Philadelphia Jobs with Justice

Another example disproving the myth of the "selfish" public worker

2012-01-11T14:55:00.000-05:00

Today's post is from our student intern, Zoe Cina-Sklar.

On the 5th of January, members of the teachers' union in Chester Upland School District voted to work for no pay because of their district's payroll deficit. They had already had a tough job: the area's graduation rate was only 44.8 percent in 2010, the average class size was over over 40 students, and student body was impoverished. The loss of $900 million dollars in federal funding last August further worsened the district's situation as 40 percent of professional staff and nearly 50 percent of support staff were laid off. Yet, even when they had far too few resources, they continued to work. And they plan to continue now, forgoing any monetary compensation for the sake of their students' continued education.

"I am not going to make any commitments to the teachers union to do anything until they do something that's other than in their own self- interest. And everything they have done so far is in their self-interests, and that's it." -Governor Chris Christie

Are these the unionized teachers who Christie claims act only in their self-interest? The ones who take from the state? Certainly not.

Across Pennsylvania and the entire United States, these public sector employees face increased class sizes, furlough days, pay freezes, lay offs, and, as in the case of Chester Upland School District, even a lack of pay all together. Yet, they continue their work (unless the have already been forced from their jobs). This is unfair and unsustainable. Soon, if no federal stimulus arrives in places like Chester Upland, the teachers will leave out of necessity in order to support their own families. And without these teachers, how will children get the education they need to be successful and a force of change for the better in this inequality-ridden world?

Verizon's Message to Workers

2012-01-06T12:28:00.000-05:00

So, the struggle against Verizon's efforts to cut their employees' family healthcare continues. Verizon workers just received this video, shipped to their homes by the company.

I'm floored, mostly by how transparently awful this company is. Most corporations try and sell workers on cuts will at least fake the pretense of socially positive messaging (Walmart's "we're one big family, take one for the team" narrative, charter school corporations "can't you see that exercising your bargaining rights hurt the kids?" nonsense). In no way am I saying that messaging marks those corporations' true intentions, but they're a savvy marketing ruse.

What's fascinating about this video is how brazen Verizon is about its attack on family healthcare--not just plans for for Verizon workers, but workers in general. To say that other Americans pay over $4,000 per year while wireline Verizon workers receive healthcare from their company reads to me like an indictment of the failure of American employers, and a testament to the importance of unions like CWA in protecting workers' rights.

And by far the funniest part: long tirades and powerpoints followed by an earnest executive announcing, "you've recently worked through a hurricane, floods, even an earthquake"--I mean, if you were a worker who had dealt with those conditions, wouldn't your immediate response be, "yeah, I did all that, and now you want to take away my kids' healthcare coverage?"

Maybe my ideology is getting in the way, but I simply do not understand how the company would think this was an effective appeal to its employees. I could imagine this as a ploy to turn the public against unions by describing hard-won decent healthcare as "cadillac," but the company didn't put this up on Youtube--it shipped this out to workers' households.

I guess the best way to view this is as an object lesson in corporate smugness and the total disconnect between executives and the reality of working people on the ground. The idea that hearing that slashing healthcare could be justified because it allows Verizon to invest in speedy customer service through decentralization (read: moving call centers overseas) could only seem like a valid argument to an executive or cynical executive.

How the hell does cutting healthcare and shipping jobs to underpaid folks in India improve the lives of workers (East Coast Verizon workers, American workers who pay for Verizon's services, or for that matter, exploited Indian workers)?

Anyway, I'll close with a treat---CWA's parody of the video above.

Occupy Philly Labor Working Group Statement on the Issue of Relocation from Dilworth Plaza

2011-11-17T12:57:00.001-05:00

The Labor Working Group of Occupy Philly is issuing the following collaboratively written statement on the issue of relocation from Dilworth Plaza.

We, the members of the Labor Working Group, stand with Occupy Philly, and respect the decision-making process of the General Assembly.

The Labor Working Group aims to represent the broadest unity in the Philadelphia labor movement, and is comprised of a diverse representation of union organizers and labor activists who have been regularly involved with Occupy Philly.

The Philadelphia labor community has overwhelmingly supported the Philadelphia occupation. However, we are concerned by developments that may compromise our ability to unanimously defend Occupy Philly at its current location, and wish to articulate a clear position on the question of relocation from a labor perspective.

