JwJ News April 2006
APRIL 2006
- JwJ Mobilizes for Immigrants Rights!
- Student Labor Week of Action a Huge Success
- Victory for Seattle Waste Management Workers!
- JwJ members attend NTUI Founding Convention in India
- N. Texas WRB Holds Hearing on Immigrant Workers' Rights
- Colorado JwJ Aids in Victory for Bus Drivers
- Southern Oregon JwJ Supports Teachers in their First Action
- JwJ Testifies at FDIC Hearing on Wal-Mart's Banking Application
- No Lunch for the Rest of Us - Protest at Bush Fundraiser
- RI JwJ Demands Health Care for All
JwJ Mobilizes for Immigrants Rights!
In early April, millions of people across the country took to the streets in support of fair, comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship, unifies families, and fights the criminalization of immigrants. JwJ coalitions across the country mobilized for many of the massive demostrations for immigrants rights that took place in April.
Rhode Island JwJ is playing a key role in Inmigrantes Unidos, the local organizing group that is organizing for fair comprehensive immigration reform. On April 10, 4,000 Rhode Islanders marched to demand immigration reform. Faith leaders and union leaders joined the fight. Together with Inmigrantes Unidos, RI JwJ is helping to organize for the May First "Day Without an Immigrant" actions and beyond.
On April 4 the Youth Worker Center, Long Island JwJ's SLAP affiliate, organized an immigrant student walk out at the region's largest university. The action was 200 people strong. On April 9, LI JwJ joined allies to stage a 1,000 person rally outside of Rep. Peter King's office in Massapequa Park. King, the co-sponsor of the Sensenbrenner bill, has been outspoken in his attacks against the immigrant community. JwJ-LI also mobilized for buses to NYC's 4/10 protest.
Several coalitions mobilized for the largest demonstrations ever to occur in the history of their cities. Central Indiana JwJ mobilized for a 20,000 person march in Indianapolis. In Salt Lake City, Utah JwJ mobilized for a march of more than 20,000-50,000 who turned out to protest attacks on immigrants on April 9th. The following day, Utah JwJ Organizer George Neckel addressed the crowd at a follow-up rally. Following up on a WRB Hearing on immigrant workers' rights held April 1 (see WRB story for details), North Texas JwJ mobilized for a march of an incredible 350,000-500,000 in Dallas!
Many other coalitions around the country also mobilized for actions in support of immigrant rights. Tucson JwJ mobilized for a 15,000 person rally organized by JwJ ally Border Action Network. Portland JwJ helped mobilize 8,000 people the day after an unexpectedly large rally of 20,000 Salem, Oregon's state capital. In Seattle, Washington State JwJ played an important role in a rally of 25,000. New JwJ Organizer Juan José Bocanegra was one of the rally planners. In Atlanta, JwJ recruited and helped coordinate the marshalls for a march of 50,000-80,000 loosely coordinated by the Coord. Cmtee of Latino Leaders and Spanish Speaking radio. Boston JwJ mobilized for a 10,000 person rally in Boston Common. NYC JwJ mobilized for a rally of more than 100,000 in New York. Philly JwJ helped mobilize for a 10,000 person march. In Chicago, more than 300,000 marched in early mobilization in March, a precursor to the later marches and rallies. The St. Louis Immigrant Rights Action Taskforce played a key role in turning out 5,000 people for their April 9th event. Central Florida JwJ mobilized for a march of more than 1,000 in Orlando. East Tennessee JwJ helped to mobilize thousands for a march in Knoxville and they are continuing to work towards May 1 events. The Albany Capitol District Workers' Center, Labor-Religion Coalition/JwJ, LCLAA, the CD Area Labor Federation, and the NLG cosponsored a forum on April 5th on Immigration Reform that featured a panel with expert from AFSC, Rep. from Sen. Clinton's office, Rep. from the Albany Catholic Diocese and a Rep. from a Saratoga Co. Public Defender. And JwJers in smaller communities like South Bend and Champaign-Urbana also participated in important mobilizations.
Student Labor Week of Action a Huge Success!
