JwJ News 04-06
APRIL 2006
- National Student Labor Week of Action Victories!
- JwJ Coalitions Fight State Health Care Cuts
- South Central Indiana JwJ Helps Win Living Wage Law
- Florida JwJ Activists Fight for Immigrant Rights
- Organizing and Collective Bargaining Rights Training
- Colorado JwJ Mobilizes for Dog Treat Makers
- NY JwJ Health Care Security Act
- NLRB to Prosecute Angelica Laundry
- Cleveland JwJ Fights for Union Projectionists
- South Florida, Atlanta JwJ Coalitions Fight for Justice at BFI/Waste Management
- Buffalo JwJ/CEJ Fights for Fairness at Verizon Wireless
National Student Labor Week of Action Victories!
The 6th Annual National Student Labor Week of Action was a huge success! This year there were over 230 actions and events including rallies, marches, sit-ins, forums, and film screenings in support of economic justice at more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide involving an estimated 15,000 students.
During the week of action, four colleges joined the Workers' Rights Consortium (WRC), a group that monitors working conditions in fac-tories that produce collegiate apparel. At Washington University in St. Louis, students staged a sit-in and hunger strike at the university's admissions office to demand that the university adopt a code of conduct that supports living wages and the right to organize a union for all workers. After 19 days, the sit-in at Washington Univeristy ended with committments of $1 million towards increasing worker salaries and to join the WRC. At the University of Massachusetts- Amherst, over 600 graduate teaching assistants and student supporters stopped traffic and stormed the administrative building, demanding a fair contract for graduate teaching assistants. At Georgetown University, students celebrated their victorious living wage campaign.
On March 31, Student Labor Week of Action co-sponsoring organizations, including the Student Labor Action Project of Jobs with Justice and the U.S. Student Association, United Students Against Sweatshops, National Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan (MEChA), Student/Farmworker Alliance, Not With Our Money!, Student Action with Farmworkers, and the American Medical Student Association, received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from American Rights at Work for their continuous contribution to the economic justice movement.
The National Student Labor Week of Action is held each year from March 31- April 4 to commemorate the lives of Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To learn more about the National Student Labor Week of Action click here .
JwJ Coalitions Fight State Health Care Cuts
Across the country, state law makers are trying to balance their budgets by cutting health care and other social services that low-income families rely on. In two Midwest states, Missouri and Ohio, JwJ coalitions are working with our community allies to say NO CUTS!
Missouri's Governor Blunt proposed drastic cuts to:
• Medicaid, cutting nearly 90,000 senior citizens, disabled, and working poor off from access to health care services.
• critical mental health services, including the closure of a critical care facility.
• the First Steps program, which provides important early intervention for children with developmental disabilities.
In response, St. Louis JwJ and its member organizations have collected thousands of signatures from Missouri residents who oppose the cuts. On April 6th, buses from around the state arrived at Missouri's capital in Jefferson City as 1,000 people converged to tell their legislators in person-NO CUTS! One of the ways St. Louis JwJ is continuing to keep the pressure on is by collecting personal stories of people who are facing the reduction in services. Residents can post their story online at www.stl-jwj.org/MedicaidStoryBank.htm.
Similar harsh cuts have also been proposed in Ohio. At the same time as proposing a tax reform package that would reduce revenue by $800 million (to the benefit of Ohio's wealthiest residents), state legislators were proposing massive cuts for basic education and health services, including:
- Eliminating health care coverage for 25,000 working parents.
- Ending of medical assistance for 15,000 adults with disabilities.
- Denying dental and vision services for 800,000 Ohioans,
- Cutting early learning programs for 6,000 three- and four- year olds.
- Creating waiting lists for elderly Ohioans to receive critical long-term care.
Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo Jobs with Justice coalitions worked with the Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future and local community partners to oppose these cuts. On April 12th, thousands converged in Columbus for a rally at the state capital. Three bus loads were organized by Toledo JwJ. Cleveland JwJ contributed their Clothesline Project. The Project shows stories of affected residents on articles of clothing and says "Don't Hang us Out to Dry!"