We support relocation for the following reasons:

1) Jobs. We recognize that the construction industry has been devastated by the current recession, and right now suffers from over 40% unemployment. This unemployment is creating great hardships for many working families.

2) Access. We recognize that many of our differently-abled brothers and sisters have advocated and fought for equal access to the public transportation hub at City Hall for decades, and are finally seeing their efforts come to fruition through the planned renovation of Dilworth Plaza.

3) Framing. We are concerned that the city has recently been able to use the issue of relocation to divide our movement and distract us from our core message of economic justice and democratic principles. The key issues for Occupy Philly must be movement-building, democratic process, and economic justice--not relocation. We have changed the national discourse; we must continue to do so.

4) Defensibility. The Labor Working Group stands strongly in solidarity with the rest of Occupiers and strongly supports our right to occupy a public space. In order to successfully continue our support and defense of Occupy Philly, however, the entire labor movement must be able to remain united on this issue. If Occupy Philly remains at its current location, the issues of job creation and accessibility issues will make it impossible for labor to sustain that unity. Further, we fear that should the General Assembly choose to stay at Dilworth Plaza, and should a police raid at that location occur, the Occupy Philly movement may be damaged irreparably.

We again reaffirm our commitment to the Occupy movement, and to the decision-making process of the General Assembly. We propose relocation as a strategic act of movement solidarity.

In solidarity,

The Labor Working Group

Occupy Comcast! Tax the Rich!

2011-11-02T20:30:00.001-04:00

On the day of the General Strike in solidarity with Occupy Oakland, local representatives of the 99% - including Gwen Snyder, Jobs with Justice Executive Director, and Diane Mohney, JwJ Community Co-chair - "occupied" the lobby of an icon of the 1%: Comcast Corporation headquarters in Philadelphia's financial district. The Occupiers were demanding that Comcast give back its abatement and pay its fair share of taxes. The rich and their institutions have become the direct targets of the ire of the 99%. See below pictures of the action, which resulted in the arrest of the protesters for "trespassing on private property". When a police officer lining the cordon where the arrested would be taken was asked if there was a contradiction between the rights of free public speech and private property, he remarked that the police were there to serve the private corporation. We were reminded that the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the "human rights" of corporations in this country, and that it is apparent some "human rights" are more important than others. Today's civil disobedience showed what the 99% think about the justice system imbalance that favors the 1%.

Some of the Occupiers of Comcast HQ in Philly on November 2, in solidarity with the Occupy Oakland General Strike by the 99%. Diane Mohney and Gwen Snyder are seen at the left next to the "father and son" statue.

Many of the 99% were locked out by Comcast guards, but stayed to show their support for those who made it into the lobby.

Since Day One, Jobs with Justice, especially in the person of Gwen Snyder, the Executive Director, has been a steady and vocal presence at the Occupy Philly site at Dilworth Plaza next to City Hall.

As a result of acting in the long and cherished American tradition of civil disobedience, Diane Mohney and Gwen Snyder are arrested, handcuffed and led out of the Comcast HQ.

The Occupy Philly encampment at City Hall's Dilworth Plaza by the 99 percenters continues. Supporters of the cause of the 99% - against greed, corruption and the government's austerity measures imposed on the behalf of the richest 1% - are encouraged to visit and experience the occupation of public space to express the grievances of the 99%.

Nov 2 @ Noon, City Hall: Occupy Philly in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland

2011-10-30T22:09:00.003-04:00

Below is the proposal passed by the Occupy Oakland General Assembly on Wednesday October 26, 2011 in reclaimed Oscar Grant Plaza. 1607 people voted. 1484 voted in favor of the resolution, 77 abstained and 46 voted against it, passing the proposal at 96.9%. The General Assembly operates on a modified consensus process that passes proposals with 90% in favor and with abstaining votes removed from the final count.

PROPOSAL:

We as fellow occupiers of Oscar Grant Plaza propose that on Wednesday November 2, 2011, we liberate Oakland and shut down the 1%.

We propose a city wide general strike and we propose we invite all students to walk out of school. Instead of workers going to work and students going to school, the people will converge on downtown Oakland to shut down the city.

All banks and corporations should close down for the day or we will march on them.

