JwJ News February 2009

On February 17th, President Obama signed a large scale economic recovery package that is projected to create or save more than 3 million jobs and has substantial funding for health coverage, medicaid, unemployment comp, school rehab, energy efficiency and other programs.

Jobs with Justice and other progressive groups were able to remove several damaging provisions from the final bill, including a misguided, anti-worker requirement to use the flawed e-verify system.

The package is far from perfect, and Obama himself said it is not enough to fix our economic problems. JwJ will continue to demand a recovery that makes the economy work for everyone, including a national Week of Action for Resistance and Recovery, March 27 - April 4.

As our country’s economy continues to fall deeper into economic crisis with roughly half a million American’s losing their jobs each month and foreclosures continuing to leave more families without homes, we are relieved to have passed the first Bill which addresses the impact of the recession on working people.

Jobs with Justice understands that without workers’ freedom to bargain, the economy can’t be rebuilt in a way that guarantees the middle class will be rebuilt with it. We expect Congress to move quickly to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Senate Majority Leader Reid, who is in touch with the White House on matters of timing, recently said the Employee Free Choice would come up in the Senate this summer. Currently there are 202 co-sponsors of the Bill in the House and 38 in the Senate. 218 represents a majority in the House, and 60 votes is required for cloture in the Senate, in order to break a filibuster.

Jobs with Justice’s role in this campaign is to clarify at every opportunity that reforming labor law so that workers have the right to choose if and how they want to bargain collectively is not only a union issue, rather it is an issue of economic fairness and sustainability, as well as democracy for us all. To date, 43 Jobs with Justice local coalitions in 23 states are helping to build and demonstrate broad support for Employee Free Choice.

Since October 2008, JwJ has gathered thousands of signatures of people who are not union members to demonstrate widespread support for Employee Free Choice Act outside of the labor movement. JwJ has garnered the support of more than 100 grassroots organizations and nearly 200 Workers’ Rights Board members and other community, faith and academic leaders who have signed a letter, written personal statements and taken pictures or video to show broad public support. Jobs with Justice activists have canvassed major events such as the inauguration of the 44th President to inform people about Employee Free Choice and to solicit their support.

Jobs with Justice is also participating in a national media rapid response network. Wherever the Chamber of Commerce and their talking heads spread misinformation about the Employee Free Choice Act, Jobs with Justice activists are there to publicly correct the record. We have submitted dozens of Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor, and over a dozen have been published so far. JwJ coalitions have also provided content for dozens of fair portrayals of the issue in newspaper articles across the country. In addition, we are training key JwJ leaders and Workers Rights Board members with the latest facts and messaging to demonstrate student, religious, and broad community support for the Employee Free Choice Act. From this, we are building a Jobs with Justice Spokespersons’ Bureau that we hope will be there, not just for this campaign, but for future campaigns as well.

On February 4, 2009 Jobs with Justice supported union members as they delivered over one million of their sisters and brothers’ demand to Congress that the time is now to reform labor law in this country by passing the Employee Free Choice Act into law. On that same day, Jobs with Justice joined with the labor movement to form a virtual demonstration of more than “A Million Strong for the Employee Free Choice Act”. See this as well as other support on the JwJ homepage at: www.jwj.org.

This week, during the Congressional Recess, Jobs with Justice coalitions are showing their support for the the Employee Free Choice Act during our "I heart worker justice" week of action. JwJ coalitions are work with our allies in the labor movement and the community to form delegations to visit their congressional representatives in at least 13 districts to educate them further on this issue and make their support a top priority. In at least 14 cities this week, JwJ is continuing to build our base of individuals and organizations through signing folks up in support of Employee Free Choice as well as other events.

