IF IT'S THURSDAY..... WEAR RED
Excerpts of Article Written By a Member of IBM Poughkeepsie

It has been a custom since 1989 for the members of the CWA to show their solidarity by wearing red on Thursdays, but why and where did this day of red begin? Well for one, it represents the color of blood that was lost in the strife to gain fair and equal rights for workers throughout the years. The day of red is also in remembrance of Gerry Horgan, CWA’s chief steward for Westchester County who died as a result of being struck by a car driven by Tricia McNamara, a daughter of a second line manager as he worked a picket line in August 1989.

The red shirt brings together all of the CWA members on one day a week. It gives a visual statement to management of the workers solidarity. The red shirt gives everyone a sense of unity and fellowship. The red shirt is also a visual reminder that checks and balances in the work place have to be maintained daily. So next Thursday and every Thursday thereafter, if you are angered at the loss of jobs going off shore, WEAR RED. If you are angry on the loss of a defined pension that would have increased with earnings and service time, WEAR RED. If you are angry that medical insurance cost for you and your family will exceed your projected retirement payments, WEAR RED. If you are angry that your yearly performance evaluations are dictated by HR to a fixed number of 1's, 2's and 3's, WEAR RED. If you are angry that pay raises are for a select few and that there are no cost of living increases for all, WEAR RED. If you are angry that your job was down sized due to "needs of the business", but are hired back for the same job through Manpower, another agency, or as a contractor, WEAR RED. If you are angry that your job can be sold to another company without proper compensation or that you may lose vested rights, WEAR RED. If you are angry that you have little voice in the decisions that management makes that adversely affect you, WEAR RED. If you are angry when you’re on the downsizing list, you are not to be hired for a job in another area in IBM that you are qualified for, WEAR RED. If you are angry because billable work hours do not permit vacations, sick leave, or skill enhancement class training without significant unpaid overtime, WEAR RED. If you feel that the age of the employee is a big factor in head count reductions, WEAR RED. If you are angry that greedy executives raid the business coffers, WEAR RED Or just for the heck of it, next Thursday, WEAR RED.

Please contact everyone you know and ask them to WEAR RED. Talk to your friends, neighbors, colleagues, and members in your department. On Thursday, let's have a sea of RED in the work place. Just by wearing a RED shirt, or a RED dress, a RED hat, RED socks, a RED tie, or RED pants, you may be surprised with the results.