From March 27- April 4, 2006, students stood with labor unions, Jobs with Justice Coalitions, and allies for the rights of workers to organize, living wages, farm worker justice, against sweatshop labor, and much more during the Seventh Annual National Student Labor Week of Action! With more than 250 events at more than 170 high schools, colleges, and universities this year's Student Labor Week of Action is amongst the largest demonstrations for economic justice in the U.S. in recent history!
Highlights of the 2006 week of action include a twelve hour sit-in and a hunger strike at the University of Miami in support of janitorial workers that have been on strike for more than two months; sit-ins for sweat free apparel at Columbia University and at the University of California at Berkeley and Riverside; rallies for the rights of workers to organize at the University of Vermont, Georgetown University, Temple University, and Harvard University, amongst others; the McDonald's Truth Tour; a 200 person rally for immigrant's rights at Stony Brook University; a victory celebration for workers that won wage increases at the University at Buffalo- SUNY; and MUCH MORE!
Look for a complete report back on the National Student Labor Week of Action in the coming weeks.
Victory for Seattle Waste Management Workers!
More than 600 Seattle-area garbage workers at Waste Management and Allied Waste won a major victory this month! On March 31st the workers, represented by Teamsters Local 174, voted to extend their old contract, putting off a strike vote until April 16th. During the two weeks, Washington State Jobs with Justice, together with other labor and community supporters, mobilized for a lively support rally, and helped to spread the word to be ready for April 17th picket lines. The workers put out a regular newsletter, "We're Talkin Trash," and met with not only JwJ and the Martin Luther King County Central Labor Council, but also the Church Council of Greater Seattle, A. Phllip Randolph Institute and members of the city councils in several affected municipalities.
In suburban Burien, Seattle longshoreman and JwJ activist Jack Block Jr. sponsored a resolution to support the workers' efforts to maintain their health care benefits. On April 16th, two hours before a scheduled strike vote, the workers won a great contract. Major issues in addition to maintainence of health care benefits included reducing mandatory overtime, staffing levels, seniority in scheduling and job bidding, safety and work rules. Ratification votes will be at the end of April. A leaflet prepared for those who showed up for the April 17th picket stressed that "support from public officials, community leaders and community organizations including Jobs with Justice was a major factor in winning a fair contract from these multi-billion dollar corporations."
JwJ members attend NTUI Founding Convention in India
Chicago JwJ Global Justice Committee members Saket soni and Amisha patel attended the founding convention of the New Trade Union Initiative in India. What follows are some of their reflections.
Under a large white canopy that filtered a powerful New Delhi sun, gathered some of the most powerful trade union leaders in India today. Over eight hundred garment workers, fishworkers, house cleaners, factory employees, sex workers, childcare providers, and other working people came together to form a historic strategic alliance that fundamentally changes the direction of the trade union movement in India at the founding convention of the New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) in early March. Amazingly, Jobs with Justice not only was present at this historic occasion, but played a real role in building a meaningful partnership with the Indian trade union leaders.
The NTUI is a federation of more than 200 unions across the country that shifts the organization and actions of labor in India. Traditionally, unions in India are politically connected - when a party comes into power, the union associated with that party also comes into power. When that political party experiences a split, labor's power also gets split. Over the years, the political affiliation of trade unions has meant a gradual erosion of power, not just due to party splintering, but more importantly from a steady move away from democratic, worker-centered organizing and alliance building. The NTUI aims to address these issues.
Jobs with Justice first met with NTUI leaders at the 2004 World Social Forum in Mumbai, India. It quickly became apparent that building a mutual partnership was strategic to both networks. For more than two years, JwJ has worked to make this connection real. Anannya Bhattacharjee was hired by JwJ to work in India in order to deepen the relationship and move the work.
JwJ sponsored a U.S. tour of two NTUI leaders, Ashim Roy and V. Chandra, who spent a few days in Chicago in December 2004. Since their visit, Chicago JwJ has been building a plan to make the international work more tangible, including planning a survey of Chicago members of how people are connected to the movement in India (ie through multinational employers, working on immigration reform, or having a large South Asian membership in their organization). When Chicago JwJ learned of the opportunity to attend the founding convention, we jumped at the chance to make the local connection between Chicago and the NTUI even stronger. The Global Justice Committee of Chicago JwJ worked incredibly hard to send a delegation from Chicago to join National JwJ Director Fred Azcarate and organizer Anannya Bhattacharjee in India.
