Washington CAN! is committed to help protect funding for interpreter services. These services are vital for our communities and increase access and safety within our healthcare system. Our friends at Interpreters United, Local 1671 (WFSE/AFSCME) are seriously concerned about the impact of the State’s plan to change from in-person spoken language interpreting to telephone and video interpreting for medical and social service appointments. The State plans to create protocols for their contractors to use to determine what type of interpreting modality is appropriate for a given appointment or patient/client.
Category: Uncategorized
Training and Action Planning Sessions
After successful community meetings, folks are ready to learn more and take action! Join in to learn more about how we can fight the cuts to healthcare and education! We will plan actions to hold corporations accountable! Join us.
Bellevue:
Tuesday, June 28th @ 6-8pm
Jubilee Reach
14200 SE 13th PL
Questions? Contact Esteban- Esteban@washingtoncan.org
Seattle:
Wednesday, June 29th @ 6pm – 7:30 pm
Southside Commons
3518 S. Edmunds St., Seattle
Questions? Contact Rachael- Rachealdecruz@washingtoncan.org
Lynnwood:
Wednesday, June 29th @ 6pm – 7:30 pm
Blue Ridge Fire Station in the Training Room
18800 68th Ave. W Lynnwood, 98036
Questions? Contact Mariah- Mariah@washingtoncan.org or Gerald- Gerald@washingtoncan.org
Tacoma:
Wednesday, June 29th @ 6pm – 7:30 pm
South Tacoma Branch Library
3411 South 56th St.
Questions? Contact Susie- Susie@washingtoncan.org or Chris- Chris@washingtoncan.org
Let us know if you need transportation, translation, or childcare!
May Day March for Immigrant and Worker Rights!
Predatory and illegal practices by big Wall Street banks and corporations caused our economy to crash and triggered a worldwide recession. Yet, immigrants and workers are being blamed for the current economic crisis. In Washington State, immigrants, children, seniors, and workers are being asked to sacrifice more and more to solve our budget crisis, meanwhile corporations are being let off the hook. Our communities have already sacrificed more than $5 billion in cuts to health care, education, and other core services over the past 3 years. Corporations have not been subject to the same demand and they continue to receive $6.5 billion in tax giveaways each year. It’s time stand up for immigrant and worker rights and demand that corporations share the sacrifice.
March with us, sign up for the May Day March!
Starting point: Judkins Park (next to St. Mary’s Church)
611 20th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
(look for the Washington CAN! banner by the northern baseball diamond by the school)
Ending point: Memorial Stadium, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98109
Also posted in Economic justice, Events, Immigration, Social justice, Take Action
Leave a comment
What’s Next?
The People’s Walk for Our Future is complete (on Monday, people arrived at the capitol greeted by 100+ community members) and now religious leaders are carrying the torch–faith leaders are fasting for a moral and just budget . 50 miles and over 100,000 steps later, lawmakers are finally starting to listen. Last week, 10 senators introduced a series of bills that would end specific tax breaks to fund education, health care, and essential state services. But we need to keep the pressure on our elected officials, particularly now as a special session is on the horizon, until cuts to outdated and unjust tax breaks are included in our final state budget. See videos from the people’s walk here. Read coverage of the walk from the Tacoma News Tribune and KOMO news.
YOU can help us make sure lawmakers keep moving forward to make corporations and special interests in our state pay their fair share. Stand with us by:
1. CALL YOUR LAWMAKERS TODAY 800-562-6000! Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has said “People need to push us” to close tax loopholes. Well, let’s do it! Demand that your lawmakers close outdated tax loopholes for Wall Street banks and other special interests to preserve health care, education, and other core services.
2. JOIN US IN OLYMPIA TOMORROW (4/21/2011) @ 3:30pm ! The House Ways and Means committee will be hearing various bills to close tax loopholes. Come to Olympia to testify or sign-in in support of bills that put our communities first. Hearing info: House Ways & Means @ 3:30 pm House Hearing Rm A in the John L. O’Brien Bldg.
3. SIGN UP FOR THE MAY DAY MARCH! On May 1st at 1pm at Judkins Park in Seattle, Washington CAN! and various community partners are marching to stand up for workers, immigrants, and all our communities. We must unite to protest cuts that target immigrants and workers in our state while corporations and special interests continue to get lofty tax breaks. Click here to sign up.
Also posted in Economic justice, Education, Events, Health Care, Immigration, Social justice, Take Action
Leave a comment
Day 3 & 4: More than 100,000 steps on the People’s Walk
50 miles and 4 days later, the People’s Walk marchers have taken more than 100,000 steps on their way to Olympia to demand a moral and just budget. On Saturday, the People’s Walk doubled in size as more Washingtonians affected by devastating budget cuts joined the group.
The faith leaders, working people and community allies taking part in the People’s Walk have taken to the streets to protest billions of dollars the State Legislature intends to cut from health care, disability lifeline, housing, public safety, education, and environmental protection programs—while leaving intact and unexamined frivolous tax loopholes benefiting wealthy interests.
Saturday’s route took the walkers from Pierce College in Lakewood south into Thurston County. The group started their day with a rally at Pierce College,to highlight the impact proposed education cuts will have on students and community members.
Caleb Hollatz, a student at South Puget Sound Community College, joined the marchers. “I am walking with the People’s Walk for Our Future because of the way budget cuts are affecting my life. I am a student and budget cuts have made it nearly impossible for me to finish my studies. Rising tuition costs, dwindling financial aid. I can’t even get into the classes I need to continue my studies because classes have been cut. I am paying more and getting less for my education and it needs to stop. I want my lawmakers to close tax loopholes and protect students instead of private jets and Botox.”
Madge Rojas also joined the People’s Walk on Day 3. “I am a Spanish and Portuguese medical interpreter and I am walking today for all my patients and for other interpreters. Medical interpreters are an integral part of our health care system because they can make the difference between a life and death situation. It’s incredible for me to think that lawmakers are having a hard time choosing between tax breaks for Wall Street banks and keeping health care services for low-income families. It’s immoral to deny people the right to communicate with their doctor, and in the end it hurts the patient and increases medical costs for all.”
Check out this video to see why Theresa Guerrero, president of OUR Washington, is walking to Olympia.
On Sunday, marchers began their day with a rally outside of the Wal-Mart Super Center in Lacey to call attention to Wal-Mart’s tax dodging practices and immoral work policies. Rev. Bev Spears has been marching with the People’s Walk over the last four days. Watch the video below to learn more about why Rev. Bev is walking 50 miles in 5 days.
TOMORROW, the People’s Walk for Our Future will arrive at it’s final destination, our state capitol in Olympia, to demand that lawmakers pass a moral budget that prioritizes the needs of people before tax breaks for corporations. Meet and join the marchers at 11:30am on the capitol steps.
Also posted in Economic justice, Health Care, Social justice, Take Action
Leave a comment
