JwJ News
JUNE 2006
- Workers' Rights Threatened by Upcoming Decision from Bush's NLRB
- Quarantine Wal-Mart Day of Action a Huge Success!
- Victory on Economic Development Standards in Eugene
- JwJ Coalitions in NYS Work Together to Win Fair Share for Health Care
- UW SLAP Protests at Campus Nuclear Plant
- 350 Hear Testimony from Health Care Workers During Portland WRB Hearing
- Victory for Waterloo, IL Nursing Home Workers
- Philly JwJ Takes Action for Locked Out Workers
- JwJ Demands Health Care Now!
- SE Michigan JwJ Bowls for Justice
Workers' Rights Threatened by Upcoming Decision from Bush's NLRB
Have you ever showed a co-worker how to perform a task at work? Have you ever been asked to look over someone else's work? If so, the Bush appointed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is poised to make a decision which could affect your right to join a union. There are three cases currently pending at the NLRB that together are often referred to as the "Kentucky River" decisions. The three decisions will affect the way the term "supervisor" is interpreted by the Board. Their ruling could take away the right to form a union and bargain a contract from hundreds of thousands of workers. ACT NOW:
- Sign a petition to Congress to demand that they act to ensure that there is a public hearing about these cases. You can also download a copy of the petition and circulate it to your friends & co-workers. Background materials are also available.
- Join us in supporting a week of action from July 10 - 14. Visit the AFL-CIO website for details.
In the upcoming decisions, skilled and experienced workers who give instructions to co-workers about how and when to perform certain tasks are particularly vulnerable to misclassification as supervisors. For example, registered nurses who tell nurses aides to do certain things for particular patients and journeymen/building trades workers who direct other workers on a crew are at risk. If the NLRB agrees to alter the definition of "supervisor," nurses, construction workers, newspaper and television employees, port workers and many others could be prohibited from forming unions. What's more, longtime union members could suddenly lose union representation when their contracts run out. Meanwhile, the NLRB has refused to hear oral arguments on the cases-and has in fact heard no oral arguments, a fundamental part of any due process, since the Bush administration took office. In fact, the NLRB has already denied union requests to hear oral arguments in these cases. The threat to workers is real: In the past few years, the Bush NLRB has already stripped graduate research assistants and disabled employees of their right to form unions. And in 2004, the Department of Labor reclassified broad swaths of workers, denying them the ability to receive overtime pay.
Quarantine Wal-Mart Day of Action a Huge Success!
On Friday, June 2, as Wal-Mart convened its annual shareholders meeting, thousands of concerned citizens in 30 cities across the country dressed in hazmat suits, face shields and rubber gloves to "quarantine" Wal-Mart locations across the country. The day of action was organized by Jobs with Justice and the Ruckus Society. JwJ coalitions in Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Long Island, Denver, Rhode Island, Champaign-Urbana, Indianapolis, Eugene, and Salt Lake City organized actions in their cities. The quarantine focused on Wal-Mart's failure to provide health care to a majority of its employees, an issue currently in the media spotlight. In January, Maryland passed a law compelling Wal-Mart to improve its health care benefits. Now, more than 20 other states are considering similar legislation. "It is outrageous that the largest corporation in the world has full-time workers who are forced to enroll in Medicaid at tax-payers expense," said Jobs with Justice Director Fred Azcarate. The average pay for a Wal-Mart sales associate is $1,000 below the poverty line for a family of three. Company employees top Medicaid rolls in at least 16 states.
Chicago JwJ activists staged an action at the Wal-Mart store in Forest Park, Illinois. Activist dressed in hazmat suits, gloves and dust masks, creating an irresistible, eye-catching site for customers driving into the store. Almost with no exception, customers stopped to inquire, and eagerly took the handouts. Several times, there was traffic back up created when drivers pulled up to ask questions and take flyers.At the Nashville Wal-Mart action, organized by Middle Tennessee JwJ, Hundreds of people, including several dozen workers, asked the Bureau for information about their event, and there were many cheers when they realized the Bureau was asking the Wal-Mart Board of Directors to seek better wages and a workable health care plan. "You're right, I shouldn't have to work 40 hours a week, go to daycare, get back from daycare, and sit in a damned WIC office so I can afford formula" said one Wal-Mart worker as they passed by the quarantine.