Saket, an Indian immigrant, has been organizing with the immigrant community in Chicago for years, and has been working closely with leaders in the South post-Katrina, helping build a real black-immigrant coalition in New Orleans. Amisha, the daughter of an Indian immigrant factory worker, has been an organizer with SEIU Local 73 for over 4 years.
The first day of the gathering was the International Conference, where organizers from the FAT in Mexico, the UE in the US, the Canadian Steelworkers, the CGT in France, and labor leaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Turkey joined some of the powerhouses of the Indian labor movement, such as M Vasudhevan (Mumbai), Gopinath ( Bangalore), and Sampath Prakash ( Kashmir). The Indian leaders referenced Bush's new discovery and praise of democracy in India, and responded that democracy cannot be sustained when attacks on workers are sustained. They talked about how the outsourcing issue is dividing the working class globally, and that the right has been successful in pushing this divisive agenda. Globalization does create jobs - exponential growth in toxic waste handling industry, in garment workers working in horrible conditions. Prakash stated very clearly: globalization is global looting.
All of the JwJ delegates had an opportunity to share their perspectives at various events throughout the convention. We were also able to have concrete exchanges with the hospital workers' union in Delhi and with community and labor organizations. Our interactions at the NTUI founding convention were another important step forward in building global solidarity for workers and communities.
N. Texas WRB Holds Hearing on Immigrant Workers' Rights
On April 1, the North Texas Jobs with Justice Workers Rights Board presided over the first in a proposed series of hearings about working conditions for North Texas immigrants at the Oak Cliff Methodist church. The panelists were syndicated commentator Tunde Obazee, Dr. Jeorg Rieger, Dr. Isabel DoCampo, and State Representative Roberto Alonzo.
The Hearing opened with an overview of some of the issues facing undocumented immigrant workers griven by JwJ organizer Gene Lantz. The WRB panelists were then given an opportunity to speak. Tundee Obazee described some of his own experiences as an immigrant from Africa. He was working as an aerospace designer when his employer learned that he was undocumented. He was demoted to the janitorial force. He had great difficulty, but was finally able to take advantage of the 1986 amnesty. Rep. Alonzo had just come from a 1,500 person public demonstration for immigrant rights in Arlington. He lamented the day's news about punishments against high school students for demonstrating during school hours.
Four people gave tesimony about their experiences as immigrant workers. Juana, who was born in Mexico, told how workers at her Boise, ID plant tried to hold their own meeting and their employer called immigration services on the workers. The panel was particularly concerned with what happened to the children of these workers while they were detained. Jorge, an immigrant from Guatemala, explained that many immigrants come here because giant transnational corporations have used "free trade" investment "agreements" to destroy their jobs at home. He also explained that many Central Americans come to the U.S. seeking asylum from the murderous governments at home. "It is important to publicize this repression and the globalization that is causing these problems," Jorge told the audience in Spanish. Esperanza worked for a North Texas company for 10 years, then was fired. "The boss did not like Hispanics. He treated us very badly and used bad words to us. Thank God, I had my residency, so I could stand up to him. But other women were afraid." Working with the UNITE-HERE union, Esperanza carried out a successful fight that eventually resulted in re-instatement and back pay. The racist boss was fired during the process! Margarita traveled from Central America with her five children for over a month to escape political repression in her home country. When she was trying to prove her refugee status, immigration officials asked her for proof of repression in her home country. She answered, "Do you want me to bring the cadavers of my family?" "No human being is illegal," she told us and proudly announced that she is now President of Voices for Immigrants.
On April 9th, N. Texas Jobs with Justice joined an estimated 350,000 to 500,000 people to march for immigrant rights in Dallas, by far the largest march for civil rights in Dallas history!