While we are calling for a general strike, we are also calling for much more. People who organize out of their neighborhoods, schools, community organizations, affinity groups, workplaces and families are encouraged to self organize in a way that allows them to participate in shutting down the city in whatever manner they are comfortable with and capable of.

The whole world is watching Oakland. Let’s show them what is possible.

http://www.occupyoakland.org/

http://phillyoccupation.org/

From Wall Street to Market Street... Occupy Philly!

2011-10-05T15:03:00.000-04:00

Are you ready to Occupy Philadelphia?

2011-10-05T00:56:00.001-04:00

In case you've been living under a rock: The Occupy Wall Street is spreading. And it's coming to Philadelphia.

At Tuesday's General Assembly, more than 1,000 people representing Occupy Philadelphiavoted to begin occupation THIS Thursday, October 6th, at 9 am at City Hall.

After the meeting, I was walking back to my bus stop with an organizer I respect a whole lot. He said this:

"I don't buy this whole 'it doesn't count because there are multiple issues' crap. People are mad. We know what we're mad about. And the corporations and politicians that have something to lose, they know what we're mad about, too--and that's why they're trying to dismiss this as meaningless."

I couldn't say it any better. Listen: there is a lot to be mad about. Labor knows it. The unemployed know it. You and I know it. And I genuinely believe that this occupation has the potential to be the opportunity we need to connect together and build our movement.

Will you join us in realizing that potential for true solidarity?

"There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own."

2011-09-23T13:45:00.000-04:00

"I hear all this, you know, “Well, this is class warfare, this is…”, whatever. No. There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory out there – good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn’t have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory… Now look. You built a factory and it turned into something terrific or a great idea – God Bless! Keep a Big Hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along."

-Elizabeth Warren via Society Pages

Rally tomorrow to support Hershey's workers.

2011-09-22T15:18:00.001-04:00

Interested in supporting Hershey's workers at their big rally tomorrow?

Fight for Philly is providing free transport and meals to the event, and asked me to share the information with folks:

This is a friendly reminder that we will be going to Hershey to support the courageous J1 Students that been held as captive workers by Hershey’s Chocolate Company.

Please RSVP with paola@fightforphilly.org. We will be providing breakfast and lunch.

We will be leaving by Charter Bus from 846 N Broad Street, at 9:30am and will be returning on the bus at 2pm for a hopeful arrival time in Philly by 4:30pm..

2011-09-16T00:06:00.016-04:00

Co-sponsored by:

Philly Jobs with Justice;

AFT 2026;

AFSCME DC 47;

United Steelworkers Local 10-1;

PASNAP (Pa. Assoc. of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals);

CLUW (Coalition of Labor Union Women);

AFSCME Locals 1723, 2186, 2187;

CATA (Farmworkers Support Committee);

Temple University Allied Health Professionals...

Workshop Listing:

Part 1 of 2: "Contract Campaigns and Bargaining Table Tactics"

Part 2 of 2: "Strike Prep"- When and How?

Leadership Development, Internal Organizing, Member to Member Networks

Assertive Grievance Handling

Labor Law for the Rank and File

Students and Staff

Telling Our Story through Video and Photography

Move the Money!

Labor and Single-Payer Health Care

Organizing Undocumented Workers

Organizing Workers using Health and Safety

Mark Brenner, Labor Notes
John Braxton, co-president, AFT Local 2026, USLAW
Kathy Black, Coalition of Labor Union Women, USLAW
Pat Fahy, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 827, Verizon Striker
Mary Adamson, RN, Temple Hospital Striker, PASNAP
Nelson Carrasquillo, co-ordinator, CATA Farmworkers Support Committee
Tony Perlstein, Longshore Workers Coalition Co-chair

Bill Zoda, PASNAP staff rep

Ray Martinez, SEIU Local 668

Dan Lutz, Teamsters for a Democratic Union

Dynnita Bryant, president, Philadelphia Security Officers Union

Dave Cohen, UE Representative, retired

Lance Geren (Freedman and Lorry)

Paul Prescod, Temple SLAP;

Ryan Nissim-Rabat, organizer with UNITE HERE;

Gwen Snyder; executive director of Philly Jobs with Justice,

Dani Noble, Swarthmore SLAP;

Nantina Vgontzas, UPenn SLAP alumnus

Harvey Finkle, documentary still photographer

Milena Velis, Media Mobilizing Project organizer

Tom Knoche, Health Care Now!