Philadelphia JwJ teamed up with the Independent Media Center to Quarantine a Wal-Mart store on S. Columbus Street. One team of people went inside the store to pass out notices of quarantine to the customers and employees. Meanwhile, another team outside was marching up the parking lot singing military style cadence "1234 we can't take it anymore! 5678 Wal-Mart must negotiate" and "It ain't fair It ain't funny Wal-Mart workers need more money"! Activists faced little resistance from Wal-Mart security and management and were surprised to see workers accepting and reading their handbills. Despite the thundering rain, Philly activists got the word out and had a great time in the process.
Visit the Quarantine Wal-Mart website to read more about what happened during the day of action and to see more photos, listen to audio, and watch video from the actions.
Victory on Economic Development Standards in Eugene
Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network/JwJ has won a huge victory with the adoption of community economic standards for the West Eugene Enterprise Zone by the Lane County and Eugene City councils. The proposal came from a public commission on which ESSN's Claire Syrett participated as an appointed representative of community interests. The standards apply to businesses receiving enterprise zone tax breaks, and set median pay of $14.95 an hour for businesses with at least 25 employees, and $12.70 for smaller businesses in such "traded sector industries" as manufacturing and wholesale trade. For copies of the ordinances or more information on the specifics of the new standards, contact ESSN as essn@efn.org.
Victory for Waterloo, IL Nursing Home Workers
Caregivers at the Monroe County Care and Rehabilitation Center in Waterloo, IL finally ratified a contract this Saturday after a two-year battle with the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. "The support we received from clergy and other allies really kept us fighting when things got tough," said Melba Stephens an LPN from MCCRC and member of the bargaining committee. 
The contract includes a more than 10% wage increase and breakthrough staffing language to protect MCCRC caregivers from being forced to come to work during their vacations, or use earned vacation time when they are sick, reported United Steelworkers Sub District 2 Director Dave Dowling. Clergy in Waterloo, IL rallied around the MCCRC caregivers throughout the contract fight. Leaders from the St. Louis Workers' Rights Board, including Pastor Teresa Mithen and Reverend Michael Vosler met with these clergy early on to help them plan a clergy support campaign.As a result, a new Monroe County Interfaith Coalition for Workers' Rights was founded. Throughout the nursing home workers' campaign for justice, clergy were writing letters to the editor, testifying at meetings of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, speaking at rallies and meeting with nursing home administrators. "The Interfaith Coalition is now a powerful voice for justice for Monroe County's workers," said Robin Rich, Field Organizer for the United Steelworkers.Union members and other community supporters in Southern IL also played key roles. "Supporters put signs in their yards, sent postcards to the commissioners and packed commission meetings," said JwJ Organizing Committee Chair Eddie Caumiant, himself a resident of Belleville and supporter of the MCCRC workers' campaign. "The labor movement really showed its unity."The workers ratified their contract on Saturday, June 17. They are members of the United Steelworkers of America Local 9189.
JwJ Coalitions in NY State Work Together to Fight for Fair Share for Health Care
The four JwJ coalitions in New York State - Buffalo, Albany, NYC, and LI - collaborated to gather almost 200 clergy signatures in support of the Fair Share for Health Care bill, part of a campaign being coordinated statewide by the Working Families Party. The bill would expand and secure health coverage to workers while leveling the playing field for responsible businesses currently providing workers with health care. 400,000 currently uninsured workers would receive employer-sponsored health insurance under the bill, 200,000 workers would move from public coverage to employer coverage and as many as 3.5 million currently insured workers at covered businesses would have their benefits protected.
JwJ worked to collect signatures from 192 clergy and religious leaders from around the state. The letter will be sent to Governor George Pataki, Senate Majority leader Joseph Bruno, and NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. It said, in part, "As religious leaders from diverse traditions, we share a fundamental belief that health care is a human right and access to it a moral imperative." Unfortunately, the Fair Share bill did not pass during this legislative session, but JwJ coalitions and the Working Families Party will continue to push for solutions to the health care crisis. The WFP did successfully win a "Fair Share Disclosure" bill, which will make public the number of employees of the state's largest employers (200 or employees) enrolled in public health insurance programs and the cost each of these employers imposes on the state.
