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MAY 2006
QUARANTINE WAL-MART NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION JUNE 2ND Jobs with Justice, in concert with the Ruckus Society and other allies, is excited to announce a nationwide day of coordinated and creative action against Wal-Mart. On Friday, June 2, while CEO Lee Scott is convening Wal-Mart's annual shareholders meeting, thousands of concerned citizens dressed in hazmat suits and armed with yellow caution tape will be putting Wal-Mart sites across the country under "quarantine." Activists will be targeting local Wal-Mart stores and potential sites, public officials who are on the record as supporting new Wal-Mart stores in their communities, and Wal-Mart's board members. The purpose of the day of action is to mobilize activists and to send a message to shareholders that there continues to be great concern over WM's corporate practices. We will be reaching out to allies to join in this mobilization. JOIN THE QUARANTINE! Visit the Quarantine Wal-Mart website to:
Why a quarantine? A majority of Wal-Mart employees have no healthcare while the healthcare options that Wal-Mart does provide are inadequate and full of hidden costs. Because of these and other violations, Wal-Mart has been classified as a threat to public health and must be placed under strict quarantine until said offenses are remedied. Health Care Now Action Week June 7th The week of June 7th, people around the country will be taking action to show support for HR 676, the "United States National Health Insurance Act," also known as the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Bill", introduced by U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). This bill would extend Medicare to cover everyone in the U.S., including coverage of prescription drugs, mental health care and long term care. The bill text and list of cosponsors is available here. JwJ coalitions in Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Toledo, Providence, and Bellingham, WA are building for events now. To learn more about the campaign and to find out about events near you, visit www.healthcare-now.org. Safe Staffing & Quality Patient Care Bill Passes Vermont Senate After two years fighting for open disclosure of hospital staffing levels, the Justice for Health Care Workers Coalition (a project of the Vermont Workers' Center/JwJ) scored a major victor when, in the final days of this legislative session, the Vermont Senate passed the Safe Staffing and Quality Patient Care Bill on a voice vote. The Bill had passed the State House in January. This is a victory for the quality patient care and safe staffing levels in Vermont hospitals, and is an important step towards establishing adequate staffing to provide quality patient care in Vermont health care facilities. Eastern MA JwJ Fights for a Health Care Constitutional Amendment Eastern Massachusetts JwJ and a coalition of groups fighting for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing all Massachusetts residents access to quality and affordable health care rallied outside the statehouse on May 9th. 200 health care supporters took action in the rain to demand that the constitutional amendment be put on the November ballot. After the rally, activists went into the State House dressed in Health Care Amendment t-shirts and delivered 2,500 postcards to legislators. Eastern MA JwJ has worked to build support for the amendment from unions, community groups, and churches, and has coordinated efforts to collect postcards in support of the amendment. The next constitutional convention, where legislators will vote on whether to put the amendment to the voters, is scheduled for July 12th. Thousands of Security Officers Move Closer to Justice Thousands of security officers, mostly African-American, who work to maintain safe environments in commercial buildings across the U.S. everyday are moving closer to winning a fair contract by winning recognition for their union. Jobs with Justice has “Been There” for the workers. JwJ has organized and supported: students standing up -and sitting down- for justice; faith-based vigils & delegations of faith leaders; and local legislative struggles to support these emergency first-responders in their quest for jobs with justice. Students at Temple and Harvard Universities, affiliated with Philadelphia JwJ and E. Mass. JwJ coalitions through their respective Student Labor Action Projects, have successfully held their school’s administrations accountable for the hostility to union organizing efforts shown by the sub-contractor companies who manage their campus security officers. During the Student Labor Week of Action these students commemorated Dr. MLK Jr. and Cesar Chavez by holding rallies, teach-ins and canvassing their campuses in an effort to educate their community about this situation and rally more support for their demands. In the Nation’s Capitol, DC JwJ has convened several meetings and broader community discussions over the past few years regarding this issue. Religious leaders affiliated with the Interfaith Voices for Worker Justice Committee of DC JwJ have organized delegation visits to downtown building owners to urge them to hold their sub-contractor companies accountable for attempting to thwart the efforts of their employees to collectively negotiate a fair contract. In Seattle, Washington State JwJ’s community pressure has included