Jessica Culley, CATA

Javier Hernandez, PHILAPOSH

http://labornotes.org/philly

Click on the map to enlarge

Next time there's a SEPTA strike and you hear people grumbling...

2011-09-07T15:44:00.000-04:00

...Remind them of this:

Septa Driver Shot, Drives to Hospital.

"A bus driver for SEPTA drove herself to a hospital after being shot in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry section, KYW Newsradio is reporting."

It's worth remembering that there are a lot more risks inherent to many of the jobs we tend to take for granted than meets the eye. This is a sad example: transit workers often face exposure to street violence and conflict that has been carried onto their vehicle.

Similarly, nurses and social workers encounter extremely high rates of violence during their everyday work. Casino attendants risk respiratory problems from inhaling such high levels of second hand smoke working the floor. Bike messengers work under constant risk of injury or death in traffic, and suffer an increased risk of fertility problems.

Unions have long sought to maximize workplace safety and minimize risk (think how manufacturing conditions have changed since the days of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire 100 years ago). They also play a role in making sure that where risks are taken, workers are adequately compensated and cared for.

It's our responsibility as a movement to remember and remind folks that labor struggle isn't just about contracts and strikes, pensions and wages. We need to be vocal about the fact that while these issues are important, our struggle is also about health and safety--about life and death.

via Philadelphia Business Journal.

JwJ leafletting about Verizon continues...

2011-08-30T17:40:00.000-04:00

Local Jobs with Justice activists will continue to distribute informational leaflets about the CWA and IBEW dispute with Verizon (see previous story below). Join us at the Verizon Wireless store at 1115 Market Street (in front of Reading Terminal) on Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. We will be there every Wednesday after that at the regular time of 4:00 - 5:00 pm. For more info: 215 264-3553.

Don't miss our sustainer event 9.10.11

2011-08-24T12:58:00.001-04:00

Save the date! First ever Philly Troublemakers School

2011-08-23T12:04:00.001-04:00

Co-sponsored by Philly Jobs with Justice and many local unions and community organizations.
Register now!

http://labornotes.org/philly

CWA, IBEW Reach Agreement on Bargaining with Verizon; Members to Return to Work Tuesday, August 23

2011-08-20T13:58:00.006-04:00

Following is a statement by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers:

Washington, D.C. - Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in force for an indefinite period.

We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured. The major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.

We appreciate the unity of our members and the support of so many in the greater community. Now we will focus on bargaining fairly and moving forward.

NOTE: All Jobs with Justice pickets are cancelled because of this agreement. Thanks to all for your support!

Noontime Strikers' Rally in Center City

2011-08-19T16:07:00.003-04:00

An estimated 2,000 striking CWA Local 13000 workers and their allies marched through Center City Philadelphia on Friday, August 19, and rallied in front of the Verizon offices at 900 Arch Street. Along with a spirited showing from CWA members, there was a strong outpouring of support from Jobs with Justice, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Laborers, PASNAP, SEIU, Unite HERE, AFSCME, AFGE, teachers unions, and others.

Striking CWA members and their allies wall-to-wall in the 900 block of Race Street in Center City.

Philly Jobs with Justice will have a regular picket in solidarity with striking CWA workers at the Verizon Wireless store, 1115 Market Street (Reading Terminal), on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (or longer). Please stand with us!

Contact Warren with any questions: solidarity@phillyjwj.org -or- call/text 215 264-3553.

Verizon Strike Support!

2011-08-17T13:18:00.004-04:00

Philly Jobs with Justice will have a regular strike picket at the Verizon Wireless store at 1115 Market Street (Reading Terminal) on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (or longer). Please stand with us!

Contact Warren with any questions: solidarity@phillyjwj.org -or- call/text 215 264-3553.

2011-08-16T14:24:00.000-04:00

"You Can't Smoke Us Out!"

2011-07-25T14:56:00.001-04:00

Last Thursday, workers at Hyatt hotels around the country picketed outside their places of work to demand provisions for job security and better conditions in their new contract. Unfortunately, some protestors had to deal with more than just the heat of a hot summer day.

