JwJ News 03-06
MARCH 2006
- It's the Student Labor Week of Action! Find a Nearby Action
- DC wins Living Wage!
- Victory for Janitors on Long Island
- Wal-Mart Supercenter Denied in Bend, OR
- Washington JwJ Mobilizes for Workers Impacted by War
- Anti-Immigrant Bill Defeated in Indiana
- JwJ Supports Verizon Wireless Campaign
- Victory for Immigrant Workers' Rights at Koch Foods in East Tennessee
- New Coalitions Forming in Oregon, New Mexico, Illinois
After months of advocacy and organizing, DC Jobs with Justice declared victory with the near-unanimous passage of the "Way to Work" bill through the DC Council. "At long last, the DC Council is stepping up to help assure living wages for working families," said Terry Lynch, Chair of the DC Workers Rights Board and Executive Director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations. The historic legislation guarantees $11.75 an hour for all direct and sub-contracted DC government workers, as well as employees of businesses that receive Tax Increment Financing from the District. The Living Wage was supported by a broad coalition of more then 30 organizations, including the Metro DC Labor Council, SEIU, DC ACORN, non-profit service providers, and faith and grassroots community groups.
Victory for Janitors on Long Island!
Janitors employed by Mayco Building Services won a major victory on Long Island with the support of Long Island JwJ! These workers, who clean the Newsday buildings among others, had been struggling for a fair contract for over a year. The union contract expired on December 31, 2004. Mayco decided they no longer wanted to pay for the workers' health insurance and refused to sign the successor agreement. The workers and their union, SEIU 32 BJ, fought back and got the company to agree to a tentative settlement that leaves the workers' benefits in tact! The contract also brings many of the p/t workers up to the union pay rate for the first time.
"Jobs with Justice and the Workers' Rights Board were instrumental in this victory," said Shirley Aldebol, Campaign Coordinator for SEIU Local 32BJ on LI. "We'd like to thank everyone for their support. Now we can focus our energy to organizing and obtaining justice for hundreds of non union, low wage workers in the building services industry."
JwJ Supports Verizon Wireless Campaign
Workers at Verizon Wireless (VZW) lack basic workplace rights and receive inadequate health and retirement benefits. When they have tried to organize to fix these problems, VZW has conducted a campaign of illegal firings, threats, intimidation, and worker surveillance and has even shut down Northeast call centers and moved them to "right to work" states.
Jobs with Justice coalitions in five locations worked closely with CWA and IBEW locals in Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Columbus, OH to mobilize against Verizon Wireless and their anti-union tactics last fall.
Because students are one of the main target customers of Verizon Wireless, JwJ-SLAP interns in each of these cities organized events to educate students about the company. Over the course of the campaign, JwJ coalitions participated in and organized 40 actions at Verizon Wireless stores engaging more than 200 activists; organized more than 50 events on campuses involving more than 700 students; collected 1,600 "I'm Hanging Up on Verizon Wireless" pledge cards; and targeted Verizon wireless as part of the December 10th Workers' Rights are Human Rights day of action. JwJ will continue to support CWA and the IBEW in their efforts to win justice with workers at Verizon Wireless.
You can help by signing the "I'm Hanging Up on Verizon Wireless" pledge card at www.jwj.org/vzw_pledge.htm.
Wal-Mart Supercenter Denied in Bend, OR
In the fall of 2004, just after Central Oregon Jobs with Justice formed, members wanted to do something about Wal-Mart. They distributed educational leaflets at two Wal-Marts in Bend and Redmond to inform shoppers about Wal-Mart's low-wage policies and anti-union and predatory business practices. Next they planned a showing on February 15 of the PBS movie "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" On February 1, Wal-Mart announced their plan to build a new Supercenter in Bend, and coincidentally, also planned a neighborhood meeting for the day after the movie showing. Surprisingly, 150 people attended the movie, many whom left their names as interested in joining the fight against Wal-Mart. An even more surprising 200+ attended the Wal-Mart informational meeting, which had been advertised as an informational Q&A session. Wal-Mart representatives declined to answer any of the submitted written questions. Many of those attending, including affected neighbors, wore frowny face buttons, did not support Wal-Mart and left when they found out their questions would not be answered.
