a1208: JUSTICE FOR MARCUS JEAN, Please. (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Moibibi@aol.com

Drop the Racist, Frame-Up Charges Against Marcus Jean!
Don't let corporations like LAIDLAW use 9-11 to attack our unions and
immigrant workers!
Defend Marcus Jean
West Roxbury District CourtForest Hills T, Jamaica Plain
Friday, March 15
9:00 AM

Who is Marcus Jean?

Marcus Jean is a Haitian immigrant who has worked as a schoolbus driver in
Massachusetts for the past seven years. On January 30, 2002, Mr. Jean was
involved in a minor disagreement with another driver over a parking space in
the Laidlaw Corporation terminal parking lot in Readville. The matter was
handled by the Assistant Terminal Manager and was closed; no formal reprimand
or written warning was issued.

The following day, the Terminal Manager - contrary to union rules and to
general practice - began to question and harass Mr. Jean about the incident,
threatening him with possible disciplinary action. Mr. Jean, knowing his
rights, told the Terminal Manager that he was being treated unfairly and
refused to accept discrimination and harassment.

Later that day, the Terminal Manager went to the Boston Police and filed
criminal charges against Mr. Jean, alleging that he had made repeated threats
to "blow up the building." This is a false and outrageous charge. Marcus Jean
never made any threats of any kind. Although no witnesses have confirmed
Laidlaw's version of events, and despite numerous grievances that have been
filed against the same Terminal Manager for threatening and harassing drivers
as well as for racist and sexist treatment of workers, the allegations
against Marcus Jean have been taken seriously by the police and the local
court. After an unblemished record of seven years of service, Mr. Jean now
faces charges of threatening to commit acts of terrorism against the Laidlaw
Corporation; he has already lost his job.

Why would Laidlaw Corporation turn a minor argument into a false accusation
of terrorism?

Mr. Jean belongs to a union with 80% immigrant members. It has a strong
rank-and-file, committed to defending the jobs of all its members. In June
2001, Laidlaw Corporation filed for bankruptcy. Since then, the company has
been using every available means to maximize profits by cutting driver pay,
speed ups, and widespread use of disciplinary actions and firings to "lay
down the law" - an effort thwarted by the strength of the union membership.
Now Laidlaw, exploiting the tragedy that America suffered on 9/11, is using
bogus charges of terrorism to intimidate immigrant workers from standing up
against union-busting and harassment. The company is seeking to use the
police and courts illegally as their own private "Pinkerton" shock troops
against the union.

This anti-union management campaign has been met with widespread resistance
by a determined rank-and-file membership. Laidlaw Corporation believes that
workers who stand up against these anti-worker attacks must be "taught a
lesson."

Even if the court ultimately throws out the absurd charges against Mr. Jean,
if the company can get away with firing him, it will have made its point to
the immigrant community.

That's why it is up to all of us to stand up on his behalf.Come to the West
Roxbury District Court on Friday, March 15, 9:00 a.m., and show your support
for immigrant rights.

JUSTICE FOR MARCUS JEAN!

Marcus Jean Defense Committee
c/o Labor's ANSWER Boston
31 Germania St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-522 6626
www.iacboston.org/laborsANSWER
LaborsANSWER@iacboston.org