Management at the Chicago Hyatt turned on the hotel's heat lamps at 7:00 am, blasting the workers with an amount of heat typically reserved for warming the sidewalk in the dead of winter. With temperatures already well into the 80s, the extra heat made conditions on the sidewalk almost unbearable for the striking workers. Nevertheless, they did withstand the heat, and continued their picket for the rest of the day, chanting "You can't smoke us out."

The courage of these workers in the face of deadly heat is astonishing, and truly commendable. However, what this incident says about corporate regard for worker safety and basic human dignity is a terrifying prospect to consider. Any institution that would assault its employees with hot lamps as a punitive action is an institution that poses a serious threat to workplace safety and human rights.

The relevance of Hyatt's transgressions is readily apparent here in Philadelphia, where the Hyatt also has a large presence. Hotels in Philadelphia are notoriously exploitative workplaces and pose some of the greatest opposition to the Earned Sick Time bill. You heard that right: hotels oppose legislation that would allow workers to care for themselves when sick and live with basic dignity. Not too surprising, coming from an employer that imperils its workers' lives in retaliation to a peaceful protest.

Mayor Nutter has recently vetoed the Earned Sick Time bill in Philadelphia, but City Council will have an opportunity to override his veto in September. We need to make sure that they do, and that this bill passes into law. The corporations may not be about to protect their workers, but we sure will!

National JwJ Conference Coming Up!

2011-07-25T11:02:00.002-04:00

Coming up in just over 2 weeks is the Jobs with Justice National Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference will include a focus on student and interfaith work, and will feature numerous workshops on the campaigns local JwJ networks are waging across the country.

Specific issues that groups will discuss will be the rights of home care workers, immigrant rights, and exploitation at Walmart. And, looking to the future, we will be having discussions envisioning an economy that we want, with worker power and input, and better jobs for everybody.

We're very excited for the opportunity to come together as a nationwide movement to discuss the issues that are most important to our communities today and to envision a better future. We would love to have you there.

Philly JwJ Heads to the Capitol!

2011-07-21T11:50:00.003-04:00

Last Tuesday, July 12th, 4 people from Philly JwJ headed down to Washington D.C. where we met over 700 other activists from around the country. What we all had in common was a dedication to fighting for a better home care system at the first Care Congress in the United States. Caring Across Generations, the emerging campaign, hopes to ensure proper elder care protections while ensuring that the workers providing this care have decent wages, benefits, and conditions. Furthermore, we need to demand the rights of domestic child care workers, providers of an equally essential service. Domestic child care workers are also frequently exploited and abused while providing the necessary care for the nation's children. What everyone in Washington agreed upon is that we need to provide child care workers and elder care workers with the rights and respect that all human beings deserve.

At the conference, we listened to numerous motivating speeches on both the importance of home care and the importance of treating home care workers with dignity and respect. In the afternoon, the attendees either participated in workshops to discuss organizing for home care workers in their community or went to Congress to demand that they protect Medicaid. All of the participants had a great opportunity to meet and talk with other like-minded activists dedicated to this critical fight for worker justice and fair jobs.

Right now, the United States has an aging population and longer life expectancy, meaning that the demand for home care workers is skyrocketing. It is critical that we ensure that the people who need care are able to get it, and able to get it affordably. At the same time, we need to make sure that the people who provide it are treated as professionals providing an essential service, and are paid a living wage.

Unfortunately, the National Labor Relations Act excludes workers caring for the elderly in their homes with what's known as the "companionship exemption." This disgraceful law means that these workers do not even have the basic minimum wage and overtime protections that most of us take for granted. Furthermore, many providers of child and elder care are abused by their employers and paid far less than any law allows. Thankfully, 21 states have passed legislation including home care workers in minimum wage laws, and 16 states have passed legislation including them in overtime protections. However, this is not enough. It is time to amend the NLRA and end the exemption. And this will just be the first step. The national momentum is gathering, and we intend to ensure necessary protections for ALL home care workers.

JwJ National Conference is coming up!

2011-07-05T10:48:00.002-04:00

Be sure to register now if you'd like to join the Philly contingent down at the conference in DC, August 5-7.

A Cordial Invitation

2011-06-28T14:34:00.001-04:00

Over the next two days, there will be two workshops on Social Security, and all are welcome to attend either or both. The workshops will be in the form of a lunchtime seminar updating participants on Social Security policy, current challenges facing the program, and budget proposals that would attack Social Security and Medicare. They will include a discussion on messaging and how best to spread information about current attacks on Social Security to the public. The workshop will provide fact sheets on general policy questions and specifics involving Pennsylvania. Lunch is free.