In Oregon, March 18th was Health Care Action Day! Portland JwJ and the Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network/JwJ held events to draw attention to the health care crisis in Oregon. In Eugene, nearly 80 community members attended a forum and speak out on health care. Seventeen audience members shared stories that illustrated the gravity of the health care crisis. Participants at the hearing also congratulated the members of ATU 757 for their recent strike victory and for holding the line for affordable health benefits. In Portland, 150 people gathered at Terry Shrunk Plaza to draw attention to the health care crisis in the US and build support for 4 very important bills before the Oregon Legislature. It was also the debut of Health Care Action Man, a new superhero who's joined the Health Care Justice Squads.
South Central Indiana JwJ Helps Win Living Wage Law
After a four-year campaign, Bloominton, IN has finally adopted a Living Wage Law which includes protections for city employees, non-profit employees, employees on abated properties, and employees on city contracts!
In November 2001, South Central Indiana Jobs with Justice adopted a living wage campaign for Bloomington as its project. The JwJ contingent in the Bloomington Living Wage Coalition attracted activists from a variety of sectors to draft a proposed ordinance and to build support on the Bloomington City Council. In the Council elections in the Fall of 2003, the living wage was an issue every candidate addressed. Despite a smear campaign on the living wage issue, the ordinance's sponsor won an at-large council seat and was instrumental in the campaign. An expected public assault by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005 died with a whimper. During the last month of the campaign, there were ten Guest Columns to the Bloomington Herald-Times, innumerable Letters to the Editor, and five front page articles on the living wage. The mayor, initially an opponent, indicated a month before the Council vote that the ordinance would pass. The 7-2 vote in favor was more than a vote; it left a record of eloquent speeches by most of the aye-voters that shows the genuine conviction and passion they have for the living wage.
Florida JwJ Activists Fight for Immigrant Rights
South Florida Jobs with Justice activists met up with activists from Central Florida Jobs with Justice to march, rally and lobby at the state capitol to make lawmakers take notice of important immigrants' rights issues during the current legislative session.
50 activists trained and mobilized by South Florida JwJ and other South Florida immigrants' rights organizations participated in scheduled events organized by a coalition of groups from across the state as well as legislative visits. The activists demanded: enforcement of the voter-mandated raise in the minimum wage which will go into effect May 2nd; in-state tuition for all Florida high school graduates or those with an equivalency degree at public colleges and universities; Medicaid reform that prevents caps, cuts and privatization; and complete access to driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants. Legislation under consideration does not allow for full licenses for undocumented persons, only permits. Drivers want to be able to get insurance coverage and to legally be able to drive throughout the state of Florida.
Within days of the march & lobby visits, proposed legislation which would have gutted the new Florida minimum wage amendment was stopped. While advocacy work and education will be the next step, maintaining the language and intent of the amendment was a victory for low-wage workers across Florida. In-state tuition for all Floridians will be the focus of the South Florida Jobs with Justice Immigrant's Rights Committee's state legislative work in the upcoming months. The committee is also actively organizing against the national REAL ID Act with other organizations around the state.
Organizing and Collective Bargaining Rights Training
For 3 days in March, 30 JwJ staff and leaders from across the country and allies from American Rights at Work and the AFL-CIO came together at the Highlander Center in Tennessee to share strategies on how JwJ coalitions can best support organizing and collective bargaining campaigns. Highlights from the training included a great discussion on leverage, an analysis of where we are in the labor movement, and a nailbiting foosball tournament!
Colorado JwJ Mobilizes for Dog Treat Makers
At Kasel Industries in downtown Denver, workers render pig ears into dog treats. The approximately 50 immigrant workers at the plant are paid $5.50/hour, are forced to work overtime, and are not provided with protective clothing. Because the pig ears arrive at the plant frozen, workers must often walk around ankle deep in melted pig fat and blood. Exit doors are locked once workers arrive at the plant, and workers are not provided with toilet paper or soap. In late February, workers began organizing with UFCW Local 7, and came to Colorado JwJ for support. Since the organizing drive began, 12 workers instrumental to the campaign to form a union have been fired. Workers have filed for a union election date with the NLRB.