UW SLAP Protests at Campus Nuclear Plant University of Washington
SLAP and Washington State JwJ held an unusual event for JwJ - a fashion show. But the fashions on display were hazmat suits. On April 6, as part of the SLAP National Week of Action, about 30 students and workers publicized UW's decision to have non-union LVI Environmental Services decommission and decontaminate the university's nuclear reactor. They were supported by campus workers who hung banners in solidarity with SLAP and the LVI workers. Earlier in the week, SLAP and JwJ held a forum on the campus, at which a former LVI worker described coming to Seattle to work for LVI on asbestos abatement, only to find that his wage was $10 an hour - a far cry from the prevailing wage in King County for a journeyman asbestos abatement worker, $33.46. He and his coworkers often worked over 40 hours a week without overtime pay. LVI, the nation's largest asbestos abatement contractor, has been cited for OSHA violations more than 90 times in the past 10 years, drawing $54,000 in fines. LVI wasn't happy with the forum. But after the hazmat fashion show, complete with sidewalk chalking, LVI executives called Seattle crying "stop this madness!" Following discussions and negotiations, LVI in early June agreed to recognize the Laborers as the collective bargaining agent for all LVI asbestos abatement workers in the Pacific Northwest.
350 Hear Testimony from Health Care Workers During Portland WRB Hearing
Portland JwJ held a Workers Rights Board Hearing on the Fair Election Oversight Commission of the the Providence Hospital system which attracted 350 people. The hearing was chaired by Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, who is responsible for overseeing elections in Oregon. Providence workers are organizing with SEIU Local 49. The panel, which also included Catholic, Jewish and Episcopalian faith leaders, an economist and the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives, called for specific fair election rules. As follow up from the WRB hearing, JwJ will work with SEIU 49 to bring the demand for fair elections for 4-5000 workers at the Providence Hospital system to congregations in the Portland area, asking people to sign on in support. There will be an ad in the Oregonian on Labor Day, for which there are already several hundred people signed on.
Philly JwJ Takes Action for Locked Out Workers
Tinius-Olsen Machine Testingworkers, members of UE 155, have been locked out of work since February 13th. This lockout, already the longest in Pennsylvania's history, has already caused immeasurable damage to the workers and their families economic health and the surrounding townships of Willow Grove and Horsham, PA. The support that the thirty workers at Tinius-Olsen Machine Testing Company recieved from the Philadelphia Jobs with Justice network was unprecedented. 229 activists sent faxes to
US Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz to encourage her to take action on the lockout, and more than 100 people joined Philly JwJ's action network.The solidarity action in Horsham, PA on June 14th was attended by more than 70 people despite being in the middle of a work day and in a remote location. Unions like TWU Local 234, AFSCME Local 2187, UFCW Local 1776, PUP and Taxi Workers Alliance all had impressive turn-out, and more than a dozen unions and community groups sent supporters (see attached report). Tinius-Olsen managers called the police on our delegation (John Cairnes, Jim Moran, Cathy Scott and Constance Spinozzi) and made clear that they were not interested in what we came to talk about. Jeff Brooks, TWU Local 234, pledged financial support for the UE Local 155 strike fund from his union.It is imporatnt to note that US Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz went out of her way to NOT HELP these workers. Despite hundreds of faxes and several meetings, US Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz's office broke its promise and did not show up to the action.
In about 30 cities nationwide, activists participated in National Healthcare Action Day on June 7, 2006 by holding almost 90 events including congressional hearings, rallies in front of insurance companies, discussion forums, and more. The day of action drew attention to the growing health care crisis and to the Bill proposed by Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, to create a single-payer health care system for everyone in the United States.Jobs with Justice coalitions joined the group Health Care Now for events in Detroit, Toledo, Boston, Bellingham, Louisville, and Cleveland.
In Boston they demonstrated at the offices of members of Congress who have not signed on to HR 676, the National Health Insurance Act. In Bellingham, Wash., they displayed banners on freeway overpasses promoting HR 676. Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice partnered with Michigan Coalition for Health Care NOW! (CHCN!) to urge Metro Detroiters to call their members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican. In the afternoon, JWJ, CHCN!, MichUHCAN, Detroit Council of Senior Citizens and other union and social justice activists Lined up for Health Care at Woodward and Nine Mile Road in Ferndale. They asked rush hour drivers to Honk for Health Care. The health care message was carried to thousands more through nine commercial spots CHCN! bought on 1310-AM Progressive Talk Radio June 6 and 7 during the Mark Riley, Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz shows. To learn more about this campaign for health care for all, visit www.healthcare-now.org.