Seminar 1:

When: Wednesday, June 29, 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Where: Harrisburg Hilton, Susquehana Room, 1 N Second St, Harrisburg

Seminar 2:

When: Thursday, June 30, 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Where: AFSCME District Council 1199C

1319 Locust St, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia

Please RSVP by emailing (aswope@retiredamericans.org) or calling (717-231-2866) Adam Swope.

A moving video from PhilaPOSH, Philadelphia worker safety advocates

2011-06-28T10:52:00.002-04:00

If you missed PhilaPOSH's Workers' Memorial Day this year, you'll want to watch this moving video.

Writes Barbara Rahke, last year's Philly CLUW Woman of the Year and PhilaPOSH Executive Director:

"It was filmed on Workers Memorial Day program. Our goal was to not only educate about the loss of life each year through work-related injuries and illnesses, but to show the strong connections between labor, families and community around safety and health."

Irony: union actor from Target's anti-union flick speaks out

2011-06-27T10:34:00.006-04:00

Hope you had a good weekend, JwJers. I have a little gem for you.

This article dates back to last Thursday, but with all the excitement (Interfaith Worker Justice conference! Paid sick days legislation passes in Philly! And we'll get you yet, Walmart!), there just hasn't been enough of a lull for me to find a moment to share it.

Although Walmart's various evils usually get more publicity, Target stores are pretty viciously anti-union, and have been for a while.

Under current laws, companies are allowed to turn their employees into a captive audience for anti-union propaganda films--like Target's 2003 classic, "Think Before You Sign."

Interestingly, Target ended up hiring union actors because... well, because union actors have this reputation for being professional and responsible. Coincidence, I'm sure.

Anyway, Ric Reitz, the actor who plays friendly Target worker "Doug" in this film, recently talked a little bit about his experience with this particular job:

Reitz says when he got the script for the 2003 Target video, the anti-union content struck him as "very awkward."
"You take the job, and you're an actor," says Reitz, a longtime member of AFTRA and the Screen Actors Guild. "Am I pro-union? Absolutely."

Kind of great, right?

We Refuse to let Supreme Court Ruling be a Corporate Victory.

2011-06-22T12:26:00.003-04:00

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court released a ruling against female workers at Wal-mart in Walmart Stores Inc. v Dukes. The workers had tried to bring a class action suit saying that nationwide, women had faced discrimination and been denied promotions on the basis of gender, a fact that they attributed to a discriminatory corporate culture on a national level, stating that a sexist corporate culture nationwide made equality impossible. Such discrimination was evidenced by demeaning terms towards female employees, regular comments that female workers didn't have serious career ambitions, and statements that women were less fit for certain types of work.

Had they succeeded, Wal-mart would have had to pay billions in back wages and drastically change its sexist atmosphere. However, the Court found that the group of women was in fact too large to file a joint suit; because the discrimination all took place at a regional level, the women are not able to join forces nationwide to challenge Wal-mart together on a national level.

Though disappointing, this is by no means a victory for Wal-mart. The Supreme Court said that the women did not qualify as one class. This does not mean that Wal-mart was innocent on the issue of violating women's constitutional rights to equal protection under the law. The inability to file a class action lawsuit may be a setback, but we cannot let it destroy the workers' cases. The road ahead may be more difficult, but that will not deter us from the fight for justice.

Here's what needs to happen next: Wal-mart must change its corporate policy to ensure that no regional authorities can pay women lower salaries or deny them promotions, and they must reform their attitude towards women on every level of administration. Congress must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to further protect the rights of women in the workplace and ensure that corporations like Wal-mart cannot get away with rampant discrimination. Local organizations must figure out a way for smaller groups of Wal-mart's female employees to seek justice over lost wages and denied promotions. We will not allow Wal-mart to get away with discrimination. We WILL hold them accountable.

