[IMC-pgh-editorial] [paacornpiho at acorn.org: How can I get thisannouncement on the site?]

[mtoups at andrew.cmu.edu]

i'm not entirely sure why this is being discussed on the editorial list --
no feature has been proposed and no newswire administration is taking
place, right?

it seems like the only problem is that maryellen did not understand
that she could publish to the newswire herself.  of course, we can then
decide if the post meets our criteria for hiding (i don't think that it
does, but it'd be a worthwhile discussion).

the issue of acorn's management and labor practices is an important
one, but i'm not sure if it is relevant to any decision to be made
by the editorial collective.  if someone were proposing a feature on
acorn, we might have to scrutinize the organization a bit more closely.
that might actually make for an interesting feature, we could present
both the "get invovled in grassroots organizing" and the very cogent
critiques of how acorn operates, and hopefully bring this discussion
out to a wider audience.

just my thoughts,
matt

On Thu, 9 Oct 2003, Evan W. Wolfson wrote:

> Mary, et al.,
>
> I must have missed the debate over whether we were going to run employment
> ads on IMC Pgh.  I can certainly speak to the fact that there were unfair
> labor practice charges filed against ACORN, and found to have merit (some
> fairly recently in Dallas, TX).  The main ULPs filed against ACORN come out
> of numerous organizing drives by members of the Industrial Workers of the
> World (IWW).  An occasional writer for IMC Pittsburgh, "Rovin' Workman," has
> posted some info. about ACORN.
>
> see for more details:
>
> http://www.iww.org/organize/news/acorn/
>
> I have no reason to believe the voting "employment" is not a legitimate
> request, in terms of it being a legal request.  Whether it is wise is
> another story.  ACORN loves to employ "quotas" or "goals" in measuring the
> productivity of their organizers.  I think you are asking good questions
> about what workers who do not meet goals will be paid.  Perhaps ACORN
> categorizes the job as one with a "stipend."  I'm not sure what, if
> anything, would run afoul of employment law standards.  I think the key
> might be in the wording "part time voter registration contractors" -- a
> classification as an independent contractor might relieve ACORN of any legal
> (but not moral...) obligation to pay a minimum wage.
>
> Why don't you contact Maryellen Hayden, the Head Organizer for Allegheny
> County ACORN?   I'm sure she can clear this up.  She is very nice, and I
> worked with her before when opening-up the ACORN office in Pittsburgh.
>
> Evan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: imc-pgh-editorial-bounces at indypgh.org
> [mailto:imc-pgh-editorial-bounces at indypgh.org]On Behalf Of Mary I Hart
> Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 2:02 PM
> To: John Harrold
> Cc: IndyPgh Editorial Collective
> Subject: Re: [IMC-pgh-editorial] [paacornpiho at acorn.org: How can I get
> thisannouncement on the site?]
>
>
> John,
>
> My first thought was, yes, of course.  In looking over what was written,
> though, I was struck by "$7 an hour for those who can register 5-7 voters
> an hour."  The meaning of this isn't clear to me- if you register fewer
> than the threshhold # of voters, do you not get paid for the hour?  I
> don't think we've come to any consensus as to whether we're responsible
> for verifying legitimacy, but if there is any chance that something
> involves unfair labor practices, I'd want *not* to post it.  Can you ask
> the person for clarification on how payment works?
>
> >>From what I've read, ACORN is an organization that has done a lot of good,
> but I also seem to recall reading something somewhere (one of the IMCs?)
> about ACORN and some unreasonable labor practices. I'm pretty sure what I
> read wasn't specfically about the local one, but that makes me want a
> little more info.
>
> If the policies of the local one seem okay wrt pay and so on, I'd be okay
> with running it.
>
> Mary
>
> On Thu, 9 Oct 2003, John Harrold wrote:
>
> > while this is sort of an advertistement, should i tell her to publish it?
> >
> > ----- Forwarded message from Maryellen Hayden
> <paacornpiho at acorn.org> -----
> >
> > From: "Maryellen Hayden" <paacornpiho at acorn.org>
> > To: <info at indypgh.org>
> > Subject: How can I get this announcement on the site?
> > Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 00:13:10 -0400
> >
> > Activists who want to organize at the grassroots level
> >
> > Allegheny County ACORN is looking for full-time organizers for several
> > working class communities. Must be willing to attend a six week training
> > course. We pay a minimum wage stipend to trainees. After you graduate from
> > training, the salary is $22,100.00 per year, plus health care and pension.
> >
> > We are also looking for part time voter registration contractors. ACORN
> has
> > registered 1826 voters in the first part of the drive; we are looking to
> > register 2000 voters a month, and we need help. We have $7.00 per hour for
> > anyone who can register 5-7 voters per hour.
> >
> > Please call Maryellen Hayden at 412 441-6551
> > www.acorn.org