The "Our Community First" task force was formed after those meetings. The group has a broad based membership, including union members, business owners affected by Wal-Mart, land use and traffic activists, neighborhood associations, and members of the general public concerned about the impact of a third Wal-Mart in Central Oregon. What brought this group together, and keeps it together, is the common belief that Wal-Mart is a predatory company that cares more about increasing corporate profits than it does about the health and well-being of the community.
Our Community First hired a land use attorney who has helped successfully defeat Wal-Mart in several Oregon communities and had a traffic specialist on board who has completed Wal-Mart traffic studies throughout Oregon and Washington. Coalition members wrote letters to the editor and op-ed articles, appeared on TV and radio, put bumper stickers on their cars and yard signs on their lawns, held rallies, picketed in front of Wal-Mart, and held a petition drive which to date has collected almost 6,000 signatures from community residents against Wal-Mart -- that's more than 10% of Bend's population!
In September, the coalition testified at the National Workers' Rights Board Hearing on Wal-Mart during JwJ's National Conference. In November, they hosted two screenings of Robert Greenwald's movie "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" with more than 550 people in attendance and followed up with a creative action of more than 75 people at the nearby proposed site for the Supercenter, getting positive press coverage in the local media.
Along with neighborhood associations and business owners, members of the coalition testified before the Oregon Transportation Commission, who, partially based on the testimony, decided to withhold funds for a highway interchange construction that Wal-Mart was counting on to help with the increased traffic generated by their store.
Finally, after months of organizing, the land use hearing officer denied Wal-Mart's application to build a Supercenter. While the impact on traffic and the surrounding neighborhoods was the basis for denying the application, the massive community opposition to Wal-Mart stems from broader corporate policies-predatory business practices that kill local businesses, low wages, unaffordable health insurance, and an arrogant response to community concerns. The community has said-loud and clear-that a Wal-Mart supercenter is not welcome. At present, Wal-Mart has appealed the ruling, and the coalition is continuing to build support for their campaign to keep another Wal-Mart out of the community.
Washington JwJ Mobilizes for Worker Organizing Impacted by War
Tacoma, WA: a blue collar city with a heavy military presence, often seems to live in the shadow of much larger Seattle, particularly when it comes to political action. But this year, thanks in part to Washington State Jobs with Justice, Tacoma was home to a significant anti-war moblization.
On March 19th, one thousand people reflecting the diversity of Tacoma came out for a march and rally to demand that the troops be brought home from Iraq and that the money being poured into the war be shifted to cover basic needs including health care, living wage jobs, veterans benefits, education, housing and Gulf Coast relief. More than 150 of the marchers were in the JwJ, labor, and workers' rights contingent, including 40 who came from Seattle on a bus provided by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). On a weekend when participation in most of the country in peace activity was down from the previous year, Tacoma saw one of the largest mobilizations since the Vietnam era. The rally in the city of less than 200,000 was comparable in size to the action the day before in Seattle, a much larger city with a strong history of anti-war protest.
The Tacoma rally reunited Department of Defense workers and faith-based peace activists who had joined together in a rally last year at Ft. Lewis to protest the use of the war as an excuse and cover for attacks on federal workers, particularly those in DoD, facing the anti-union National Personnel Security System. WS JwJ has made "worker organizing impacted by war" a top priority, and is working closely with AFGE to relate the war both to anti-union attacks and to cuts in funding for basic human needs.
Washington State JwJ joined a number of its member organizations in urging participation in the Tacoma rally, including Church Council of Greater Seattle; Fellowship of Reconiciliation of Tacoma; First United Methodist Church Micah Project; Pax Christi Tacoma; Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War; St. Leo's Peace & Justice Commission; and Tacoma Catholic Worker. But importantly, it wasn't just peace and faith-based groups that turned out. There were banners and signs from a number of unions, including Locals of AFGE, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Other unions with rank-and-file presence including the Musicians, IFPTE (representing Boeing engineers and technicians), Food & Commercial Workers, Operating Engineers, and State County & Muncipal Employees. They were joined by contingents from a variety of faith communities, including Catholic, Methodist, Muslim, CME, Quaker, Unitarian and Buddhist; veterans and military families groups, led by Iraq Veterans Against the War; and community and political groups including Mothers for Police Accountability, America in Solidarity and the Labor Party. WSJwJ's 2005 honorees were all present: members of the Legislative Labor Caucus, federal workers from the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration, and Catholic Workers.
