Louie Miller, louie.miller@sierraclub.org, (601) 624-3503
CANTON, Miss.. -- A Rally and March with Nissan workers, civil rights leaders, elected officials, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S.Congressman Bennie Thompson, actor Danny Glover, NAACP President Cornell William Brooks and Sierra Club President Aaron Mair, will take place to highlight issues of workplace safety, low wages and job security at the Nissan plant.
Workers are demanding the right to vote on union representation to address better wages, safe working conditions and job security, as 40% of the workforce are currently temporary hires. The Canton Nissan Facility is one of 2 Nissan facilities worldwide that currently do not have Union representation.
A coalition of civil rights leaders, ministers and work advocates organized the event under the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan (MAFFAN). This event follows a number of rallies at Nissan dealerships occurring across the South in February. Letters on unsafe working conditions and mistreatment of workers in the Nissan plant in Canton were hand-delivered by local clergy and civil rights leaders.
In response, Mississippi Chapter Director for Sierra Club, Louie Miller released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club is a union shop which in turn provides Sierra Club employees with good wages, benefits and job security. The Sierra Club has long enjoyed a good working relationship with Organized Labor known as the “Blue Green Alliance”. We have worked together nationwide and right here in Mississippi to promote the establishment of the renewable energy industry and the subsequent jobs that come with a new energy sector for Mississippi’s economy.
WHAT: Rally and March for Workers' Rights
WHEN: Saturday, March 4th at 12:00 PM. The march will begin at 1:00 PM.
WHERE: Canton Sportsplex -- (501 Soldier Colony Road, Canton, MS 39046) [map]
###