We look forward to the week of March 27 – April 4, where the Student Labor Action Project and Jobs with Justice will have complimentary weeks of action. The 10th Annual National Student Labor Week of Action will activate thousands of students on campuses and in communities to “Resist and Reclaim Our Future”. Jobs with Justice will organize a week of actions across the country as well to “Resist and Recover”. Both weeks of action will publicly support passage of the Employee Free Choice Act in a myriad of way, including supporting local and national worker justice campaigns, taking on corporations and banks that suppress workers’ rights and economic justice, and educating the public and elected officials. This week is also symbolic because it commemorates the lives of both Cesar Chavez (born March 31) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (assassinated April 4 th 1968).

All of this activity contributes to a Spring Uprising that will culminate with a DC-based event where Jobs with Justice will take its place among the growing drum beat of progressive voices calling for Congress and the President to even the playing field for working families. JwJ will plan an event where Workers’ Rights Board members and other community, faith, academic and students can articulate clearly and deeply why the Employee Free Choice Act is long overdue.

UE Sit-Down Strikers Tour to Talk about their Victory at Republic Windows & Doors

In December, 260 workers at Chicago's Republic Windows & Doors, members of the UE, occupied their plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in response to the closing of their plant with only 3 days notice.

Jobs with Justice coalitions along with other community, faith and labor activists from across the country mobilized in support of these workers, helping them win a settlement from Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and compensation for unpaid earnings. Negotiations are underway now to reopen the plant to make eco-friendly windows.

As the economic crisis deepens, millions of people face jobs loss and foreclosures. Join Jobs with Justice and other groups in celebrating the successful resistance at Republic and launch the broader campaign for an economic recovery that puts Main Street before Wall Street. Join the fight as Jobs with Jutice allies discuss how we can take direct action to resist, fight for recovery that puts workers before wall street and keeps people in their homes.

The workers toured 13 cities in the Midwest and Northeast. Hundreds of activists in the came out to hear from UE Local 1110 Vice President Melvin “Ricky” Maclin, UE Local 1110 Steward Raul Flores, UE Local 1110 President Armando Robles, and UE International Representative Mark Meinster, and more workers. They shared lessons and reflections on their campaign and victory.

“You learn how to fight by fighting. This was the right time for us and now is the right time for labor. I believe we need strong unions and now is our time to fight,” said Melvin Maclin.

“We’re trying to spread the message of resistance on this tour. Things may look dark out there, but there’s hope if you stand with you co-workers and fight. You can use bold tactics like this and win,” said Mark Meinster.

Throughout the tour, JwJ and UE activists highlighted the fight for Employee Free Choice Act as a key next step in the fight for a real people’s economic recovery.

“Having a union made it possible for these folks to fight back and win. We need more workers in unions, fighting back against corporate greed to get out of this economic crisis. The Employee Free Choice Act will make that possible,” said JwJ Northeast Organizer Laura McSpedon.

Under the theme “Another World is Possible, over 140,000 participants from a wide array of organizations including trade unionists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples, women’s rights advocates, land and agrarian movements, academics, youth and student organizers, and countless more came together in for the 9 th World Social Forum. Jobs with Justice (JwJ) sent Young Worker Project Coordinator Carlos Jimenez as part of the Grassroots Global Justice (GGJ) delegation of 20 participants from a wide-range of sectors and organizations in the U.S. A slideshow and a few highlights from the WSF below:

GGJ was lucky to have an orientation with Walden Bello, renowned activist and thinker from the Philippines, on the current economic and human crisis as well as an in-depth analysis and orientation on the World Social Forum Process from his perspective.

Trade unions were prominent at the Forum. It was hard to go anywhere without seeing shirts or posters of working people who were proud to be “syndicalistas”. The “El Mundo del Trabajo” (”The World of Work”) was host to dozens of workshops and panels relating to working people, trade unions, and discussions on the Financial Crisis.

A presentation by the USW and Solidarity Center alongside the Brazilian Chemical Worker’s Union (Confederacao Nacional do Ramo Quimico) explored the role of young workers within trade unions and approaches being taken to mobilize, engage, and organize younger members.