On March 23rd, Colorado JwJ mobilized for a 150-person rally outside Kasel Industries in downtown Denver to protest the sweatshop-like conditions that workers there must endure. Students at Denver University circulated a petition on campus, gathering 56 signatures in just one day. Raymond Kasel, CEO of Kasel Industries, has threatened to sue the students for slander and loss of business. Preparations are underway to organize a delegation of Kasel workers, DU students, and commmunity leaders to confront Kasel's intimidation of workers and students.
NY JwJ Health Care Security Act
Each year, more and more working people lose their health care, forcing companies that provide health coverage to struggle to compete with those that don't. Over the last year, NY JwJ has worked with policy makers, labor, community leaders, and business owners to fashion a campaign to end this race to the bottom.
The Health Care Security Act was introduced into the New York City Council on September 28th. The new law would give employers a choice: either offer workers the industry's prevailing level of health care or pay into a citywide fund that would provide it. The legislation would work to expand health care to thousands of uninsured New Yorkers, while leveling the playing field for responsible businesses providing workers with care, all at no additional cost to taxpayers. The bill covers businesses in the construction, building services, hotel, industrial laundry, and grocery sectors, and would extend employer-funded health coverage to 60,000 working New Yorkers, help level the playing field for 9,300 responsible businesses, protect the coverage of 152,000 workers already receiving health care through their employers, and indirectly save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year.
More than 100 businesses and 12 trade associations have endorsed the campaign and 50 labor, community, health policy, and faith-based groups have taken leadership roles to push this legislation forward. Over the last few months, several events have helped to increase visibility for the campaign and draw in more supporters. Before the bill's first hearing in December, over 500 workers marched to a press conference at City Hall with 612 bags of 'money' representing the millions that taxpayers would save if the legislation were passed. In March, the City Council's Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus held a press conference to announce their full support of the bill, highlighting the health disparities amongst communities of color. On April 7, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun held an interfaith community forum with City Council Speaker Gifford Miller that drew a crowd of over 700 congregants from 23 religious institutions around the city. After hearing testimony, Miller announced that he "supports the Health Care Security Act in principle and in fact". With a veto-proof majority of 41 City Council co-sponsors, passage of the bill seems likely if Speaker Miller brings the bill to the floor for a vote.
In the coming months, NY JwJ will continue to broaden coalition support around the bill, holding community forums, business roundtables, press conferences, and lobby days to pressure Speaker Miller and members of City Council to make health care a reality for thousands of New Yorkers by passing this important piece of legislation.
NLRB to Prosecute Angelica Laundry
Last fall, Angelica Laundry worker Linda Freeman was fired from her job shortly after giving testimony at a National Workers' Rights Board Hearing last fall about working conditions at Angelica's Ballston Spa, NY plant. The Capital District Worker's Rights Board (in Albany, NY) then held a hearing to investigate the firings of her and another worker and found that the real reason for their firings appeared be their involvement in union activity. This month, the Regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has agreed with the Workers' Rights Board report and is prosecuting Angelica for this violation of rights on the job. Of course, it is to be expected that the company will appeal and try to derail this process, but the Local Labor Religion/ JwJ chapter will stand by Ms. Freeman.
Protect Social SecurityOn March 31, JwJ coalitions in several cities joined the AFL-CIO to demand that Charles Schwab Financial and Wachovia Bank pull out of coalitions that are lobbying for Social Security privatization. To send a letter to Schwab about Social Security or to ask your Representatives to pledge to protect it, visit www.jwj.org.
