June 2011

The world's largest hair salon corporation, Regis/Cost Cutters, agrees to remove “Yellow Dog Contracts” it forced workers to sign and to provide Notices and a DVD recording informing employees of their rights

By Veronica Mora, a student at St. Cloud State University and intern at United States Student Association.

“Mayor Gray, Mayor Gray, help us make Walmart pay!” echoed across the Freedom Plaza where community members gathered to voice their demands loudly on the hot and humid Wednesday afternoon last week. As the speakers took the microphone, a common theme was repeated: the community will not stand idly by as negotiations are agreed upon without their input. The people demanded that Walmart put their promises in writing and transparency and respect from Mayor Gray as voting constituents of our communities.

In recent months, Walmart has unveiled a plan to open 4 stores in Washington, D.C. They claim that their stores will create new jobs and raise the standard of living in the wards in which they are established. But community organizers have witnessed the contrary, especially in the aftermath of the recent Supreme Court ruling in Dukes v. Walmart. These community members have joined together in a coalition, Living Wages and Healthy Living Coalition, and have demanded to be included in the negotiations, as Reverend Finley stated “we demand our place at the table.”

Boston AFTRA broadcasters are going on strike for the first time in 20 years and they need your support!

This weekend anchors and reporters from Channel 7 will be boycotting the Station’s Health & Fitness Expo in protest of Sunbeam Television’s unfair treatment of employees.

Sunbeam has unilaterally imposed drastic cuts to their compensation system, which could lead to pay reductions ranging from 25% to 50% for reporters and anchors. With cuts of that magnitude imposed, one would expect the company to be in severe economic distress. That is not the case. In fact, the company has stated multiple times that it can afford to pay employees under the current system.

The Station has consistantly refused to renegotiate, despite numerous attempts from WHDH workers. This week the station even refused the Federal Mediator’s request for a meeting.

HOW TO SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY

On Tuesday, June 21st Jobs with Justice coalitions as a part of the Making Change at Walmart Campaign rallied to push for an end to Walmart’s attempts to block legal access to women seeking justice.  They united with members of the Paycheck Fairness coalition (includes partners from the National Women’s Law Center,

San Francisco Press Event

NOW, CLUW, AAUW, and others) to build these response rallies.

The company has an historical record of alleged discrimination against employees based on gender.  The rallies happened one day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dukes v. Walmart case that the more than one million current and former female Walmart associates can not move forward with their case as one class action.

For a summary of the actions, see below.

NYC

Today, Jobs with Justice and the United Students against Sweatshops released an "investor alert" showing how Rite Aid's mismanagement and corporate greed have contributed to the company's poor performance during the past four years.  The release of the investor alert coincides with Rite Aid's annual shareholders' meeting on June 23 at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg, PA. The alert is available on the Jobs with Justice website here.

Jobs with Justice has been an active supporter of Rite Aid workers across the country who have struggled to form unions and to win union contracts.  Over the last several years, Jobs with Justice has leafleted stores, met with store managers, sent emails to top Rite Aid executives, and held rallies in support Rite Aid workers in their local communities.