster Cable, Monster Cable has tried to cover up by claiming to be a responsible employer and saying that they have done enough for workers,“ says Feiyi Chen, community organizer with the campaign. ”On April Fool’s Day, we’re reminding the company that the workers and community won’t be fooled. We know that the company can pay a fair severance and we hope they do the right thing before workers are forced to escalate this campaign further.”

For the first time, workers were forbidden from entering the store. Two worker leaders and a translator were turned away repeatedly at the door by store security and finally the store manager, who told them, "I am not at liberty to speak with you" and referred the workers to Apple's media line. This new tough attitude signals that Apple is getting tired of these protests and has stepped up their response in hopes of deterring future pickets. However, workers have no intention of letting up the pressure, and in fact plan to escalate their actions if their demands are not met. As a reminder, protesters chanted "We'll be back!" as they left the storefront.

With the continued public pressure and involvement of numerous elected officials, including US Congressman Tom Lantos and State Assemblymember Gene Mullin, workers believe that Monster Cable CEO Noel Lee would indeed look like a fool if he continued to reject their demands for a fair severance.

Upcoming Actions to support Monster Cable workers

THIS Sunday: April Fool's Protest in downtown Burlingame
Our next protest will be this Sunday, April 1st, April Fool's Day.
Action theme is "Monster Cable, Don't Take us for a Fool!" Workers demand
that the Head Monster come to the table with a serious offer.
Meet this Sunday 11:30 am at the Chevron station,
Burlingame Ave. and El Camino Real, downtown Burlingame.

MAJOR action: Saturday, April 14, 2007, downtown Burlingame/Hillsborough

Meet at 10:30 am at the Chevron station on Burlingame Ave. and El Camino Real. in downtown Burlingame.

Please contact shawsan@cpasf.org if you are a musician and want to perform!

Monster Bash at CEO's Mansion in Hillsborough

Nearly 100 workers, community allies and musicians marched, protested, and sang songs outside the CEO's mansion in his wealthy neighborhood in Hillsborough, CA.
The private security officers hired by CEO Noel Lee did not faze protesters as they marched down the hill to his mansion, where members of the Penninsula Raging Grannies waited to greet them with lively songs about greedy CEO's. Chinese drum group Hei Gu rallied folks at the meeting spot and accompanied their protest at the Head Monster's front gate as they chanted "Beware, Beware, Monster Living There!" and "Boycott Monster Cable".

Joining laid-off workers were members of: UNITE HERE Local 2, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3267, the San Mateo Labor Council, United Healthcare Workers, UFCW RISE UP, SEIU 790, the Harvey Milk Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club, Young Workers United,The San Francisco Living Wage Coalition, San Francisco State University student groups, the Raging Grannies, San Francisco Board of Supervisor's Jake McGoldrick's office, Hei Gu, singer-songwriters Valerie Orth and Bob Sanders. Highlights include worker testimonies, Raging Grannies performing and leading songs, an acoustic performance by Valerie Orth and Bob Sanders, and street theater featuring Bill Sable as the Monster.

Around 12:30 pm workers and supporters took their Monster Bash on the road, heading into downtown Burlingame where they marched down the main drag to the Apple Store. Workers picketed the store for nearly an hour and sent a delegation in to speak with the manager, who said he would contact corporate HQ and Monster Cable.

For more photos taken by David Huang (Poetic Dream), see http://poeticdream.com/gallery.php?gid=452