GGJ members and other US participants were invited to an invitation-only discussion taking place between the Heads of State of Paraguay, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia as well as various social movements and their leaders. The discussion focused around the “Human Crisis” and alternatives moving forward such as the the ALBA, a different model of free trade being promoted by Venezuela and others.

Members of the of the WSF’s International Council (IC) and Tammy Bang-Luu of the US Social Forum and C/L Strategy Center spoke and shared their opinions on where the WSF process is headed at a discussion on the “Future of the Forum.” The WSF (and the USSF in the U.S.) has had many positive political developments in the host countires and relationships were built that could not have developed any other way.

Part two of a three track session sponsored by the “Labor and Globalization” network focused on the financial crisis and responses taking place at the national level, with the intention of identifying potential global responses and plans of actions. Many of the responses and demands are similar across the globe, with most asking for the creation of millions of new jobs in social services, infrastructure, and the public good including “green” jobs. Unions shared their experiences of the crisis so far. The Brazilian CUT proclaimed that if any transnational corporation used the crisis to cut jobs, the first and immediate response would be to strike. European trade unions warned right-wing fascists in their countries had used the crisis to blame on workers and unions for what was happening.

At the “financial crisis” assembly, among the proposals were a global week of demonstrations around the G-20 and a new demand for “decent work” with shorter work-weeks. Potential opportunities for upcoming global action include: March 28-April 4 th – G-20 actions across the globe October 7 – Decent Work Campaign October 12 – Indigenous resistance global day of action against colonization and commoditization of life Actions on the G8 Summit in Sardinia, the Climate Summit in Copenhagen, the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, etc.

Another world is being born, and the current crisis presents both danger and opportunity to create a new paradigm.

Richmond JwJ Organizes for First-Ever Virginia People's Assembly

On January 10, 2009 the first mass meeting of a newly formed organization called the Virginia People’s Assembly took place in Richmond Virginia. In attendance, for the first time that even life-long residents could recall, were representatives from all aspects of the progressive movement. They came from all walks of life and lifted up a wide array of issues including immigrant rights, labor, students, prison justice, the African-American community, healthcare, anti-war, LGBT, and many others. Out of this meeting a People’s Agenda was formulated and accepted unanimously by all in attendance.

A mass protest and rally was held on January 14, 2009 in front of the Federal Reserve Bank with an impressive list of speakers including Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-74th District) and King Salim Khalfani, Executive Director Virginia State Conference of the NAACP. VPA members braved frigid temperatures to march from there to the Virginia General Assembly to take their Agenda to the legislators.

The group plans to continue to keep pressure on specific legislation that has been introduced in the session—including opposing a proposed Right to Work Constitutional Amendment and bills related to prison advocacy like the Restoration of Voter rights for ex-offenders. Long-term goals include remaining a united front focused on lifting up each others issues and potentially preparing legislation that can be introduced in future General Assembly sessions by allies in the legislature.

The VPA was formed through the initiation and organizing efforts of Richmond Jobs with Justice and the Defenders for Freedom, Justice, and Equality and has been supported through the outreach efforts of the VPA organizing committee that is truly representative of all aspects of the progressive movement in Virginia.

More details can be found at a page hosted on the Richmond JwJ website: http://richmondjwj.org/vapeoplesassembly or by emailing VAPeoplesAssembly@gmail.com.

Tompkins County Workers' Center/JwJ Uncovers Wage Violations, Helps Workers Win Back Pay

The Tompkins County Workers' Center/JwJ (TCWC), in collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), announced the results of an investigation which found substantial labor law and wage violations (involving 36 workers and a $28K settlement) against two Ithaca restaurants: Taste of Thai and Tamarind.

Two 'front of the house' workers approached the TCWC this past summer with great concern about how they and others, especially 'back of the house' workers, were being treated with respect to tip, overtime, and days of work violations, after feeling like attempts to talk with restaurant ownership were rebuffed.

