March 2013

Workers Advocate for More Rights, Stronger Movement

Submitted by Emma Chadband on March 28, 2013

image

Last week Jobs with Justice leaders pounded the pavement on Capitol Hill trying to make sure immigration reform will work for workers, not just corporations.  Now, as Members of Congress are home for Easter recess, Jobs with Justice local coalitions are setting up appointments and hosting a town hall meeting to ask Members of Congress to demand workers’ rights protections be included in any reform.

Last Tuesday, women leaders from Jobs with Justice joined the We Belong Together Campaign to add to a new and quickly building conversation on the potential effects of immigration reform on women.  Nearly 200 women participated in 70 congressional visits.  JwJ leaders expressed concerns that the bill being drafted by the Senate Gang of Eight (all of whom are male) could shut out millions of women and de-value women’s work if proof of employment is required for citizenship, because they are more often employed in informal, contingent, and unverifiable jobs, or at home caring for their own families.

Walmart Attempts to Silence Protests with Lawsuit

Submitted by Erica Smiley on March 27, 2013

OUR Walmart members
Photo: OUR Walmart / Flickr

Earlier this week, Walmart filed a lawsuit against OUR Walmart and Central Florida Jobs with Justice in Orlando.  The lawsuit aims to limit workers and community leaders from “trespassing” at Florida stores. 

This lawsuit looks to be another meritless attempt by Walmart to silence workers and their community supporters rather than hear our concerns about the company's treatment of workers. 

“[Walmart] apparently wants a Florida judge to issue a statewide injunction prohibiting OUR Walmart members and their supporters, like me, from speaking out to improve working conditions,” said Denise Diaz, executive director of Central Florida Jobs with Justice.

In Florida, when associates have spoken out for good jobs, Walmart managers have reacted in an extreme manner – even calling the police and harassing associates.

Tell McDonald's: Stop exploiting workers

Submitted by Jobs with Justice on March 25, 2013

Image courtesy of National Guestworker Alliance

We have an urgent opportunity for you to help student workers and our friends at the National Guestworker Alliance push McDonald’s to take responsibility for exploiting its workers.

Earlier this month, student guestworkers brought in on visas to work at McDonald’s in Pennsylvania went on strike to blow the whistle on retaliation and labor abuse. The students alleged they had to work up to 25-hour shifts while earning less than the minimum wage, and faced threats of deportation if they spoke up.

The students are taking their protest all the way to the fast food giant’s headquarters. Will you back up these brave whistleblowers with calls to the company?

Call on McDonald’s to demand the company take responsibility for abuse and unjust conditions at all of its restaurants.  Use the talking points below when you make the calls.

Marissa Mayer—Out of Touch with Women Workers?

Submitted by Jobs with Justice on March 20, 2013

OUR Walmart members
Photo courtesy of OUR Walmart

Originally posted on Women's Media Center, March 20, 2013

The author, a mom and a Walmart employee, wonders if Yahoo's Marissa Mayer, who serves on the Walmart board, can advocate for her.

Three months after joining the Walmart Board of Directors in April 2012 and on the day she was named Yahoo’s new CEO, Marissa Mayer announced that she was expecting her first child. I was proud that a woman had finally shattered what had for so long been an unbreakable glass ceiling. More importantly, I was heartened to think that I would finally have an advocate on Walmart’s board that would fight for workers like me who have children to provide for.

But when Marissa Mayer decided that telecommuting would no longer be an option for Yahoo employees, including Yahoo’s working moms, suddenly I wasn’t so sure that she would be my advocate.

Earned Sick Days Victory in Portland: A Campaign Across Generations

Submitted by Jobs with Justice on March 20, 2013

Families Forward Oregon
Photo and blog post courtesy of Family Forward Oregon

Last week, after a two-year campaign, Portland became the fourth city in the United States to pass paid sick days legislation.

This is a victory for workers in Portland and, according to Commissioner Fritz, who championed the legislation, “…a historic moment for human rights in America.” Just as labor laws like the 40-hour work week are celebrated today, so will we eventually celebrate the momentous sea change that stems from implementing good work-life policies that enable workers to both provide and care for themselves and their families.

This is a significant step forward in the long battle to recognize and support the needs of those providing care to the young and the old, while also ensuring that quality care is available to those who need it, when they need it.

Victory: Students Earn Meeting with Sec. Duncan to Talk Debt

Submitted by Emma Chadband on March 18, 2013

image

After nearly 200 students protested outside the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), Secretary of Education Arne Duncan agreed to meet with students to talk about the student debt crisis.

The students, representing the Student Labor Action Project and the United States Student Association, peacefully delivered letters requesting a meeting with Sec. Duncan  to discuss the $84 million loan-servicing contract the DOE currently holds with student loan giant Sallie Mae.

Sec. Duncan’s agreement to meet represents a positive step forward for students to have a seat at the table with the DOE to address the nation’s growing student debt problem. 

Ian Reese, a student from the University of Wisconsin, said “We want the Department to stand with students, not corporations like Sallie Mae, whose predatory loan practices are saddling people with debt from cradle to the grave.”

Victory! Walmart Garment Workers in Cambodia Win Back Wages After Hunger Strike

Submitted by Jonathan Williams on March 12, 2013

Photo credit: Heather Stilwell
Photo credit: Heather Stilwell

Following months of ongoing protests and a recent hunger strike, garment workers at a Walmart supplier in Cambodia will be paid about $200,000 in unpaid wages and severance.

In December, the garment factory shut down without paying employees back wages or severance. As many as 200 workers slept in front of their former factory since early January in an effort to get the wages they were owed.

After weeks without resolution, 82 workers launched a hunger strike outside a Walmart supplier in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Two days later, representatives from Walmart and other companies agreed to pay the hunger strikers what they were owed.

“We decided to go on hunger strike to show that we are not workers who can be pushed around,” said 26-year-old Sorn Sothy, one of the leaders who worked in the warehousing department of the factory. “We are strong, committed, and united.”

Check out their launching video here:

Fighting for a Voice on the Job at Nissan

Submitted by Jonathan Williams on March 12, 2013

In the "right-to-work" south, the fight for a voice on the job is an uphill struggle. But these workers at the Nissan plant in Canton, Miss., aren't afraid to struggle.

Check out this Ed Show clip to learn more about their fight and spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.

Make Immigration Reform Work for Workers — Not Just Corporations!

Submitted by Emma Chadband on March 8, 2013

As workers and unions attempt to organize in the U.S. economy, we are confronted with a broken immigration system as well as corporate driven U.S. labor laws. When these two systems meet at the worksite, it’s no wonder that it has become extremely difficult for workers to organize for their rights.

Our broken immigration system is exploited by large corporate interests and used to lower labor standards. We have a two-tiered system of rules and standards that denies millions of workers access to basic rights and benefits in the workplace. All workers lose ground in a system that allows unscrupulous employers to suppress basic organizing rights, intimidate and retaliate against employees, and treat workers differently based on immigration status.

We need to make immigration reform work for workers — not just corporations!

Here are three important areas for worker protections for immigration reform:

o The POWER Act: provides immigrant workers exercising labor and civil rights with protections against retaliation and exploitation. We believe the POWER Act is an essential strategy in stopping the exploitation and abuse of immigrant workers by unscrupulous employers who profit from these practices.

Get Updates

About JWJ

image
Read More

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.

Contact

1616 P Street NW Suite 150
Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 393-1044 | fax: (202) 822-2168

Take Action

Take The Pledge

Donate to JWJ