SE Michigan JwJ Bowls for Justice
On April 28, Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice held its first annual Bowling for Justice fundraiser at Garden Bowl in Detroit. The lanes were overflowing with bowlers! AFSCME/UAW had 10 child care providers bowling. Their presence was an inspiration to all as they shared their excitement about being organized and becoming a part of the labor movement. ACORN, SEIU Local 3, Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Operating Engineers Local 547, CWA Local 4050, UAW Local 909 and striking Northwest Airlines mechanics all sponsored teams in this event, which was so rejuvenating. "We all had an absolute blast," said SEM-JWJ staff person Julie Barton. JWJ thanks the many people who bought our T-shirts and pledged donations. "We are still overwhelmed by the generosity of all of our supporters," said newly elected SEM-JWJ co-chairs Dana Sevakis, of SEIU, and David Lagstein, of ACORN
MEDIA LINKS
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Could Hike Pay and Keep Prices Low, Study Shows
Epoch Times - New York,NY,USA
The protest was part of a "National Day of Action" organized by Jobs With Justice. (Scott Olson/Getty Images). CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ...
Namibia: More Pressure On Ramatex
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
... A campaign for workers rights, Jobs for Justice, this month called for Wal-Mart to be quarantined because "it is classified as a danger to public health.". ...
(PRN) - USSA Names New Chief Operating Officer ... [+]
Bolsamania.com - Madrid,Madrid,Spain
... Inspection Technology ... [+. PRN) - Tubbs Jones Joins Jobs with Justice in Support of Medicare for All Act ... [+. PRN) - NASA ...
Tubbs Jones Joins Jobs with Justice in Support of Medicare for All ...
Yahoo! News (press release) - USA
... June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones released a statement in support of members of Cleveland Jobs with Justice in their rally to ...
Wal-Mart Scores Low on Standards of Political Conduct for ...
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
... Wal-Mart Locations Across the Country BOSTON, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Corporate Accountability International joins with Jobs with Justice, the Ruckus ...
Wal-Mart benefits decried
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA
... The main organizer, Jobs with Justice, a coalition of workers' rights groups, said these demonstrations took place Friday across the country at 30 sites. ...
Has Wal-Mart Jumped the Shark?
Yahoo! News - USA
... In a national "Quarantine Wal-Mart" day of action Friday, thousands around the country, organized by Jobs With Justice and the Ruckus Society, donned hazmat ...
Wal-Mart Shows Shareholders a New Face
Washington Post - United States
... And an advocacy group, Jobs with Justice, sent about 50 people to the meeting dressed in hazmat suits and rubber gloves to protest the company's health benefits ...
Protestors: Keep Away from Wal-Mart!
NewsChannel5.com - Nashville,TN,USA
... A number of groups helped to organize the Nashville Wal-Mart protest Friday, including Jobs With Justice, The Ruckus Society and the Nashville Peace & Justice ...
Protesters 'quarantine' Wal-Mart
Kent County Daily Times - West Warwick,RI,USA
... The event, sponsored by RI Jobs with Justice, Rhode Island for Health Care, Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers ...
Locals Stage Wal-Mart Protest
WKRN Nashville
Mock Quarantine Planned for Wal-Mart Protest in SLC
KCPW - Salt Lake City,UT,USA
George Neckel of Utah Jobs With Justice says the national protest effort is meant to coincide with Wal-Mart's annual shareholder meeting today in Arkansas. ...
Wal-Mart Scores Low on Standards of Political Conduct for ...
Yahoo! News (press release) - USA
BOSTON, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Corporate Accountability International joins with Jobs with Justice, the Ruckus Society, ACORN and other activists across ...
Bill Katovsky: Meet Moses of the Anti-Wal-Mart Movement: Al Norman ...
Yahoo! News - USA
... shareholders meeting. The organizers behind this grass-roots rebellion are Jobs With Justice and the Ruckus Society. According to ...
