April 2011

Community coalitions in major cities tell elected officials to reject Walmart or impose strong standards

Submitted by JwJNational on April 28, 2011

Coalitions in cities targeted for new Walmart stores gathered and took strategic actions on April 21, 2011 to urge elected leaders to make sure Walmart’s desire to open or expand stores is rejected or met with enforcement of strong standards.

In cities across the United States, Walmart is seeking access to new markets and customers, spurring local and national debate for good reason. Local coalitions of community members, elected officials, religious leaders, small business owners and others are joining together and speaking out to voice their concern and ensure the jobs being offered by Walmart meet strong standards for healthy, growing communities.

Jobs with Justice is playing a key role in these coalitions, either coordinating or participating in a number of cities including:  Boston, New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.  Other cities where local coalitions held aligned events include:  Los Angeles, Seattle.  Here are some highlights:

In San Francisco:

Workers must unite for better immigration policy

Submitted by Richard L. Trumka on April 28, 2011

Arizona and Wisconsin may seem like a world apart. But they have more in common than you think. In these states and many others, working people – immigrant and native-born alike – are under fierce attack by corporate-backed politicians.

National Summit to Turn the Tide on Anti-Immigrant Enforcement

Submitted by Huy Ong on April 28, 2011

One year ago, what was long known to be a laboratory for the Right also became recognized as an epicenter for human rights efforts today. On April 23, 2010 Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070 into law, elevating the state of Arizona into the national spotlight as both the capitol of prejudice and the heart of a vibrant migrant and human rights movement.  While Russell Pearce, Sheriff Arpaio, and Jan Brewer entered the courts to defend their unconstitutional and inhumane work, families, neighbors, workers, people of faith, and students mobilized in the tens of thousands to send the clear message that “we will not comply” with the criminalization of our communities.

Independent Philadelphia Security Officers Union Wins First Union Contract at the Museum of Art

Submitted by Allison Fletche... on April 20, 2011

After four years of organizing, officers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art employed by AlliedBarton Security Services have a union contract!  The agreement, ratified by a majority of guards on April 18th, will increase wages by 14.5% over the life of the 3-year contract and will institute a grievance procedure and a seniority system.

"We are proud that our 4 year struggle has resulted in a better quality of life for our coworkers and families," says Donald Lindsey, President of the union.

Philly Museum of Art Guards Welcome Timothy RubThe union mounted a public pressure campaign which engaged supportive city council members, the Philadelphia labor movement, student activists, Jobs with Justice, and dozens of local faith leaders to win their victory against the nation’s second-largest security company.

Security guards are prevented from joining most labor unions due to the Section 9 (B) 3 of the National Labor Relations Act.  This clause of the National Labor Relations Act states that security guards must join "security guard only unions," of which there are few.

Workers Push for California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

Submitted by San Francisco J... on April 15, 2011

CA Domestic Workers Rally in San Francisco 04-13-11On  April 13th, over 200 domestic workers and their supporters from throughout California converged in Sacramento to call for adoption of the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Following a rally outside the State Capitol, domestic workers and their supporters packed the hearing room, lobby and staircase for the Assembly Labor committee hearing where the bill was passed 5-1.

Based on New York's landmark law, the California legislation would create guidelines for employers of housekeepers, nannies and other workers in an industry that is unregulated and without clearly defined work benefits.  Authored by Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and V.Manuel Perez (D-Coachella), the bill now moves on to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

New York City sings "No, no, no!" to Walmart

Submitted by Austin Guest on April 14, 2011

Last Friday, NY Jobs with Justice and other members of the Walmart-Free NYC Coalition staged a flash mob in Time Warner Center, headquarters of the Related Companies, the real estate developer currently in talks to lease Walmart space to build its first store in New York City.  Nearly one hundred of us sang and danced with brass band accompaniment to the tune of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” to let Related know that we don’t want them opening the floodgates for Walmart to take over our city:

Our action might have been fun, but the consequences of Related’s actions are quite serious. If the deal with Walmart goes through, Walmart is believed to have plans to open at least a hundred more stores throughout New York, threatening to kill quality jobs, shut down small businesses, and lower labor standards throughout the city. New Yorkers deserve better, and that’s why we showed up at Related’s headquarters to let them have a little signing and dancing piece of our mind.

