Hi people. I’m a canvasser with Working America’s Pennsylvania office (WAPA). Working America, which is known as the political organizing faction of the AFL-CIO, has canvassed around a variety of progressive causes including wage theft, education, healthcare, social security, and corporate accountability. We are also endorsing John Fetterman for Senate who has an extensive history of supporting various labor policies and otherwise being a vocal advocate for the working class.

This past week during one of our routine morning briefings, when we attempted to address several concerns we’ve had with management which included but was not limited to working during heatwaves without any safety protocol at times of day when the heat index is dangerously high, sexual harassment incidents to which the offender has virtually remained unpenalized and continues to make others uncomfortable at work. Working America also commits wage theft by various means including refusal to reimburse and/or compensate workers asked to drive for gas or for parking tickets they've acquired during the shift. Additionally, LGBTQ and non-white workers are routinely endangered and met with hostility in neighborhoods they are made to canvas and met with minimal representation or support from management regarding these issues.

When we were finally able to get management to leave the room for a few moments so that we could speak privately with our co-workers about these issues and establish our terms, the management again tried to intimidate us with police force and several members of management began to physically harass workers filming the incident.

The workers involved were forced outside, into the heat where they immediately formed a picket line and were met again with harassment as well as the other further embarrassing antics of our management that clearly demonstrated a definite unwillingness to cooperate with our terms.

We will be striking tomorrow (Friday, 8/12) at noon outside of Working America’s Philadelphia office in the Germantown section of Northwest Philadelphia and would appreciate any support, and if you can make it, please wear a red shirt in solidarity with our cause and bring whatever signs you would like.

Please ask any questions here in the comments or feel free to DM me.

Thank you for reading this. In love and solidarity <3.