On February 12, 750 Jobs With Justice leaders, activists and allies converged on Washington, D.C., for the 2016 Jobs With Justice National Conference. Conference attendees, who came from across the country and as far as Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, India and Indonesia, spent two days learning from each other, strategizing for future campaigns and taking action with retail and restaurant employees in D.C.
Conference attendees were inspired by plenary sessions throughout the conference, featuring Jobs With Justice leaders, bold worker-organizers and U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, all of who emphasized the importance of making the connection between the fight for racial justice and the fight for economic justice.
Electrifying energy & inspiring worker/community solidarity at today's @jwjnational conference! Proud to be here! pic.twitter.com/SA9FU3akoO
— NY Communities (@nychange) February 12, 2016
Justice prevails when we break down boundaries and work together. #1u #JwJ16 pic.twitter.com/VYIjQshhHx
— AFT Nurses & Health (@AFTHealthcare) February 12, 2016
Representatives from @FF15CO, @CWAUnion, @GoIUPAT , @UFCW770, @CATeachersAssoc and @WGAEast speaking to #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/T318lRSewx
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 12, 2016
We're pumped to have @LaborSec with us today! Thanks for having our backs #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/GsifzvGBCv
— Michael Wasser (@JWJMichael) February 12, 2016
“Change doesn’t originate in Washington, it begins w people like you.” –@LaborSec on mobilizing for middle class at @JWJNational conference
— US Labor Department (@USDOL) February 12, 2016
Change doesn’t originate in DC, it begins w/ motivated people like the ones I met today at @JWJNational conference. pic.twitter.com/aJ0ftg05WP
— Tom Perez (@LaborSec) February 13, 2016
Phenomenal panel this morning at #jwj16 on innovation in the labor movement, w/ @domesticworkers, @NGAdignity & more pic.twitter.com/XlzDxDtwvg
— NewEconomyCoalition (@NewEconomics) February 13, 2016
Attendees took to the streets of D.C. on Friday afternoon to show solidarity with retail and restaurant workers fighting for fair scheduling and living wages. Together with the Restaurant Opportunities Center United, we called on the National Retail Federation and D.C. Chamber of Commerce to end their opposition to sensible workplace policies.
Getting ready to march for #justhours and #1fairwage! #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/GgQyqWY2QJ
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 12, 2016
Taking action against abusive "on-call" scheduling & marching for #justhours in DC! #JWJ16 pic.twitter.com/itHqiInXc3
— ALIGN (@ALIGNny) February 12, 2016
Workers outside the DC Chamber of Commerce demand a living wage! #1fw #1fairwage!! pic.twitter.com/Fbo5GcjHtQ
— NY Communities (@nychange) February 12, 2016
Hey @NRFnews, you can't hide, we can see your greedy side!!! #justhours #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/uz5hMRFoNQ
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 12, 2016
Throughout the conference, attendees participated in workshops and discussions to develop new skills and bring ideas back home to their own communities and campaigns.
Here in DC @jwjnational conference & stoked to take part in a workshop focused on successfully spreading messages @rocunited #ONEFAIRWAGE
— kelly nicole (@kellyfordignity) February 12, 2016
Learning about how visuals are a critical piece of telling our stories effectively. #JWJ16 pic.twitter.com/FPEFKED1lU
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 12, 2016
Session 1 at #JWJ16 Internal Org is BYOC: Bring your own chair aka Standing room only.
— Katherine Rose (@katcaudle) February 12, 2016
We are diving deep into (free!) data tools for organizers in this full-house workshop. #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/D9XpPGj4MX
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 12, 2016
Full house at #StudentWorkersRising #jwj16 workshop! If you're a student worker, what problems that are you facing? pic.twitter.com/BljXF6reg5
— SLAP – Student Labor (@studentlabor) February 13, 2016
We closed out the conference with a banquet where we honored JWJ co-founder and former Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen, celebrated our amazing network and remembered leaders we recently lost.
Jobs With Justice is about more than just good feelings. It's about being there for others when they need your solidarity. #jwj16
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 14, 2016
Honoring JWJ cofounder and longtime supporter @CWALarry tonight at our closing banquet. #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/nIxBLU2AhT
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 14, 2016
As we honor the life&work of our dear friend Treston, we need to remember the power & potential we all have #jwj16 pic.twitter.com/l8RZjM10E6
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) February 14, 2016
Thank you to everyone who helped make this conference a success! Check out our full photo album below.