The TCWC then had a meeting in June with the owner and business manager of the restaurants, who expressed interest in signing a Community Responsibility Agreement (CRA)--see sample here--with the TCWC. However, the TCWC was never again contacted by the restaurants about signing the CRA. The TCWC fearing that it was hearing only part of the story, then contacted the NYSDOL to find out what was legal and what was not.

Says former waitperson at Taste of Thai, Deidra Cross, "I feel it is imperative to keep open, honest communications with superiors and co-workers in the workplace in order to establish an honest and legal work environment. I think the results of this situation shows that people need to have a willingness to seek outside assistance if they feel their work environment unjust or operating in an illegal fashion."

The news of the settlement with Taste of Thai and Tamarind comes within the context of a growing movement to end ‘wage theft', a serious problem in various industries (a record level of recovered wages in New York was reported in 2008 alone in New York State--$24.6 million for 17,000 workers, serious problem in various industries (a record level of recovered wages in New York was reported in 2008 alone in New York State--$24.6 million for 17,000 workers, probably the tip of the iceberg). The TCWC has a strong record in dealing with 'wage theft' and other labor law violations (Kinkos, Collegetown Pizzeria, New Delhi Diamonds, and the Plum).

Workers in the Ithaca area should know that they can contact the Workers' Center at 607-269-0409 or www.tcworkerscenter.org if they have concern about their rights at the workplace, or would like to report ‘wage theft' at work.

The Vermont Workers’ Center/JwJ, working with the Save Our State coalition, helped organize fourteen candlelight vigils around the state on February 1 st to send a strong message to Vermont’s governor not to balance the budget on the backs of workers. Hundreds of Vermonters participated in the vigils, demanding no cuts to jobs or services. After the vigils, over a dozen Workers’ Center/JwJ members met Governor Douglas at the airport to bring their message directly to him.

The Vermont Workers' Center/JwJ is advocating for the following principles as the state faces a budget crisis:1) Public services are necessary for a just and sustainable society. 2) Among the roles of government is to guarantee the human rights of all residents. 3) A revenue shortfall is a reason to change revenue policy not budget policy. 4) Public services, including education, should be funded based on ability to pay, not fees or regressive taxes like property and sales taxes. 5) Only by concerted collective action can people ensure that government/public policy serves the needs of the people. 6) Healthcare is a human right, and by establishing it as a public good it will not only be more just, but by eliminating the waste of private insurers, we will save tens of millions of dollars.

More than 800 people crowded into Portland, Oregon’s First Unitarian Church on Saturday for a “Town Hall on the Economic Crisis.” In large-group plenary and a variety of action-oriented breakout sessions, participants discussed the causes of the financial meltdown, the government’s response and what people in the room can do to make a difference.

Throughout the rapid-fire, five-hour program, speakers urged their audiences to view the current economic crisis as an opportunity. Many argued that economic stimulus proposals aimed at “getting the country back to some pre-meltdown state” are inadequate for a number of reasons—not the least of which is that inequality left large numbers of American families struggling to survive even before the financial collapse.

Rather, people should be looking forward for ways build a new economy that helps working people, protects the environment and avoids unsustainable market “bubbles.” Most felt that the stimulus proposed by President Obama does not think big enough nor go far enough.

The afternoon’s more than one dozen workshops included titles like “Stopping the Global Race to the Bottom,” “Uniting Across Racial and Ethnic Divides,” “Rebuilding the Safety Net,” “Why Unions?” and “‘Push Me’ Said Obama to Progressives: But How?” Each featured presentations by local organizations that have been working to improve the economy for many years.

This event was organized by Portland Jobs with Justice and more than fifty other community partners from labor, environmental, faith and social justice communities. After the closing plenary, hundreds of people gathered in the church basement for free food and mingled among information tables set up by groups focused on health care, trade, peace, immigrant rights, the environment, the Employee Free Choice Act and more. Many took home information, signed petitions, and, most importantly, volunteered to get involved.

To learn more about the Town Hall, and how to organize one in your own community, visit: www.jwjpdx.org.