| Permit
or No Permit, Hunger Strike Set to Start Sept 3, 2007
August 30, 2007
PERMIT OR NO PERMIT, HUNGER STRIKE SET TO START SEPT
3, 2007
For immediate
release
The United Workers
will hold the Living Wages Hunger Strike on Maryland Stadium
Authority (MSA) property with or without a permit issued by
the agency. Despite repeated assurances by the MSA that a
permit is forthcoming, no permit has been issued. The United
Worker is prepared to defy the Maryland Stadium Authority
and conduct the Living Wages Hunger Strike even if a permit
has not yet been issued in time for the hunger strike.
On July 5, 2007
the United Workers sent a formal request for a permit for
the hunger strike vigil via certified mail. On August 8, 2007
the United Workers and the Maryland Stadium Authority met
to discuss the terms of the permit. At this meeting an agreement
was reached between both parties that a permit would be issued
for a vigil site at Gate F. The Maryland Stadium Authority's
representatives at this meeting told the United Workers that
the permit would be issued by August 10, 2007. Despite repeated
requests and follow ups, this permit has not yet been issued.
The Living Wages
Hunger Strike starts on September 3, 2007. The hunger strike
will end when living wages are secured for the cleaners at
MSA sports facilities. Hunger strikers and allies will silently
march from Light Street Presbyterian Church at 809 Light Street
to either Gate F or the VIP entrance at Camden Yards. If the
promised permit is issued in time, the hunger strike will
be held at Gate F, as agreed to by both parties during permit
talks. Without a permit, the United Workers will hold the
hunger strike outside of the VIP entrance. The VIP entrance
was the United Workers's first preference for hunger strike
location. Without a permit in place the United Workers will
go back to the preferred location. Hunger strikers will leave
from 809 Light Street at 1:30 PM on September 3, 2007.
"We'd prefer
to work with the Maryland Stadium Authority to avoid a confrontation
over the location of the hunger strike," said former
cleaner and hunger striker Carl Johnson. "But instead
of issuing a permit we've gotten more of the same. We've gotten
more delays, more broken promises and more passing of the
buck by Maryland Stadium Authority staff."
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