Colorado JwJ Aids in Victory for Bus Drivers
Colorado JwJ played a major role in mobilizing community support for ATU bus drivers with the Regional Transit District (RTD). During the week-long strike JwJ had daily actions involving 15-20 organizations. JwJ initiated meetings with the Denver Area Labor Federation (DALF) and other unions to coordinate support, got folks out to picket lines, distributed 5,000 flyers at the opening game for the Rockies and 3,000 more flyers later in the week, and helped to generate enough calls to RTD that management complained their lines were jammed. The workers ratified their new contract by an 82% majority. Following up on the RTD victory, JwJ is meeting with ATU 1755, a sister local to the RTD local that represents private-sector drivers, principally with First Transit. The local is in contract negotiations, and JwJ leaders are encouraging the local to make strategic plans for a contract fight.
Southern Oregon JwJ Supports Teachers in their First Action
The brand-new Southern Oregon JwJ Organizing Committee is off and running. On April 13th, the 61 teachers at the Rogue River School Districts, members of the Rogue River Teachers Association, went out on strike following a 60-1 vote. The teachers had been working without a contract since July 2005, and had gone through seven months of fruitless negotiations. It was the first teachers strike in Southern Oregon since the state's 1973 Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act. The principal issue in the strike was the School Board's insistence on being able to unilaterally shorten the school year, which results in not only fewer days of education for the students, but also pay cuts for the teachers. JwJ helped mobilize picket line support from the Oregon Nurses Association, SEIU and the Southern Oregon CLC. JwJ signs and t-shirts made their debut in small-town Southern Oregon. With strong community support, the teachers brought the School Board to the table the next day - and after a one-and-a-half day strike, the teachers won a contract ratified 52-2. The School Board agreed that in the event that days were tentatively cut due to financial shortfall, and there turned out to be a reasonable surplus, there would be negotiations to restore some or all of the lost days. (For a brief streaming video interview with a JwJ activist on the picket line, you can go to Rogue Valley Indy Media site at http://rogueimc.org/en/2006/04/6432.shtml.)
JwJ Testifies at FDIC Hearing on Wal-Mart's Banking Application
On April 11, 2006 Jobs with Justice testified at an FDIC Hearing against Wal-Mart's application for banking status on April 11th in Washington, DC. Wal-Mart is hoping to form an Industrial Loan Corporation (ILC), possibly in order to open branches in its stores, to give loans, and to issue credit cards. The FDIC does not usually open these applications up to public comment, but apparently did so in response to the scrutiny the company has been under in the past year. Jobs with Justice testified that until the company can be more responsible in its practices towards workers and our communities, they should not be allowed to expand into any new industries. "Wal-Mart has a broad impact on working people both within the United States and overseas," said Sarita Gupta, the field director of Jobs with Justice. "It is our hope that the largest private sector employer in the United States will set higher standards for the retail industry and become a real ally to working families. But until they do this, we should not allow them to expand into any new industries."
No Lunch for the Rest of Us - Protest at Bush Fundraiser
Central Indiana Jobs with Justice and other members of the Blue Plate Special Coalition sponsored a 'No Lunch for the Rest of Us' protest rally during a fundraising luncheon for Congressman Mike Sodrel of Jeffersonville, IN. President Bush was the speaker for the $1,000 per plate luncheon. The event also included a $4,000 photo op with the President and a $10,000 per person business roundtable reception. The event was held in Downtown Indianapolis at the Murat Center, in spite of the fact that Rep. Sodrel represents Southern Indiana.
The 'No Lunch for the Rest of Us' Rally featured a canned food drive and on the street food donations to the hungry. Participants were asked to bring a sign and bring a can, and boy, did they. Despite the fact that it was a very cold and windy day, 250 - 300 people showed up for the event, most carrying their own signs.
100 members of the Central Indiana Justice for Immigrants Coalition marched down Michigan Street to join the crowd carrying signs, banners, and a variety of flags. The members of Justice for Immigrants led the crowd in several chants, both in English and Spanish. Several members from Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center were there protesting the war. One protestor brought flags from every country the US has ever been in a war against, as well as the UN flag. Several high school and junior high school students were there with signs asking the President about education funding and federal aid. The students led the adults in several chants. Several people had signs condemning Rep. Sodrel for carpet bagging his fundraiser way outside his district. It was exciting to see so many different groups with a wide array of messages for the President and the Congressman.
