Jobs With Justice

CONTACT:
Ori Korin
(202) 822-2127 x126
okorins@americanrightsatwork.org

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law the right-to-work legislation passed by the Michigan state legislature. In response, Jobs with Justice and American Rights at Work Executive Director Sarita Gupta issued the following statement:

“It’s unfortunate that the hardworking people of Michigan are becoming the collateral damage of Republicans’ political vendetta against unions and their members. Right to work sounds like a good idea, but in reality, these laws have nothing to do with providing rights or work. At its core, this initiative is a threat to the basic right for workers to stick together on the job and collectively bargain for a better life.

“The facts speak for themselves: compared to workers living in states without right-to-work laws, employees in right-to-work states earn less per year and are more likely to be uninsured. Workplace deaths are higher in right-to-work states, and even business owners admit that right to work isn’t a factor when they’re choosing where to open up shop.

During the biggest shopping event of the year, more than 1,000 strikes, walkouts, and community actions took at Walmart stores across the country, involving over 30,000 people in 47 states. The historic Black Friday protests marked a new era of support and solidarity with Walmart workers who are standing up for better jobs.

Jobs with Justice is proud to stand in solidarity with the courageous Walmart strikers. On Black Friday, nearly two-thirds of our extensive national network of coalitions participated in actions at at least 86 Walmart stores. In Massachussets alone, Jobs with Justice mobilized to nearly every store in the state. Meanwhile, thousands of Jobs with Justice supporters signed our petition in solidarity with the strikers.

Across the country, the numbers are only much larger:

Image courtesy of Making Change at Walmart

Check out photos from Jobs with Justice actions on Black Friday:

Holiday, what holiday?!  Jobs with Justice coalitions joined workers at Walmart locations around the country on Black Friday as they walked out against unfair labor practices.  Twenty-seven JwJ coalitions mobilized community, faith, student and labor allies to over 80 actions in solidarity with the company’s “associates” in protest of their ongoing attempts to silence workers for speaking out for better jobs. Actions came in all sizes and creativity, from singing carols to store managers to stopping traffic and organizing mic checks inside.

While the impact on Walmart’s bottomline is still unclear, the company did make illegal threats to workers in the stores—even going so far as to file a bogus ULP claim with the National Labor Relations Board.  Needless to say, Walmart has yet to sit down with OUR Walmart collectively to discuss conditions on the job.

Reports are still coming in, but here are some of the photos so far.

A Statement of Jobs with Justice

In a historic move, nearly a thousand actions have begun around the country as a part of a rolling series of walk-outs by Walmart’s store associates.  The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), called for the strike after numerous unfair labor practices (ULPs) the company committed against worker and in protest of Walmart’s ongoing attempts to silence workers for speaking out for better jobs.  This strike followed successful direct action by warehouse workers and seafood workers along the company’s vast supply chain.

In response, the company continued to make illegal threats to workers in the stores—even going so far as to file a bogus ULP claim with the National Labor Relations Board.

However, public support has been widespread, with many mobilizing to stores over the holidays to support workers who are walking out.  Over $125,000 has already been raised for strike support.  Jobs with Justice coalitions alone are responsible for mobilizing to over 80 store actions around the country.

This new movement of the Walmart 99% is only going to grow, and more rapidly each day.  It has become clear that the company cannot deflect it forever.