activists singing altered Christmas carols to the University of Washington’s vice president responsible for sub-contractor relations. We look forward to continuing to support these indispensable sisters and brothers until they win their jobs with more justice! Striking Workers at the University of Miami reach a Settlement! The Student Labor Action Project and Jobs with Justice would like to congratulate workers at the University of Miami, and STAND at UM for reaching a settlement with UNICCO! On Monday, May 1, 2006, striking UNICCO janitorial workers at the University of Miami, that were attempting to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 11 reached a settlement. This settlement was reached after workers staged a strike for nearly two months and fasted for almost two weeks; students staged a 12-hour sit-in and hunger strike, and numerous community, and political leaders expressed support for the workers rights to organize. The strike officially ended on May 3 and all employees returned to work on that day. They will all be reinstated to their former jobs including Zoila Mursuli, the union leader that had been fired before the strike began. Zoila will receive backpay for the interim weeks. The agreement covers the janitors working for Unicco on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus as well as at UM's Jackson Memorial Hospital. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to conduct an impartial process to verify the majority of employees' interest in collective bargaining representation by the SEIU. This verification process will be conducted by a neutral third party, the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and completed no later than August 1, 2006. Both parties have agreed that a majority will be recognized with at least 60% workforce voting to authorize representation by the SEIU. SEIU and UNICCO also agreed to a code of conduct and behavior which will govern the verification process. "This would not be possible without the incredible support of the faith-based community, the students, and the faculty at UM. This is a victory for Miami, and an important first step to ensure that work pays in South Florida," said SEIU President Andy Stern. Jobs with Justice would like to thank our e-activists nationwide, who sent more than 2,300 e-mails and faxes to the University of Miami and UNICCO; and students including those at Florida State University, Florida International University, Harvard University and others that staged solidarity actions and events supporting STAND and the workers at the University of Miami. JwJ Coalitions Support Immigrant Rights on May Day On May 1st, known throughout the world as May Day, many immigrant workers throughout the country came together to show their power and demand immigration reform. Some stayed home from work, some abstained from buying products, some shop owners shut down for the day, and many participated in rallies in their cities on this "day without an immigrant." JwJ coalitions throughout the country played a supportive role in the May Day mobilizations for immigrant rights. In Boston, Eastern Massachusetts JwJ played a critical role in the many May Day mobilizations in the region by creating a hotline for workers who were fired or punished for taking part in May Day activities. JwJ prepared WRB members and other supporters to confront employers who retaliated against workers. JwJ activists sent letters, made phone calls, and went on delegations and successfully convinced 3 employers to reconsider their actions. These employers have offered to take back all but one worker, who was offered 2 months pay in lieu of his job. Rhode Island JwJ helped coordinate a “Day of Action for Immigrant Justice,” including a morning march with immigrant janitors and hotel workers who are fighting for fair contracts, a faith service in honor of immigrant workers, and an 8,000 person march to the statehouse to demand comprehensive immigration reform. JwJ also mobilized activists and WRB members to be part of an emergency response network to support workers who were fired or punished for taking part in May Day activities. Philadelphia JwJ supported a 7,000 person march for comprehensive immigration reform and was part of a delegation to Senator Arlen Specter’s office to demand reform.Eastern Tennessee JwJ participated in events all day on May 1st, complete with workshops, movies, civic action, music, speeches, prayers, and a closing candle light vigil that engaged thousands of people. Muslim, Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Protestant clergy spoke and prayed throughout the events. The events generated very good print and tv coverage. In Albany, NY, the Capital District Workers’ Center and Labor Religion Coalition/JwJ mobilized in support of a rally outside the Capitol in support of comprehensive immigration reform. In April, the Albany CDWC, LRC, LACLA, the Area Labor Federation, and the NLG cosponsored a forum on Immigration Reform attended by 40 people. Many other JwJ coalitions throughout the country mobilized for immigrant rights rallies: Washington State played a significant role in mobilizing for a march of 30-35,000; Portland JwJ helped bring labor to a march of 20-25,000; Colorado JwJ mobilized for a march of 75,000; and coalitions in Vermont, Western Massachusetts, and Long Island, Central Oregon , Orlando, Eugene, Dallas, Champaign-Urbana, and Southern Oregon mobilized