JwJ circulated petitions that will be forwarded to South Sound members of Congress and the US Senators from Washington, making it clear that the working people of Washington want an end to the war and to attacks on workers, and a renewed commitment to the needs of working families.
Anti-Immigrant Bill Defeated in Indiana
uring this year's legislative session, some Indiana lawmakers attempted to pass harmful and hateful immigrant legislation. House Bill 1383 would have denied medical care, social services, and educational services to immigrants and their children. The bill would have also required local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. At the committee hearing for this bill, Committee Chair Bill Ruppel (R-22) chose to hear this bill last and informed everyone present that there would not be much time for public testimony. Several legislators on the committee spoke for and against the bill.
When the time came for public testimony about 20 opponents to the bill rose to go to the microphone. Social service and children advocates pointed out that the bill would prevent them from helping children who were being abused. Hospital and medical advocates pointed out that it is a violation of federal law, the Hippocratic oath, and moral sensibilities to deny health care to anyone comes to an emergency room. Education advocates pointed out that it is also a violation of federal law to deny educational access to any child. Members of the clergy pointed out that immigrants are productive members of society who pay taxes, have a strong sense of family, and ask for little in return. Worker advocates, including representatives of Central Indiana JwJ, pointed out the horrendous working conditions many immigrants labor under.
The day the bill was to be heard in the House, several advocates and immigrants showed up to lobby their Representatives. During this time there was a letter writing and phone call campaign that had been organized by several groups advising the lawmakers against this bill. JwJ continued to get the word out to leaders and activists and recruited members to attend the final vote.
It was impossible to tell how the vote was going to turn out when Rep. Mike Murphy (R-90) got up to the podium. Rep. Murphy told everyone a story about his ancestors that immigrated to the US, most of whom immigrated illegally because the economy was so bad in Ireland. He stated that no one questions the immigration status of his relatives anymore, nor those of any European decent. He stated that he hoped someone of Hispanic decent would be able to tell a story like his someday. Rep. Murphy said he could not vote for this bill because he felt it was detrimental to Indiana to do so and he asked others to vote against it also. It was a very impassioned speech and in the end may have changed some legislators votes.
The atmosphere in the hallway outside of the House Chamber was jubilant as HB 1383 failed by a vote of 19 - 74.
Victory for Immigrant Workers' Rights at Koch Foods in East Tennessee
Through the spring and summer of 2005, immigrant workers employed at the Koch Foods chicken processing facility in rural Morristown, TN decided to take the brave step of speaking up about appalling working conditions and demanding that the company treat them with basic dignity and respect. To reach their goals, workers decided to organize with UFCW. Low-wage immigrant workers, often isolated by language barriers and laboring under the shadow of precarious immigration status, can find themselves all but invisible to members of the native-born community. In this campaign, workers broke out of that invisibility.
East Tennessee JwJ coordinated community support for the campaign, working with a diverse range of organizations, churches, and concerned individuals that included Interfaith Worker Justice, the Highlander Center, Centenary United Methodist Church, the Southern Empowerment Project, and U. of TN workers and students. Community members showed their solidarity at union meetings, wrote letters to Koch management, and gave the workers their moral support and their prayers. On July 24, hundreds of supporters converged in Morristown to hear from workers and organizers and to show their support. These varied efforts were sufficient to draw national attention, and the campaign was covered in a major article in the New York Times.
After this show of strength by the workers and their allies, Koch Foods announced that it would remain neutral towards the workers' choice to organize a union. On September 8 and 9, 2005, workers voted overwhelmingly (465 to 18) to join the UFCW! East Tennessee JwJ and other community allies are standing by the workers as they negotiate a contract to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions at the plant.
New Coalitions Forming in Oregon, New Mexico, Illinois
Efforts are moving ahead to form new JwJ coalitions in two areas in the West. In Southern Oregon, a new organizing committee has been formed, with initial backing of the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council, SEIU Local 503 and the Oregon Nurses Association. Activists from eight other unions and from eleven community organizations have been involved in discussions about how to build an effective coalition in the region, stretching from Klamath Falls in the east through Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass up to Roseburg in the north. With a small amount of funding raised throught a July 2005 benefit concert by labor singer Anne Feeney, the organizing committee is seeking a modest grant to hire a part-time organizer. Within a few weeks they had close to 100 pledge cards signed, and are aiming for 10 labor and 10 community organizational members by next year, together with at least 200 pledge cards.