Ultimately, the goal of the protest was achieved. Our messages were aired on all the local television news stations, local radio broadcasts, and newspapers. We were able to contribute to the needy in our community, something we feel that is not being done by our federal, state and local governments. Big congratulations should go out to all the members of the Blue Plate Special coalition, individual participants, and volunteers for managing to send a message and do good all in one gesture.
RI JwJ Demands Health Care for All!
On March 23 RI Jobs with Justice and RI For Health Care joined together for a Health Care for All Action Day at the RI State House. 150 Activists, student, union and faith leaders joined together to fight back on the Governors' proposed budget cuts that would send thousands of families off of the state's Medicaid program, and to call for private solutions to the health care crisis, including a Fair Share Bill for Rhode Island that would ensure that large employers, like Wal-Mart, who employ a thousand or more people are paying their fair share of health care costs. The health care crisis in Rhode Island needs public and private solutions to find a path to cover everyone. As we heard from Rev. Duane Clinker from Hillsgrove United Methodist Church, sometimes you have to stand up together for what's right, and sometimes you have to sit down. Rev. Clinker asked everyone at that moment to sit down in the Rotunda of the State House, because, as he reminded us, there might be a time soon that we have to, as a community, sit down together to block harmful budget cuts and call for real legislative solutions to the health care crisis. After hearing from Medical students, uninsured workers and community activists, we broke into lobby action teams to speak with legislators about the real costs of the health care crisis on Rhode Island.
MEDIA LINKS
For Student Labor Week of Action press, click here
Immigrant Rights
Planned walkout stirs immigrant debate
Boston Globe, United States
... Massachusetts Jobs With Justice, a Boston-based workers' rights coalition, is lining up community and religious leaders to intervene with employers who fire ...
Broad Street reflects the national debate
Providence Journal (subscription) - Providence,RI,USA
... Rachel Miller, director of Jobs with Justice, a member agency of the Immigrants United coalition, says the May 1 strike is being called "to highlight and ...
Panel researching working conditions hears from immigrants
KTEN - Denison,TX,USA
... job. She was one of a half-dozen workers who told their stories this weekend to a panel organized by North Texas Jobs with Justice. ...
Fired Latino painters get jobs back
Seattle Times - United States
... It included representatives from the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Seattle Jobs with Justice, Casa Latina and King County Executive Ron Sims' office. ...
Former Clinton Health Chief Forced to Support Immigrant Rights
Pacific News Service - San Francisco,CA,USA
... Led by the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP), a project of Jobs with Justice, the week of activity focuses national attention on the increasing number of ...
Critics say cuts to RIte Care would hurt Hispanics most
Providence Journal (subscription) - Providence,RI,USA
... "It's racist if the outcome . . . is hurting people of color," Gladys Gould, a Providence resident speaking on behalf of Jobs with Justice, said. ...
Immigrants tell panel of poor working conditions
Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth,TX,USA
... Fernandez was one of a half-dozen workers who told their stories Saturday to a panel organized by North Texas Jobs with Justice, a coalition affiliated with ...
Hundreds of Students Walkout at Stony Brook
LongIslandPress.com - NY,USA
... Being is Illegal" and "We are Workers Not Criminals." The protest was organized by the Youth Worker Center, a project of Jobs with Justice Long Island, a ...
Thousands show support for immigration reform
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States
... the St. Louis chapter of Jobs with Justice. Suarez was one of the organizers of the rally, which included a speech from St. Louis ...
2,000 rally in Orlando for immigrant rights
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
... of Florida organized Sunday's event in Orlando, with help from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now and Central Florida Jobs with Justice. ...
Immigration protesters speak out on other social issues
KVOA.com - Tucson,AZ,USA
... state," Andrade said. Jud Blawis, from Jobs with Justice, had a booth at the park so he could spread the word. "We believe the ...
Weekday rally draws more than 1,000 to downtown Portland
OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
... Laurie King, a representative of Jobs with Justice, said the delegates told the staff member that the Senate bill is not good enough and the House bill is a ...
Hillsboro students skip school in favor of immigration rally
OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
... Portland Jobs for Justice sponsored Monday's rally, which had been announced through Spanish media and other local support groups and individuals. ...
