Jobs With Justice

As graduation approaches for many college students this spring, the outlook for post-graduation will be dire. Instead of, “What do you plan to do next?” the questions are: “How much student debt are you graduating with?” or “Do you think you’ll be able to find a job?” The situation has grown grim for recent graduates. On top of 1 out of every 2 graduates being jobless or unemployed, students will graduate with an average of $25,000 in debt this year. On April 25th, student debt even surpassed the one trillion dollar mark – making student debt larger than credit card debt and auto loans.

The largest profiteer off of student debt, Sallie Mae, has been leading the crusade to make a buck off of students suffering the worst economic recession since the 1920’s. Already spending over one million dollars on lobbying in 2012, Sallie Mae has been one of the most aggressive lobbyists on the Hill using money received from students, to allow private lenders to use predatory practices, including hidden fees that further bury students in debt.

A first-hand account from the floor of the Verizon shareholder meeting

By Rosa Lozano
Verizon Campaign Organizer, Jobs with Justice

May 3, 2012 | Huntsville, AL

The day greeted us with unexpected rain, but the grey and dreary sky didn’t squash the energy of workers, students, retirees, community leaders and occupiers. We were there to greet Verizon for their annual shareholder meeting. We had a simple message to deliver: stop your assault on workers, on consumers, and on American taxpayers and voters.

Energy was high and hope was in the air.  Filled with this feeling of purpose, we rallied across the street from where current CEO Lowell McAdam, previous Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, and fellow 1% shareholders were preparing to handle business as usual: with self interest and greed.  We heard from strong labor leaders, our very own Sarita Gupta, and students, and faith leaders to highlight what is actually at stake with Verizon internal policy around worker rights, taxes, democracy and the destruction of good jobs.

On Sunday, April 21st, the New York Times reported allegations of widespread bribery by Wal-Mart's Mexican subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico, in order to achieve fast growth in the country over the past decade. The article went on to show how top Wal-Mart officials were aware of the allegations.

Last week workers and community members responded with calls for accountability and an end to corruption and cover-ups. Venanzi Luna, a Walmart associates and leader in the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), launched a petition on change.org calling on CEO Mike Duke and Board Chair Rob Walton to re-sign, and for the Board of Directors to launch a thorough and independent investigation. In just a few days, the petition has gained over 5,000 signatures towards its goal of 10,000.

In several major cities, Jobs with Justice chapters joined actions to echo these demands and call on board members to step up and take responsibility for sorting out the mess.

Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments on Arizona’s SB 1070, and communities across the country will once again unite to call for an end of unsanctioned state immigration laws that promote racial profiling.

When SB 1070 passed it was unprecedented for a state to create its own immigration laws in spite of federal laws.  Now, two years later, legislatures in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Utah have passed similar laws, in part of what has been called the “Arizonification” of the country.

While the threats of SB 1070 type laws to workers and their communities are real, as the moral and civil rights complications are many, the question in front of the Supreme Court is much more fundamental.  They Supreme Court will be asked to decide if we are a country with a singular immigration law, or will we be a country divided by different immigration laws that vary from state to state.

Today we will join in solidarity with labor, faith, student, and immigrant right groups on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court and in communities across the country to demand a decision that falls on the side of justice and civil rights, and promotes national cohesion.