Coalition for a Humane and New Global Economy will be holding its third annual Week of Labor Action beginning today to promote better wages and health care for workers at Kent State and around the world.

The events are part of the National Week of Labor Action, which is from March 31 to April 5.

"Worker's rights around the world and locally are being undermined everyday," CHANGE member Mike Pesa said. "Right here at Kent State, because of (state) budget cuts, there have been lay-offs."

Pesa said his group hopes the events, which begin at 11 a.m. today with a rally in the Student Center plaza, will help students better understand the labor issues that affect them and their families.

He said the major issues that will be addressed at the various events today and tomorrow will be worker's rights, wages and health care.

"We have the power to unite for economic justice," he said. "We hope to show students what we are doing proactively."

The event is intended to tie together current issues like the war in Iraq and worker's rights, CHANGE member Ellen Zielinski said.

"This event will raise awareness. A lot of Kent State students and other workers don't make a living wage and don't have health care," she said. "If enough people speak up, minimum wage will be raised."

"Just because we are at war doesn't mean we shouldn't focus on making America a stronger society," Zielinski said. "Health insurance is a human right and something we should be fighting for even with a war going on."

Zielinski said the first part of today's events are intended to familiarize students with problems facing workers in America and other countries. She said the second half of the rally will help student take action to make change. She said the final event today will be a protest at a location the group does not want to announce until the end of the rally.

This event is also sponsored by Anti-Racist Action, Kent State Anti-war Committee, Students Eliminating Environmental Destruction and the University of Akron's student group, Students Taking Action for a New Democracy.

E-mail: ldonofri@kent.edu