But of course, this struggle isn’t isolated to New York.  Facing declining sales for the first time in its history, Walmart has pinned its survival to breaking into urban markets across the country.  And across the country, JwJ chapters are mounting a fierce fight to keep Walmart from destroying local economies in cities like Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and elsewhere.

Reflections on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Remembrance

Submitted by Caitlyn DuBois on April 12, 2011

Caitlyn DuBois is a student at Smith College in Northampton, MA.

Grabbing a piece of chalk, I crawl down to the sidewalk in the middle of New York City to write: “Gaetana Midolo age 16, lived at 147 Commerce St. Died March 25th, 1911.” Chalking every word of her name out, I remember a young girl who died in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire exactly 100 years prior. This year’s anniversary of the tragedy was marked by a three-day gathering that included two conferences, an on-site commemoration, a speak-out, and chalkings across the city.

Community Members Expose Housing Authority of New Orleans' Lies about Local Hires

Submitted by Jobs with Justi... on April 12, 2011

NOLA STANDDavid Gilmore, Director of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), promised local jobs for the BW Cooper redevelopment, but not a single community member has been hired as construction work swings into high gear.

On March 31, residents and community members led clergy, labor, community and other allies in an inspection of the worksite that exposed the full extent to which David Gilmore betrayed his promises to the people of BW Cooper. Gilmore told the Times-Picayune that 40% of all hires would come from New Orleans, and HUD requires at least 30% of the workers hired on the site be low-income, yet not a single member of the BW Cooper community has been hired. Residents and community members have been locked out of jobs on their own public housing development, and Gilmore has refused to meet with residents and intervene to ensure local hiring happens as promised.

UMass Amherst Community Solidarity with Workers – Participates in National Teach-In

Submitted by Chris Hicks on April 12, 2011

By Hanan Nicola Bumpus

Inspired by the recent activity by citizens in Wisconsin, the UMass Amherst community gathered on Tuesday April 5th in solidarity along, with over 222 campuses, for a national teach-in. These students and other community members came together in order to learn about issues that are relevant to them, and how to organize, fight back, and take back their rights.

Issues that were addressed included the recent economic crisis, the targeting of workers unions by politicians, and the ever increasing tuition and fees that students are facing. Local celebrities, such as Communications professor Sut Jhally, Michael Thelwell, who is the founding chair of the Afro-American department, Dan Clawson from the Sociology department, Gerald Friedman and David Kotz from the economics department, and former SGA president Malcolm Chu, among others, came out to address these issues and inform the student body.

Melissa Urban, a senior at UMass and an organizer with CEPA, spoke about a very salient issue for her, student debt. “[Many students] are leaving school with mortgage-sized student loans but no hope of finding a job… We need to have our voices heard”.

Workers in Bangladesh, US Unite to Hold WalMart Accountable

Submitted by Erica Smiley on April 8, 2011

WalMart worker tourFrom March 29 through April 4, garment workers from the Bangladesh Worker Solidarity Center toured the US in an effort to hold WalMart and other multinational corporations that buy garments from Bangladeshi suppliers accountable for the treatment and conditions of workers.  Making stops in Chicago, Boston, Rhode Island, New York, Philadelphia and DC, workers demonstrated that as the world’s biggest company, WalMart impacts communities around the globe.  The tour instilled the importance of building unity between workers representing multiple points in the WalMart supply chain including WalMart associates, warehouse workers, and Bangladeshi garment workers among other suppliers.

200+ Denver Students Stage Walkout for Labor & Education

Submitted by Chris Hicks on April 8, 2011

Denver We Are OneOn Monday, April 4th, over 200 students from University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State College of Denver participated in a walkout and rally in support of labor and education.   The action was in conjunction with the April 4th “We Are One” National Day of Action that SLAP, Jobs with Justice, and United States Student Association all actively participated in as a response to the recent attack on workers and students across the country.

In Colorado, two anti-worker bills earlier this February:

Kentucky High School Students Walkout in Support of Workers' Rights

Submitted by JwJNational on April 7, 2011

Kentucky high school students held a walkout in support of workers' rights. Check out 3 of the students talking about it at a "We Are One" rally on April 4 in Louisville.  Great work!

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Jobs with Justice is a national network of local coalitions that bring together labor unions, faith groups, community organizations, and student activists to fight for working people. Our members are in the streets in 46 cities in 24 states across the country.

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