By Tim Sheard
The NY Chapter of the National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, will be celebrating international solidarity and immigrant rights at our 2nd International Writers Conference, titled Writing Across Borders. The all day conference, scheduled for May 18, 2014 in New York City, will feature fifteen writers from around the world, who will discuss how they write about issues of identity and assimilation in a new world while holding on to traditions and the community ties to their homeland. Participants will also discuss issues of social justice for immigrants and the rights and needs of “undocumented” citizens living, working and writing in the United States.
Countries represented at the conference will include Mexico, Cuba, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Philippines, Jamaica, Italy, and Afghanistan. The high point of the day may be the Skype session with Afghan Women Writers, who hope to read from their work and discuss their issues of women’s rights from Kabul.
About the NWU
The National Writers Union is a union of freelance writers working in every genre throughout the United States, with affiliated members across the globe. We fight to protect the intellectual property rights for our members through advocacy in all levels of government and intervention with publishers who refuse to pay the writer what is due. The NWU also provides contract advice that helps writers avoid the yellow dog contracts that are becoming more common in the industry. We fight against big media’s demand for free content, which spells the death of the professional writer, photojournalist, and artist. The NWU is also a social justice organization, supporting and partnering with many unions and non-traditional labor organizations in the struggle against the common exploitation by the One Percent and the fight for justice and international solidarity. Members of the NWU are provided with national (U.S.) and international press passes.
Join us on May 18 in New York City for this glorious day for writers and global citizens.
Information about the NWU and the Writing Across Borders conference can be found at www.nwuny.org.
In Solidarity,
Tim Sheard
Chairman, NWU NY Chapter and founder of Hard Ball Press