Health Care
Forum set on health-related ballot items
Statesman Journal - Salem,Oregon,USA
7 general election. The forum is sponsored by the union-backed Oregonians for Health Security, Oregon Action, and Jobs with Justice. ...
Taking health care to the people
BlueOregon - OR,USA
... Andrew's Catholic Church (806 NE Alberta). The Portland Forum is sponsored by Oregonians for Health Security, Oregon Action and Jobs with Justice. ...
A Crusade for the Fair Share Health Act
LongIslandPress.com - NY,USA
The Long Island sector of Jobs with Justice, a campaign for workers' rights relied on the issue of morality for the legislation of the New York State Fair ...
Other Topics
Olneyville decides to fight back
Providence Journal (subscription) - Providence,RI,USA
... been displaced. Nobody had them. "We know people are being displaced," said Rachel Miller, of RI Jobs with Justice. "If property ...
Providence residents form group to fight gentrification
Boston Globe - United States
... gentrification. "We know people are being displaced," said Rachel Miller, of Jobs with Justice, although she could not give specific numbers. ...
Legislators Back LI Workers
LongIslandPress.com - NY,USA
... The hearing featured Local 32BJ members and representatives from Jobs with Justice, Long Island Progressive Coalition, the Association of Community ...
The Big Payback
Immigrant owner-operator truckers want fair play at Port
Real Change News
...Coordinated by Washington State Jobs with Justice, the crowd was there to deliver missives from the lawyers of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters...
Boston Area Workers Join Campaign to Support Workers at Nation's ...
U.S. Newswire (press release) - Washington,DC,USA
... brutality. WHO: Diverse coalition of groups including Mass Jobs with Justice, Chelsea Collaborative, UFCW Local 1445, and other unions. ...
Some feel District 43 seat should go to gay candidate
Seattle Times - United States
... Lynne Dodson, 45, president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 1789, former co-chairwoman of Washington State Jobs with Justice and college professor ...
Interview with Ashim Roy and Anannya Bhattacharjee
Fire on the Prairie
...Roy and Bhattacharjee were recently visiting the U.S. as part of a Jobs with Justice initiative to build solidarity between American and Indian workers...
James Green to speak on Haymarket Tragedy
Vermont Guardian - Winooski,VT,USA
... The dinner is co-sponsored by the Barre Historical Society, the Green Mountain Forum, and the Vermont Workers' Center in co-operation with the Vermont Labor ...
Local Union Workers Show Solidarity for PPG Strikers
KPLC-TV - Lake Charles,LA,USA
... Better benefits, to keep our health benefits, to keep our wages. We're out here supporting the working man, so that he has jobs with justice.". ...
Secretary of state steps in on union vote
Portland Tribune - Portland,OR,USA
... And thus was born the fair elections commission, helped along by a nonprofit advocacy group called Jobs With Justice and chaired by Bradbury. ...
Corporate Greed: Stockholders, Investors Revolting over CEO Pay ...
Political Affairs Magazine - New York,NY,USA
... Goodo, a longtime employee who is not represented by a union, after he testified before the Oakland City Council and at a Workers' Rights Board hearing, also ...
Business Gazette - Gaithersburg,MD,USA
... busting, by putting pressure on the company and its individual stores," said Sara Wallace-Keeshen, an organizer with the Jobs for Justice nonprofit group in ...
Providence frowns on Bradbury role on Fair Elections panel
Northwest Labor Press
...made up of members of the activist group Jobs with Justice's Workers Rights Board. The Board is comprised of religious, political and community leaders who agree ...
Personal Computing | Top of a Highly Paid Heap
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia,PA,USA
... obscene compensation packages, and it's harmful to our democracy in the long run," said Fabricio Rodriguez, executive director of Jobs With Justice, a local ...
Prominent Journal Honors Politics Professor in a Symposium
Oberlin Review - OH,USA
... He has worked on projects with Jobs with Justice in Cleveland and Lorain County where he investigated abuses of worker rights and loss of pension and health ...
Secretary of state's commission role questioned
OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
... Jobs with Justice, a union-backed advocacy group that formed the commission, says it is trying to ensure employees at Providence have access to a "free and fair ...
