August 2011

Hershey’s J-1 student workers rally at Times Square store to break Hershey’s wall of silence

Submitted by JwJNational on August 31, 2011

New York, NY – A group of 30 student workers who escaped captive labor at the Hershey’s packing plant this summer rallied at Hershey’s Times Square store on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 12 p.m. to demand:

• an end to Hershey’s exploitation of students on J-1 cultural exchange visas;
• the return of the $3,000-6,000 each the students paid for false promises of a cultural exchange program; and
• that the 400 jobs they filled become living wage jobs for local workers.

Take Action Now!

The students—who come from China, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nigeria, and other countries—organized with the help of the National Guestworker Alliance and held a walk-out and strike from the Hershey’s plant on Aug. 17.

Justice @ Verizon -- Your Support Needed

Submitted by Allison Fletche... on August 31, 2011

The struggle continues!

CWA and IBEW are set to meet today to reconvene bargaining with Verizon. This "reset" of the company's bargaining position was made possible by the tremendous strike and mobilization efforts of union members and allies like you across the country.

Jobs with Justice coalitions, union members, and allies continue to leaflet at Verizon stores across the country to let Verizon know that we won't let them get away with gutting good jobs -- especially on the heels of news that Verizon pays their CEO more than they pay in U.S. taxes!

But this fight is far from over. Verizon workers need OUR SUPPORT to keep the pressure on!

How you can help:

San Francisco Holds Care Congress

Submitted by Gordon Mar on August 30, 2011

photo by Carol HarveyOn August 20, 2011, over 500 long-term care workers, older adults, people with disabilities, family members, political leaders and broad array of activists packed San Francisco’s Mission High School for the regional launch of Caring Across Generations, a movement to create millions of new care jobs and protect the social safety net from budget cuts at a time when America’s long-term care needs are skyrocketing.

America’s “age wave” begins this year, with one adult turning 65 every eight seconds. Caring Across Generations meets this moment by aiming to protect what we have—Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security—while creating what we need: two million new care jobs, training and protection for workers, new paths to citizenship for immigrant workers, and measures to make care more affordable for struggling families.

Tax Wall Street to Heal Main Street

Submitted by Fran Tobin on August 25, 2011

Wall Street recklessness and corporate greed have pushed millions of Americans out of jobs and homes, while concentrating record profits and bonuses for the very top – megawealth that gives them a stranglehold on both our economy and democracy.  They want to redefine “normal” as a permanent “jobless recovery” with high profits for them and high unemployment and insecurity for the rest of us.  One US Senator went so far as to say the banks “own” Congress.  Breaking the grip of Wall Street is a necessary part of the fight for Full and Fair Employment and a New Economy.  

 Tax Wall Street to Heal Main Street

Solidarity with Verizon workers. The struggle continues!

Submitted by JwJNational on August 25, 2011

45,000 Verizon workers went on strike on Sunday, August 7th. On Saturday, August 20th, CWA and IBEW announced that they had reached an agreement on bargaining with Verizon.

The unions did not agree to any of the company’s concessionary demands to reach agreement.  Instead, it was the solidarity we all showed that created the opportunity for progress. The strike brought Verizon to their knees and brought the company back to the table negotiate in good faith.

Verizon workers need your help to keep the pressure on to help win a fair contract with decent wages, good benefits and job security. Mobilization continues. We will continue to keep the pressure on until a fair contract is won!

How you can help:

After triggering federal investigations, Hershey's offers guestworkers paid vacations

Submitted by JwJNational on August 24, 2011

HERSHEY, PA, August 24, 2011—Just hours after four federal government agencies launched investigations into the exploitation of J-1 student workers in the Hershey’s packing plant—including a surprise inspection of the plant Tuesday by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)—Hershey’s directed its subcontractors to offer the students paid vacations.

Take Action Now!

Early morning Tuesday, OSHA began a surprise inspection of the Hershey’s packing plant in Palmyra, which it continued all day Tuesday and was set to resume Wednesday morning. OSHA also confirmed Tuesday that it had opened a Whistleblower Protection Program investigation into the case.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division launched its own investigation into the exploitation of J-1 student workers at the Hershey’s plant, and the U.S. State Department scheduled interviews with the students for Thursday, August 25, as part of its own investigation.

Hours after learning of the four investigations, Hershey’s abandoned its claims that it bore no responsibility for the exploitation of J-1 students at its packing plant, and directed its subcontractors to offer the students paid vacations.