Cleveland JwJ Fights for Union Projectionists
For 28 years, members of IATSE Local 160 have proudly worked the Cleveland Film Festival - showing the films and providing festival-goers with a quality experience to rival any big-name festival out there. But this year, Cleveland Cinemas CEO and Cedar Lee Theater owner Jon Forman decided the union has no place working the Cleveland Film Festival. Forman has been involved in a labor dispute with the union for over a year now - purging his theaters of union workers and giving their positions to "managers". The union fought back last holiday season with a boycott campaign of the popular Cedar Lee Theater - asking folks to not support a union-buster like Jon Forman, who was named Cleveland's 2004 "Scrooge of the Year" by Cleveland Jobs with Justice. The National Labor Relations Board has also been drawn into the fight, as the union continues to pursue unfair labor practice charges against Forman.
Not satisfied with violating workers' rights in his own facilities, Jon Forman used his clout in the Cleveland arts community to keep the union out of this year's Cleveland Film Festival. In past years, the union has helped to raise generous amounts of money for the festival. After giving $15,000 last year to support the festival and it's use of union labor, the County Commissioners decided to withdraw their support of the festival. Nevertheless, festival organizers decided to cast their lot with a man who has done everything in his power to destroy organized labor in his industry.
Cleveland JwJ helped the union organize specific actions to draw attention to the labor dispute and encourage socially conscious festival attendees to spend their money elsewhere. Through Jobs with Justice, one of the directors showing a film at the festival was contacted, and he agreed to have an IATSE member come to speak to the crowd about their situation.
At present, an official boycott of all Cleveland Cinemas locations has been announced. Cleveland JwJ is working with the union to build support for the locked-out workers as they face an upcoming NLRB hearing on the 6th of June. JwJ is mobilizing people to attend the hearing, and to put pressure on Jon Forman to tell the truth.
South Florida, Atlanta JwJ Coalitions Fight for Justice at BFI/Waste Management
In Atlanta and South Florida, JwJ has been working closely with the Teamsters to support union organizing and first union contract campaigns at BFI/Waste Management. Over the last several months, workers at several sites throughout Florida and Georgia have chosen union representation with the Teamsters, but so far BFI has not negotiated a contract at any of these sites.
In the summer of 2004, S. Florida JwJ organizers conducted a training with over 200 stewards from Teamsters Local 769 to talk about how JwJ and the community could support the campaign. In February, JwJ helped with an organizer committee training and helped the Teamsters organizing team design an immigrant worker outreach and support strategy. S. Florida JwJ is presently assisting the campaign at BFI by helping the Teamsters develop and execute a plan to pass important local policy resolutions in three area municipalities - Penbroke Pines, Sunrise and Miramar. These resolutions aim to protect the rights of all workers at companies that have contracts with these municipalities by allowing them access to outside experts with regard to safety issues and by legally forcing all companies with contracts with these municipalities to furnish their OSHA 300 logs to the relevant city. Jobs with Justice is taking the lead on mobilizing workers and other activists in Miramar to pass this legislation that would make it more possible for workers who have been systematically intimidated by their employers in the waste industry to BFI/Waste Management to discuss these and other work-related issues.
In Atlanta, JwJ has connected the Teamsters with community groups in the two of the six areas of BFI locations where the Teamsters have recently won union elections. Atlanta JwJ has mobilized for several job-site actions to support the organizing campaigns at these BFI sites. Currently, Atlanta JwJ is supporting the workers at BFI by mounting a community campaign to pressure companies that utilize BFI for their waste management, including General Motors and Quest Diagnostics, to consider finding a different company to manage their waste because BFI has failed to bargain a first union contract with the newly organized workers.
Buffalo JwJ/CEJ Fights for Fairness at Verizon Wireless
On April 12th, the Buffalo Coalition for Economic Justice/JwJ and joined members of CWA 1122 and fired Verizon Wireless worker Thai Nyguen to pressure Canisius College to stand up for workers' rights. The group distributed leaflets against Verizon Wireless, whose chief executive Denny Strigl is a Canisius trustee. They called for college president Rev. Vincent M. Cooke to push Strigl for a meeting on discrimination against union supporters within the company. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney spoke at the college later that day and reiterated the message that Canisius College, a Catholic school, must live up to the teachings of the church and respect workers' rights.
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