| Sincere Seven | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Fighting For Justice & Equality In Our Workplace"...and in all places |
Founded in July 1999, the Sincere Seven is a state chartered non-profit organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The S-7 was started by a group of workers at a large volume book distributorship in East Tennessee. The company, American Book/Publisher's Warehouse/W.D.W. (Now known as "P.W. Books" had exploited it's workers with low wages and further insulted employees with racially motivated hiring, firing and promotion practices; unjust promotion and placement practices based on gender; unsanitary and segretory restroom facilities as late as 1999. The company denied and continues to deny any wrongdoing, yet there are many scarred witnesses who continue to speak of racism in that workplace. The workers met and organized at the behest of the company. Members of the group were demanded by the President and Owner not to meet on their off time. Even in the face of retribution, harrassment and eventual termination, the resolve of the group remained to stand on their rights as workers under the Constitution of the United States as defined under the National Labor Relations Act. No matter what laws are in place, justice is hard to come by... The members of the S-7 fought back by public protests, leafleting and picketing the company and eventually filing for an election for union to be put in place for the sole purpose of protection of their rights. The company hid from their wrongdoings behind a million dollar team of attorneys to fight the S-7. The S-7 sponsored the first "Rally For Rights" in December 1999, directly across the street from the company. Subsequently, "Rally for Rights II was held in December 2000". Supporters from several local organizations and individuals alike came out in support of the workers who were being intimidated by their employer. The company fired the organizers the week of Christmas 1999 with absolutely no warning. Then the company paid off the remaining employees the week prior to the election (in essence, a bribe) in order to stifle the drive for a union. The S-7 is still fighting with very little help from the government agency charged with protecting employees from these types of employer retaliation. The sad thing that grieved the S-7, is that the employees that remained weren't educated and didn't seek to be educated in the purpose of unionizing and the tremendous benifit that being united would have in their lives. The current state of the ongoing legal battle: Terry Taylor's case filed with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) is still in the investigative state. Theresa Reed and Perry recieved a decision from the THRC in May and July 2000, respectively, claiming that "not enough information was provided"; An upcoming hearing in Federal court with ABC vs. Perry Redd was averted when the NLRB accepted a cash settlementin the amount of $3,200 for back wages to dodge any punishment in regards to violations of Perry Redd's role in organizing under the National Labor Relations Act on June 12, 2000. Through the National Labor Relations Board, the company offered Perry Redd a cash settlement in July 2000. The conditions weren't disclosed. The settlement only validates the claims made by Redd that the company practiced injustice and inequality in it's workplace regarding racial discrimination in hiring, promotion and placement practices; segretory restroom facilities and degradation of human rights just as Mr. Redd charged upon his filing in August of 1999 and December of 1999. "If they think they can buy my silence, they are sadly mistaken...I now earn a living with a Fortune 500 company, so their money is not my focus. There were 17 other people they fired for the same thing that deserve compensation as well." The company has once again changed their name to "PW Books" and are now doing their hiring through a temporary job service (which again, exploits workers in the Knoxville community). At last notice in April 2001, the company is on the auction block--will they escape their legal battle with S7? Only time will tell. The Sincere Seven is continually working on a campaign to inform and put the current workers on notice of the past activities of the ABC/PW. Message to ABC/PW/WDW: "The Eyes of the S-7 are Upon You..." For 2001: a continued drive for justice against Lockheed Martin in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; as the company continues to discriminate against unionized African-American workers, the S-7 continues to struggle alongside those workers... Current Campaign for 2001..."Fighting Against Exploitive Day Labor Companies"...we've watched temporary Day Labor businesses pop up in our poor and oppressed neighborhoods to profit and gain off the sweat labor of our people and refuse to justly compensate the workers. We want to educate the workers of the community to give them the opportunity to make qualified life choices... Members of the S-7 include: Perry Redd-Executive Director/Cheif Spokesperson Theresa Reed-Secretary/Treasurer Terry Taylor-Director of Organizing Josh Reynolds-Director of Fundraising Warren Moran-Documents Correspondent Pat Reece-Assistant Treasurer James Williams-Sergeant-At-Arms Wayne Moran-Organizer members SINCERE7 | |||||||||||||||||
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The current activities of the S-7 include: The August 2000 release of "The Activist" CD. A Compilation of progressive hip-hop songs produced by Redd Music, Inc. and S7Works no sale now in Knoxville's Cats Records and Disc Exchange... Sponsoring the Knoxville Living Wage Campaign's "Living Wage In The Park"...along with TIRN, to educate the community about the need for a Living Wage!!! During the summer of 2000 and July 22 at Fountain City Park and August 5th at the Lonsdale Homecoming... "Dropping A Bomb: Black Workers Tell Their Stories"...Co-sponsored by the S7 with several Black Studies groups on the University of Tennessee, Jobs with Justice, UNITE! and Alliance for Hope in February 2001 The S-7 held their first fundraiser on May 5, 2000 and the 2001 fundraiser on May 5th as well, to aid in workers rights education, obtain 501 (c)(3) status and financing the production of the cable access TV show, "Knoxville's Workplace Talk" and "S7Live!"... The S-7 networks with several community organizations such as the Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network (TIRN), Citizens for Police Review (CPR), Men N Black "with a purpose", Solutions, the United Campus Workers (UCW), Jobs with Justice and UT student group, Alliance for Hope. Another tool for voicing opinion on the "hot topics" is the bi-monthly commentary by S7 members entitled "The Other Side of the Tracks"--look for postings on the S7Works website... Another activity of the Sincere Seven is the production of "S-7 Radio" which airs Sundays at 11:30 to noon on WUTK-90.3fm The S-7 is also working hand-in-hand with a coalition of students from the University of Tennessee and other local activists to own and operate it's own Progressive Radio Station... In the meantime why not check out the link below to get your own free webspace? | Current Activities of the S-7 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Contacting the Sincere Seven |
If you need advice, have suggestions, want to contribute or just contact the S-7.Knoxville's cable access channel 12, Wednesdays at 9:30pm and also once a month, "S-7 Live" airs on CTV as well. Now, S7Works produces the live, call-in cable access TV show "Cop Watch" for the Citizens for Police Review... | |||||||||||||||||
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