Apopka group spreads call to rally for migrant rights
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
... the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, the Association of Communities for Reform Now, known as ACORN, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, Latino Leadership and a ...
Hundreds march in solidarity with immigrants
OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
... Si se puede!" (yes we can). Peter Parks, an activist for Jobs with Justice, stood out among the crowd with a union jacket and gray hair. ...
Immigration subject of rally
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
... The event is co-sponsored by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, and Central Florida Jobs with Justice. ...
Somali Leaders Condemn Discriminatory Practices at Huntington Bank ...
Yahoo! News (press release) - USA
... Local 3, the African Community Relief Association of Ohio, the Somali Women's and Children's Alliance, and Greater Columbus Jobs With Justice -- then presented ...
Wal-Mart
Protests lodged against retailer
Arkansas Democrat Gazette - AR,USA
... Groups including Jobs for Justice and Americans for Democratic Action spoke at the second day of hearings at Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. ...
Opponents speak out about Wal-Mart banking bid
49abcnews.com - Topeka,KS,USA
... by workers, community organizations, churches and student groups about the various corporate practices of Wal-Mart," said Sarita Gupta, Jobs with Justice. ...
Opponents speak out about Wal-Mart banking bid
ABC 49 News - Topeka, KS
Economic Development
IDAs need to be accountable to communities
Buffalo News - NY, United States
... principles. If you want to get involved in this effort, please call the Coalition for Economic Justice at 892-5877. State Sen. George ...
Rally to focus on jobs, taxes
The Journal News.com - Westchester,NY,USA
... IDA inducements to keep those benefits in the communities that are shouldering the tax breaks, said Michael Rabinowitz of New York Jobs with Justice, one of ...
Yonkers development should include living wages, union work ...
The Journal News.com - Westchester,NY,USA
... Representatives of the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, New York Jobs with Justice, and the Hunger Action Network of New York State also ...
Penalty eyed for firms with tax deals, no jobs
Buffalo News - NY, United States
... grant tax incentives to entice companies to expand or move locally, said Allison Duwe, the executive director of the Coalition for Economic Justice, the local ...
Other Issues
May Day program celebrates labor cause
The Republican - Springfield,MA,USA
HOLYOKE - The Western Massachusetts Chapter of Jobs with Justice is sponsoring a May Day program of songs and dramatic readings to mark International Labor Day ...
Less coverage, less care
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States
... Medicaid program. Lara Granich works for St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice, a coalition of labor and community groups. She has seen ...
Case in point: AP's firing of Chris Graff
Vermont Guardian - Winooski,VT,USA
... James Haslam is the director of the Vermont Workers' Center. For more information, call the center's toll-free hotline at 1-866-229-0009.
Inequality Matters: How Growing Economic Divides Threaten America ...
AScribe - USA
... Cleveland. Pam has also been a leader within Cleveland Jobs with Justice and in the Day Laborer's Hiring Hall effort in Cleveland. ...
Summer Fashion Without the Sweatshops
Associated Content
...JWJ is one stop networking, research, campaigning, and shopping essentials for the activist in you. Browse the main site for the latest news, but also check out the shop for T-shirts and scoop one up for those summer days you want to make a statement....
UVM student activists, faculty respond to last week's eviction of demonstrators from UVM Green
Burlington Free Press - Burlington, VT
...Members of UVM's Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) have been rallying for more than a year in support of higher wages for some of the university's lowest paid workers and others...
Waiting for a ride
Creative Loafing Atlanta - Atlanta,GA,USA
... a growing sentiment among African-American activists groups, such as the Concerned Black Clergy, Atlanta Transit Riders Union and Atlanta Jobs with Justice. ...
Roseburg Republican has three challengers in primary election
The Register-Guard - Eugene,Oregon,USA
... Ohlsen, 54, stressed that he is financing his own campaign and favors bringing a local chapter of the national Jobs With Justice organization to Douglas County ...
Comeback for Labor?
ZNet - Woods Hole,MA,USA
... rank-and- file strikers from AMFA Local 5 in Detroit formed their own Solidarity Committee that attended other unions' pickets, Jobs with Justice events, and ...
