Mother Kali's Bookstore Locks out workers

On January 23, 2004, the Board of Directors of Mother Kali's Books (one of the oldest longstanding feminist bookstores in the United States)here in Eugene, delivered termination letters to each of its four staff members. Approximately three weeks prior to their termination the Board notified staff that they could no longer access their health benefits. In response, Mother Kali's staff, members of IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) local 660, filed an unfair labor practices claim with the National Labor Relations Board regional office in Portland on Monday,January 26, 2004.

There was a community protest at the store on 1/27/04 during the executive session board meeting at the store. Yesterday evening, 1/29/04 at a board/staff meeting, the Board of Directors demanded the staff's keys and locked them out, even though the terminations were not due to take effect until 2/6/04 and 2/13/04.

To contact the board of Mother Kali's click on this link or call them at: . To contact the locked out workers click on this link. The workers want to let people know that taking out anger at the stores building would be misguided energy. "We appreciate your support and are requesting that folks not harm the building because the building managers have been very supportive and sympathetic of our struggle."