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DHL strikers pepper sprayed, arrested on picket line in Rhode Island

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DHL strikers pepper sprayed, arrested on picket line in Rhode Island


Are you a striker at DHL in Rhode Island or a employee at one other logistics firm? Contact the WSWS to inform us about your working circumstances and experiences. All submissions will likely be nameless.

Police firing pepper spray at DHL strikers in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Friday, September 9, 2022 [Photo by @NatalieNoury]

Police arrested DHL strikers on the picket line in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on September 9, because the strike by native supply drivers entered its twelfth week. About 70 supply drivers struck on June 22 towards Northeast Transportation Companies, a contracted supplier of worldwide logistics big DHL.

The employees are demanding wages to maintain up with the price of residing, inexpensive well being care, retirement advantages and issues of safety. Northeast has employed scabs, who’re reportedly being paid $55 an hour, with DHL drivers incomes solely $18 an hour on common.

Pawtucket police and Teamsters Native 251 confirmed the arrest of 5 folks exterior the DHL Specific ServicePoint. The arrests passed off as 50 to 60 protesters approached a gate which opens onto Harmony Road, Teamsters enterprise agent Thomas Salvatore informed The Windfall Journal.

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Arrested and charged have been Charles Reid, 40; Tiffany Thompson, 42; Marisa Delfino, 29; Matthew Maini, 48, and Arthur Porter, 45. The costs included disorderly conduct, easy assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of an officer.

An officer of IBT Native 251 stated police tried to maneuver the gang away from the entrance of the gate. Rondelle Walker, a DHL courier, described to ABC 6 Information the violence used towards one of many protesting strikers: “She bought pushed to the bottom, knee to her face, head on her again, one other individual was actually pepper sprayed within the face. I used to be within the combine, I bought pulled out, it was horrible.”

One of many DHL strikers being arrested, September 9.2022 [Photo by u/CantStopPoppin]

The DHL pickets confronted violence earlier within the strike. On July 1, three arrests have been made on the picket line exterior the Northeast Transportation facility in Pawtucket. Matthew Taibi, Native 251 principal officer, informed The Windfall Journal on the time that an armed safety guard got here after him with a baseball bat.

The latest arrests got here after Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, had simply visited the picket line. He left earlier than the arrests and a spokesman stated he didn’t witness the incident and had no remark. Native 251 has supported McKee’s bid for reelection. He has acquired the endorsement of the Teamsters, AFSCME, the UAW, the Nationwide Training Affiliation and different unions in Rhode Island, who falsely declare that the Democratic Social gathering will help staff’ pursuits.

Supply providers corresponding to DHL, FedEx and UPS are infamous for his or her abysmal pay and dealing circumstances. Employees from the Pawtucket facility typically drive 250 miles spherical journey in a single day, not accounting for supply stops, touring so far as the tip of Cape Code.

One of many principal calls for of the DHL staff is inexpensive well being care. The present “household plan” prices a minimum of $370 per week. Paying for well being care by means of the corporate is out of attain for many staff on wages of $18 an hour.

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The Teamsters, whose membership is 1.2 million nationwide, has allowed DHL staff at Northeast Transportation and different contractors to stay remoted from the principle DHL contract. This summer time, the IBT ratified a brand new nationwide contract which excludes staff at these contracted areas.

Deutsche Put up DHL Group, the world’s main logistics firm and the father or mother of DHL within the US, operates in additional than 220 international locations and employs about 590,000 staff worldwide. Deutsche Put up DHL generated revenues of €22.6 billion (US$23 billion) within the first quarter of 2022.

Supply and transportation staff have been within the forefront of a world upsurge of staff’ struggles, preventing towards rising inequality and inflation, the results of the coronavirus pandemic and the social results of the federal government’s warfare insurance policies.

With a September 16 expiration of a government-mandated “cooling-off interval” looming, the railroad unions are searching for to move off a strike by round 70,000 rail staff. Smaller craft unions have reduce separate offers with the railroads in a deliberate act of sabotage by the union paperwork.

The contract for staff at United Parcel Service (UPS), the US-based multinational delivery firm that staff greater than half 1,000,000 staff worldwide, expires in July 2023. UPS staff are additionally members of the Teamsters. The corporate, with document income of almost $13 billion in 2021, reduce additional pay for some part-time UPS staff in sure cities the place “the job market was notably tight and in the course of the busy vacation season,” saying that the extra pay was not alleged to be everlasting.

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One of many principal considerations of UPS drivers, together with improved wages and advantages, is safety for staff from the consequences of excessive temperatures. Anger is rising amongst drivers over a spate of deaths and hospitalizations over the summer time, which has seen document warmth. There isn’t a air con in UPS supply vans, and staff have more and more skilled episodes of warmth exhaustion, dehydration and fatigue.

In late June, Esteban Chavez, Jr., a 24-year-old supply driver in Southern California, collapsed and died whereas on deliveries. One other UPS employee, Jose Rodriguez, 23, was discovered useless from warmth exhaustion on the finish of his shift.

The Teamsters have tried to defuse the mounting outrage over these circumstances by internet hosting public rallies throughout the nation. Teamsters Worldwide President Sean O’Brien stated in an announcement that the union is “resolved to win the perfect contract for UPS members and to reset the requirements for wages and advantages on this business by August 1, 2023,” when the UPS contract expires.