UPDATE: Victory in Metropolis! USW Members End 13-Month Lockout by Honeywell International

Submitted by Caitlyn DuBois on August 23, 2011

The United Steelworkers (USW) announced ratification of a new three-year agreement, ending a 13-month lockout by Honeywell International at the uranium processing plant in Metropolis, Ill., that is the largest conversion plant in the world to produce nuclear fuel for commercial reactors.

After a day-long vote on August 2nd at the union hall, USW Local 7-669 President Darrell Lillie said the membership approved the agreement, including a separate back to work provision.  He declared: “We fought one-day longer on all the core issues and won them to our satisfaction. All of us who were locked out by Honeywell in June of last year who want to go back to work are doing so with union pride, a union contract and union solidarity.” For our initial report on the struggle and Jobs with Justice’s role within it, check out “Dangerous Honeywell Uranium Plant Still Operating with Untrained Scabs.”

Week 2 of Justice at Hershey’s

Submitted by JwJNational on August 22, 2011

Last week, Jobs with Justice took action in solidarity with hundreds of student guestworkers from around the world, together with unemployed American workers and labor leaders, halted production during a factory sit-in at the Hershey Chocolate Company’s packing plant in Pennsylvania. Their demands: end Hershey’s exploitation of student guestworkers, and give living wage jobs to Pennsylvania’s workers.

Take Action Now!

In addition to signing the online petition, JwJ activists in Philadephia organized a solidarity rally while activists in Chicago mobilized to a Hersheys boutique store.

The students paid $3,000-$6,000 each to come to the U.S. this summer for what they thought would be a cultural exchange program through the State Department’s J-1 visa. Instead,they found themselves packing chocolates at the Hershey’s plant in deeply exploitative conditions. After automatic weekly deductions for rent in company housing and other expenses,they net between $40 and $140 per week for 40 hours of work.

Music with a Message in Ohio

Submitted by Fran Tobin on August 18, 2011

 The Ohio state fairgrounds will be the scene of the Stand Up Ohio Festival on Saturday,  August 20.

The Noon-dusk festival features information and inspiration from a wide cross section of grassroots groups plus musical acts including:

  • The Ohio Players
  • Over The Rhine
  • Grand Funk Railroad

JwJ coalitions in Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland have been mobilizing as part of the Stand Up Ohio coalition, helping to spark the movement resisting the Kasich/Wall Street agenda.

Student Guestworkers Sit-In at Hershey Factory - Your help needed!

Submitted by JwJNational on August 17, 2011

Take Action Now!Today, hundreds of student guestworkers from around the world were joined by unemployed American workers and labor leaders in a factory sit-in at the Hershey's Chocolate Company packing plant in Pennsylvania.

The students paid $3,000-$6,000 each to come to the U.S. this summer for what they thought would be a cultural exchange program through the State Department's J-1 visa. Instead, they found themselves packing chocolates at the Hershey's plant in deeply exploitative conditions. After automatic weekly deductions for rent in company housing and other expenses, they net between $40 and $140 per week for 40 hours of work. The workers talked about their struggle and asked for our support at the JwJ national conference.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Authoritative National Report Condemns Secure Communities Program

Submitted by JwJNational on August 16, 2011

Today, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and others including Jobs with Justice made public an authoritative report condemning the Secure Communities deportation program and recommending its termination.

The report includes testimony from former District Attorney of New York Robert Morgenthau, heads of law enforcement, and victims of Secure Communities like Isaura in Los Angeles whose 911 call for help resulted in her deportation proceedings.

In contrast to the DHS appointed taskforce which has failed to enlist the voices of affected communities, scholars, or critics on the subject, this report constitutes a real deliberative and representative review of the program.

Brother can you spare 2 million jobs? Emergency Jobs Bill proposed.

Submitted by JwJNational on August 15, 2011

Jan Shakowsky Emergency Jobs BillResponding to the continuing massive jobs deficit, Chicago Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky proposed to create 2 million jobs, introducing the "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act."  Surrounded by Chicago JwJ coalition leaders and other groups, Schakowsky declared:

“Unlike the long disproven claims that more tax breaks for wealthy corporations will lead to more employment, I have a bill that will actually work.  How can we guarantee this bill will get 2 million people back to work?  By hiring them!”

The proposal, which could be more than paid for by taxing millionaires or financial speculation, establishes:

1)      School Improvement Corps – Creates 400,000 construction and 250,000 maintenance jobs through new funding to public school districts for needed school rehabilitation improvements ($100 billion)

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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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