Following discussions involving a couple of dozen labor and community organizations in New Mexico, plans are moving forward to form a JwJ coalition in Albuquerque. The Central New Mexico Central Labor Council delegates voted unanimously in February to commit the CLC to building JwJ, authorizing expenditure of funds dependent on similar commitments from other groups. Most of the delegates took stacks of pledge cards to bring back to their locals. National JwJ is working with the CLC and other local activists to pull together a meeting of community and labor organizations in the spring.
Leaders and activists from several unions and community organizations in Champaign-Urbana, IL, have formed a Jobs with Justice organizing committee. With over 70 pledgers signed up, they are building for a founding meeting on April 22.
Media Links
Corporate Accountability
A Show of Hands on Wal-Mart
New York Times, United States
...Jobs With Justice, says that Wal-Mart - with what she considers a poor record of low wages, meager benefits and the elimination of thousands of small retailers unable to compete with Wal-Mart's low prices - should not be rewarded with a bank. .
Wal-Mart protested
Toledo Blade - Toledo,OH,USA
The rally, organized by the Toledo Area Jobs with Justice Coalition, had speakers critical of the retailer's alleged use of undocumented workers in the ...
Wal-Mart nets local support
Denver Post - Denver,CO,USA
... "They bring bad jobs into our communities and drive good jobs out," said Heidi Zwicker, executive director of Colorado Jobs With Justice, a union-backed group. ...
Wal-Mart health care policy denounced by unions
Daily Free Press (subscription) - Boston,MA,USA
... healthcare activists and labor union leaders from the organizations such as United Food and Commercial Workers, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, Greater Boston ...
Workers and the War
Honor the warrior: Speak out against the war
Barre Montpelier Times Argus - Barre,VT,USA
... The Vermont Workers' Center runs a workers' rights hotline (1-866-229-0009). For three years we've gotten calls from military spouses who lost their jobs...
Tacoma News Tribune - Tacoma, WA, USA
photo
Economic Development & Living Wage
City ordered to implement employment program
Providence Journal (subscription) - Providence,RI,USA
... Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Rhode Island Jobs with Justice and three city residents sued Mayor David N. Cicilline and Thomas E. Deller, director of ...
Council added to suit against city
Providence Journal (subscription) - Providence,RI,USA
... A lawsuit filed by Direct Action for Rights and Equality and Rhode Island Jobs with Justice alleges that Mayor David N. Cicilline and Planning Director Thomas E ...
Judge to hear suit over city's job law
Providence Journal (subscription), RI - Mar 7, 2006
... Direct Action for Rights and Equality and Rhode Island Jobs with Justice say in a lawsuit set to be heard at 11 this morning by Superior Court Judge Stephen ...
Committed to women and work
University at Buffalo Reporter - Buffalo,NY,USA
... But in 2001, the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ) took the city to court, claiming the legislation was not being implemented. ...
Worker Support
RTD, union to start mediation sessions to reignite talks
Rocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA
... operator. "Workers have waited long enough," said Heidi Zwicker, director of Colorado Jobs with Justice, a labor advocacy group.
RTD workers supported in leafleting
Rocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA
... Regional Transportation District Park-n-Rides for the morning rush hour and the busy 16th Street Mall at lunchtime, members of Jobs With Justice, RTD retirees ...
Other Stories
Protest Planned
Indianapolis Star, United States
... Central Indiana Jobs With Justice, the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center and Veterans for Peace are some of the groups that helped form the coalition. ...
Artist shoots photography with a purpose
Cleveland Jewish News - Cleveland,OH,USA
... He'sa proud rabble-rouser. At one point, he worked as an organizer at Cleveland Jobs for Justice before going back into photography full-time. ...
Subways headline at First Unitarian Church
Philadelphia Daily News - Philadelphia,PA,USA
... folk singer/activist in the grand tradition of Woody and Pete returns for a Folk Factory concert benefitting the workers' rights organization Jobs With Justice ...
Campus-Community Partnerships for Sustainability Conference April ...
BC Now - Kentucky,USA
... Outpost, Community Farm Alliance, Envision Franklin County, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Heartwood, Kentucky Jobs with Justice, Kentucky Sierra ...
Cross stitches
Hindu Business Line - India
... Delhi-based coalition of trade unions, New Trade Union Initiative, and the US-based coalition of trade unions and civil society organisations, Jobs with Justice ...