VICTORY IN PHILADELPHIA

2011-06-20T15:35:00.001-04:00

Last Thursday, June 16, Philadelphia City Council finally voted on the Earned Sick Time Bill, approving it in a 9-8 vote. Philly JwJ has worked hard to get this bill passed, working alongside over one hundred other groups in the area. It's been a hard fight, but finally Council has recognized a basic right of all workers, and announced that everybody deserves decent sick-leave provisions. If Nutter signs the bill, there will be no more hard decisions between caring for a sick relative and getting a day's pay, or between taking the time to get better and keeping a job. That means that now we need to make sure Mayor Nutter signs this law into the books!

Big Victory for Domestic Workers Internationally!

2011-06-09T14:23:00.001-04:00

The International Labor Organization, meeting in Geneva, just reached a great agreement on a convention establishing basic rights for domestic workers everywhere. The final vote isn't until next week, but the ILO is now on the road to setting a key international labor standard. Final passage of the convention would give domestic workers the recognition they deserve, as well as granting certain critical rights. These rights include eliminating discrimination, eliminating forced labor, eliminating child labor, and allowing collective bargaining. The convention would also require contracts, fair hours, overtime pay, and wage protections. These provisions explicitly include migrant workers.

It's time that domestic workers everywhere received these basic workplace rights. If the ILO passes the convention, governments can then ratify it to make it national law. So, let's make sure that the ILO and countries worldwide begin recognizing these key rights!

States step up to recognize domestic workers!

2011-06-07T15:16:00.002-04:00

Here's some breaking news. The California assembly just passed a bill providing nannies in the state of California with their rights as workers and human beings. The bill provides overtime compensation, paid vacation and sick days, advanced notice of termination, and various other critical benefits. The bill is now pending state senate approval. If passed, this bill will be a pioneer in the fight to protect workers who often lack legal recognition and status, and who are constantly exploited, abused, and denied basic human rights in homes nationwide.

California's decision itself follows not far behind similar legislation in New York, effective November 29, 2010. This legislation included domestic workers into major labor laws effecting other workers in the state, set paid leave time, established overtime requirements, as well as enacting numerous other protections. New York City alone has over 200,000 domestic workers doing essential work in the city; this legislation is a huge victory for all of them.

The movement to get recognition and legal protection for domestic workers is gaining momentum. Here in Philadelphia, domestic workers are already taking note and beginning to organize. We're really excited to be a part of this work--stay tuned for more information about domestic worker organizing at Philly JwJ!

Support our faith allies as they pray for Earned Sick Time in Philadelphia this Sunday!

2011-06-03T16:00:00.003-04:00

Folks, we are so close to passing Earned Sick Time in Philadelphia!

This Thursday, June 9th, City Council will vote on this important bill, which would allow all workers in the City of Philadelphia to take paid time off if they or a family member gets sick. Such a bill would mean that workers would not have to chose between their health, or their family's health, and their paycheck. It would mean more humane working conditions, and it would mean a safer workplace for all workers.

This legislation is essential for all working families in Philadelphia, and its passage would be a huge victory.

As we approach the vote, we must remain strong and continue showing our support for this critical bill.

Faith allies have been especially powerful leaders in this struggle. Yesterday, leaders held a prayer vigil directly outside of Council Chambers. This Sunday, Living Water United Church will be holding a special service themed around Earned Sick Time--and Council Members are invited.

One way that you can show this support is by coming to this special service in support of the bill.

What: Service For Earned Sick Time
When: Sunday, June 5th, 11:00am-1:00pm
Where: Living Water United Church of Christ, 2006 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia

We hope you can attend, so that we can gather strength and energy together, and show City Council how important this legislation is. Let's make Philadelphia a safer and healthier place for all workers!

This post courtesy of Alison Roseberry-Polier!

As If Wal-Mart Wasn't Evil Enough . . .

2011-05-31T16:59:00.002-04:00

I am Ali, an intern at Philadelphia JwJ, and I’ll be sending out blog posts over the course of this summer.

Currently, labor conditions and wages in Bangladeshi sweatshops are among the worst worldwide. The minimum wage is $43 USD a month, an amount insufficient for basic needs for workers and their families. However, a workers’ campaign for higher wages faced legal repercussions, including jail time, torture, and possibly the death penalty. Factory owners filed false charges against the leaders, leading to their imprisonment and torture.

Wal-Mart is the biggest purchaser of garments made in these sweatshops, and the United States is the biggest consumer worldwide. Wal-Mart profits greatly from the products made in these sweatshops, and the factory owners are often Wal-Mart subcontractors.