for rallies in their areas. Many JwJ coalitions are planning important follow-up work, including a June forum on the various options being considered for immigration reform in Portland, and work by Colorado JwJ with a day labor center to provide training on labor and workers' rights to day laborers. New York JwJ Coalitions Demand Developer Accountability The New York Initiative for Development Accountability, a campaign that New York Jobs with Justice, Long Island Jobs with Justice and the Buffalo Coalition for Economic Justice/ JwJ are all actively engaged in, is moving forward quickly. Workers, residents, taxpayers and business owners are coming together to create job quality and transparency standards for companies that receive tax breaks. There are 115 Industrial Development Agencies across New York State that give away almost $400 million each year in property and sales tax breaks in order to spur economic development. Bi-partisan legislation has been introduced in the State Assembly and Senate that would require projects that get IDA assistance pay living wages, that IDA-assisted construction be done at prevailing wage rates and that would increase community involvement in the process. The coalition organized a successful lobby day on May 9, with more than 60 people meeting with over 40 Assembly Members and Senators. The campaign is heating up, with ever-increasing press coverage throughout the State, and coalition members are hopeful that the Assembly and Senate will deal with the issue before the end of the Legislative Session on June 22. One Year Later: Still No living Wage at Washington University One year ago, students and St. Louis JwJ were celebrating the victory of the historic sit-in for living wages at Washington University. Jobs with Justice members were involved in so many ways in supporting the sit-in. They attended rallies, met with the students, participated in the 24-hour prayer vigil outside Brookings Hall, dropped off food. Together, they celebrated a victory last April 22, 2005 when Washington University made concrete commitments to improve wages, benefits and other working conditions for the sub-contracted service workers in its campus community. St. Louis JwJ celebrated, but they did not stop organizing. St. Louis JwJ and its Workers’ Rights Board – in collaboration with the Washington University Student Worker Alliance - have been monitoring the progress on improving working conditions at Wash U over the last year. In the last 6 weeks the WRB convened a Community Panel to issue a report on the current state of workers’ rights at Washington University. The report, “Making Real the Promise”, notes that although much progress has been made, most sub-contracted service workers still don’t have access to health care or a living wage. Visit www.stl-jwj.org to download the report or read the executive summary. Spring Fundraisers a Big Success On May 20 th, about 230 activists came together for Portland JwJ’s annual dinner, bringing in about brought in $24,000 gross. Workers from the ILWU, AFSCME, Carpenters, Teamsters and SEIU described recent and current struggles which JwJ has been a part of, and long-time immigrant workers’ rights leader and Washington State JwJ organizer Juan Jose Bocanegra spoke to the crowd, analyzing current events in the struggle to defend immigrant workers. Philadelphia JwJ’s April 20 th Fundraising Dinner was a resounding success. Almost 300 people from 50 different organizations came to celebrate solidarity and a year of successes. Stewart Acuff, the AFL-CIO Organizing Director gave a rousing speech, focusing on the importance of the current struggle for immigrant rights. The event honored labor and community leaders, as well as the “Philly Five” (George Darrah, Lottie Durricks, James Lewis, Mitchell McClain, Rochelle Glenn), the five University of Pennsylvania security officers who were suspended for courageously fighting for a union with SEIU. Unfortunately, as PA Rep Babette Jospehs announced, the PA State Government refused to give any of the honorees State Citations because they deemed their work and that of JwJ as "too controversial." The event raised over $20,000 for Philly JwJ, including individual donations from more than 50 people! Buffalo CEJ/JwJ held their 20th Anniversary Banquet on May 20th. More than 250 people attended the event, which raised more than $20,000. Rev. Bob Edgar gave a rousing keynote address. CEJ/JwJ honored high schools that have become sweat-free and Rachel Wilson, a student leader at the U of Buffalo, where students and CSEA/AFSCME won a major victory together this Spring when the university agreed to end subcontracting on campus. On a smaller scale, Utah JwJ brought together almost 600 supporters for a benefit concert by labor singer Utah Phillips in an event that raised nearly $5,000. Utah Phillips also did a CD signing at a local music shop with all proceeds going to JwJ. On May 1, Western Mass JwJ held a fundraiser called “Voices of Working People’s History,” featuring dramatic readings and songs from people who make history happen, but are usually left out of the history books. The event included performances from the Raging Grannies, State Representative Ben Swan, WRB member John Fitzgerald, and many other Western Mass JwJ supporters. Over 230 people came, and JwJ raised over $2,500 from the event. Washington State JwJ's Pierce County Organizing Committee, in Tacoma, got