“We gained’t lengthen negotiations by a single day,” O’Brien stated. The Teamsters’ document at DHL and the isolation of the Pawtucket strikers exposes the falsehood of such claims. A profitable technique of staff at DHL, UPS and different logistics corporations requires constructing rank-and-file motion committees, impartial of the unions and their political representatives, to prepare an actual combat.



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Devin Farrell rallies Rhode Island to wild 46-44 victory over Hampton in 2OT

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Devin Farrell rallies Rhode Island to wild 46-44 victory over Hampton in 2OT





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Rams Head to Dayton for Sunday Matchup – University of Rhode Island

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Rams Head to Dayton for Sunday Matchup – University of Rhode Island


RHODE ISLAND (5-5-2, 2-2-0 A-10) at DAYTON (9-3-0, 3-1 A-10)
Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1:00 p.m.
Baujan Field (Dayton, Ohio)
Live Stream | Live Stats | Game Notes
 

RHODE ISLAND VS. DAYTON- SERIES NOTES

  • Rhode Island travels to Baujan Field in Dayton, Ohio to face their  fifth Atlantic 10 opponent. 
  • Rhody comes off a big win over Richmond on Thursday, beating the Spiders 6-0 at home on Breast Cancer Awareness Night to improve their record to 5-5-2.
  • Historically, Dayton has a significant edge on the Rams with a series record of 19-3-1, with Rhode Island’s last win dating back to November 2nd, 2006 (3-2).
  • In their last ten games against the Flyers, Rhode Island is 0-1-9 while being outscored 27-4.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS

  • The Flyers enter Sunday’s match on a three-game win streak.
  • Last time out, Dayton beat Duquesne 2-1.
  • The Flyers are 3-1 in conference play, with their lone loss against Loyola (1-0).
  • In four A-10 games, Dayton has outscored its opponent 9-2. In its 12 games on the year, 34-13.
  • The Flyers are 5-1 at home.
  • 11 different players have scored a goal for Dayton this season.
  • The Flyers are led by Noel Blain, who has recorded 23 points in 12 games on nine goals and five assists. The 23 points is first in the league and tied for sixth nationally. 
  • Between the posts for Dayton is junior Batoul Reda. Reda has spent every minute in goal for the Flyers this season, collecting 31 saves and posting six shutouts.  

RAMS SURPASS WIN TOTAL FROM 2023

  • Rhode Island’s win over Richmond last time out was the fifth win of the season, surpassing the four wins from a year ago. 
  • It’s the first time the Rams have collected five wins since the 2021 season. That year, the Rams were 6-9-2 and had their first appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship in five seasons. 
  • It’s the second 5+ win season for Rhody under head coach Megan Jessee
  • A year ago, all four of Rhody’s wins came in the league slate.
  • The Rams finished 3-3-2 in the non-conference portion of the schedule this season.

RHODE BATTLE

  • Rhode Island has struggled on the road this season. A win Sunday would be the Ram’s first victory away from Kingston.
  • This year, Rhody is 0-4-2 on the road.
  • Last season, head coach Megan Jessee led the Rams to 3-2-4 away from Kingston. It was the best record on the road since the 2016 season when Rhody was 3-5-2 under Michael Needham.



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Looking to go book a fishing charter? This is RI’s best fishing town, per FishingBooker

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Looking to go book a fishing charter? This is RI’s best fishing town, per FishingBooker


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If you’re looking to book a fishing trip out of Rhode Island, consider Narragansett.

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Narragansett, which has a long history as a fishing community, is the best fishing town in Rhode Island, according to a recent ranking from FishingBooker.

As the world’s largest platform for booking fishing trips, FishingBooker based their rankings of the best fishing towns in each state on booking and reviewing data from their website over the last year. Each town was given a score from 1-10 in the following six categories:

  • Number of available fishing charters
  • Average review score
  • Average recommended score
  • Number of guides with the Angler’s Choice Award
  • Number of bookings
  • Minimum price of a fishing trip

Out of the six categories, Narragansett received a perfect 10 in four, winning the No. 1 spot by over 20 points.

Why is Narragansett good for fishing?

Originally settled around 1675, the coastal fishing town of Narragansett has access to both the bay and the open waters of the Atlantic. It encompasses some of the historic fishing villages in the state, such as Galilee and Point Judith.

Galilee has maintained its fishing heritage. Galilee is home to the largest fishing fleet in Rhode Island, according to the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association. It’s also the fourth-highest-value fishing port on the East Coast as of 2021, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.  

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Common fish species caught in Narragansett include striped bass, bluefish and flounder.

According to FishingBooker, Narragansett won due to its high number of Angler’s Choice winning captains, amount of bookings and recommendation scores, adding up to 55 out of 60 possible points.

More: How did Jerusalem and Galilee, Rhode Island, get their names? We asked around.

Their website recommends 76 fishing charters to book trips with, the most of any Rhode Island town. Many of the charters have received top awards and guest recommendations.

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What other RI destinations made the list?

Here is the full list of the top fishing towns in Rhode Island, according to FishingBooker:

  1. Narragansett
  2. Portsmouth
  3. Warwick 
  4. Newport
  5. South Kingstown
  6. Westerly
  7. North Kingstown



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