the rewards of a strong relationship with labor. The Pierce County Central Labor Committee organized an all-you-can-eat crab feed at a local union bar and restaurant, bringing together 250 JwJ supporters to raise $1,600. New Contract for Utah Refinery Workers Thanks in part to mobilization by Utah JwJ, workers at Flying J refinery in Bountiful, UT have a new contract with the Steelworkers. Flying J has separated itself from the national pattern contract in the refinery industry, and was trying to force a substandard agreement on the workers. Utah JwJ brought 80 supporters out from Salt Lake City to Bountiful, almost an hour away, to help out the newly-mobilized workers. Thanks to strong action by the workers and community support, they were able to maintain the industry contract, with the exception of a concession on health care already accepted by Flying J workers in California. Victory for Berkeley Honda mechanics Last year, new owners bought the Honda dealership in Berkeley, CA. The new owners refused to keep on several mechanics and refused to honor the workers' union contracts with the Machinists and Teamsters, and stopped making payments for the workers' pensions. The mechanics hit the bricks. Ten months later, after constant mobilizations of community support, the workers have won a new contract, and are returning to work. The East Bay JwJ Organizing Committee was part of an effort, coordinated by the Machinists Local 1546, the Berkeley Labor and Community Coalition and the Central Labor Council, to mobilize unions, citizens groups, and other supporters. Nearly 50 organizations helped maintain constant pressure on the employer. Maintenance work at the dealership was slashed 60-80%. But now the mechanics have voted 14-1 for a contract that brings everyone gradually back to work, provides a 3% pay increase and once again provides a union pension plan. Union spokespeople indicate that the giant rat which has kept guard at the dealership for the past 10 months is now available for weddings and bar mitzvahs. Toledo Blade Workers Rally for A Contract Seven of the eight different union representing 650 workers at the Toledo Blade newspaper (known collectively as the Toledo Council of Union Newspapers) have been working without contracts for some time. Negotiations have been stalled, the Blade has employed the law firm of King & Ballow, a union-busting law firm, and has been attempting to impose a "Management Rights" clause in each individual contract that workers felt would render their union contracts meaningless. On Monday, April 10, Toledo Jobs with Justice joined Blade workers for a 400 person rally to let the community know about the union-busting going on at their paper. When workers and supporters arrived at the rally, they discovered a hugely disproportionate police presence. Streets were barricaded and more than 50 police officers were visible herding activists into the pen constructed for the rally. Officers in riot gear, with rifles, were noted on the roofs of several surrounding buildings, and a police helicopter was seen circling overhead. Nevertheless, workers and their supporters had a successful rally. Three local elected officials addressed the crowd and Toledo JwJ pledged to “be there” for the workers, along with their 40+ organizational members. Since the rally, Toledo’s Mayor has apologized for the show of force, but anti-union activities continue. Several anti-union ads have been run on local TV, with two suggesting that Toledo’s children will have to relocate to other states to find jobs. Two full page ads in The Blade, have alleged that Toledo had, "a reputation of being a difficult labor area that plagued Toledo in the past." Toledo JwJ will continue to fight back against these and other union-busting tactics and will stand by the Blade’s workers until they all have new union contracts. |
MEDIA LINKS Immigrant Rights Immigrants swept from lot: Customer complaints oust crew RI group forms to fight illegal immigration Lincoln man forms group to fight illegal immigration ¡Somos Milliones! We are millions! Lincoln man forms group to fight illegal immigration 800 pound guerrilla Organizers say immigration march a success Immigrants rally for rights ‘Today is history’ Immigrant day is felt most in Latino areas SYMPATHY FOR HUDDLED MASSES: Local immigrants identify with the ... Knox rally draws immigrant rights supporters Immigration rights' supporters bring message to Providence streets Thousands of RI immigrants to strike Ready to rally Planned walkout stirs immigrant debate Economic Development LABOR AND COMMUNITY GROUPS FROM ACROSS STATE RELEASE REPORT Bill would impose 'living wage' stipulation on IDA recipients Organizing & Collective Bargaining Giving Workers a Voice in the New Economy: Cingular Wireless as a ... Co-op Mine strikes deal with workers to end suit, union vote News From USW: United Steelworkers Rally to Demand Justice at ... CCV faculty inches closer to unionization Mine's defamation suit can go to trial Other Issues Coalition touts minimum wage hike GoDeKalb.com - DeKalb, GA ...Terrance Courtney, of Jobs for Justice, a MARTA watchdog said he believed MARTA could be in a better shape if there were state and regional funding... Unfair to women Union leaders see challenges Labor honors its roots on May Day Arts Happening Today Out & About Nickled and Dimed Play Debuts in Atlanta
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