Wal-Mart needs to demand that the workers in these sweatshops have proper wages and benefits, and provide annual reports of workplace conditions. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart refuses to be transparent about international working conditions, ignoring demands for accountability from its very shareholders. Wal-Mart must admit to the injustices in Bangladeshi workplaces and hold itself accountable to its shareholders and the concerned public.

Currently, JwJ is working with UFCW on a campaign for fair working standards at Wal-Marts around the country, and for international accountability for workers’ rights.

Take action: Tell Walmart to stand up for workers’ rights!

JwJ, Action United, and Coalition for Healthy Families wrap City Hall in signed postcards supporting earned sick time!

2011-05-26T14:20:00.002-04:00

This morning, Jobs with Justice members joined other activists from the Coalition for Healthy Families inwrapping City Hall in 10,000 signed postcards asking council members to pass the Earned Sick Time bill. That's right, 10,000 postcards--and we had another 8,000 cards left over!

Check out WHYY's coverage of the action. Who is that lovely person pictured in the article? Why, that's Diane Mohney, JwJ activist extraordinare!

Next Thursday, Jobs with Justice will be organizing a clergy vigil outside Council Chambers. Faith leaders will stand and witness to the moral necessity of this legislation.

Want to help out? Good. We need all hands on deck the morning of the final vote on earned sick time--Thursday, June 9. We're going to be loud enough, big enough, and bad enough to get it through to Council: more than 70% of Philadelphians support paid sick days legislation!

Update: Philadelphians Show Support for Hunger Strikers

2011-05-22T00:42:00.021-04:00

On May 23, activists in Philadelphia showed their support for the hunger striking workers and allies in Minneapolis, who are part of the movement seeking dignity and improved conditions for those who clean the floors at supermarkets owned or controlled by Supervalu.

Photo by Eduardo Soriano-Castillo

A delegation of fifteen from Philly Jobs with Justice, Temple U. Student Labor Action Project, PhilaPOSH (occupational safety and health advocates), UNITE HERE, and Solidarity, accompanied Gwen Snyder, executive director, as she attempted to present a letter - from JwJ supporting the workers - to the manager of a Supervalu-affiliated ACME Supermarket. The manager refused to accept the letter, citing a corporate directive, and told the delegation that they were trespassing as he phoned the police. The delegates then handbilled 300 car windshields and explained their concerns to patrons, as the manager frantically paced the parking lot and read our message into his phone. The police declined to respond to the call.

Photo by Eduardo Soriano-Castillo

The event was peaceful and civil, well received by patrons, and obviously disturbing to ACME officials who dare not imagine what might be next.

Supporters can follow this struggle at the web site: ctul.net and in the pages of Labor Notes. See the initial story below...

Labor Notes
Minneapolis Grocery Store Cleaners Launch Hunger Strike

A mad dash to outsource cleaning services to the lowest bidder has cut wages to minimum wage (sometimes less) with no benefits. A Minneapolis worker center announced a hunger strike to protest the conditions. Photo: Alysa R. Friedrich

By Eduardo Soriano-Castillo

Four retail cleaning workers and four community allies will begin an open–ended hunger strike Saturday to ratchet up pressure on the Supervalu grocery chain. The workers, members of a Minneapolis worker center, want the company to negotiate a code of conduct that guarantees fair wages and conditions for the workers who clean its stores late into the night.

The group, led by immigrant workers from Mexico and Central America, also seeks the reinstatement of an illegally fired workplace leader.

“The drastic nature of our action is only equal to the drastic conditions under which retail cleaning workers have to work,” said Mario Colloly, the fired worker. He’s one of the hunger strikers.

After months of requests by workers and their allies for a meeting, and a November march that brought 300 members and supporters to protest in front of several stores, retail cleaning workers in the Twin Cities have said enough is enough. They are organizing with the support of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), or the Workers United in Struggle Center, along with faith, community, and union allies.

Kristin Melby, who works on nutrition in the childhood development program in the Minneapolis schools, said she’s joining the hunger strike because “exploitation is happening in my own backyard.”

Melby, a member of the teachers union, said the campaign has built an awareness in the Twin Cities around the poor working conditions of retail cleaning workers, which will grow with the dramatic action. “The energy is building,” she said.

A mad dash to outsource cleaning services to the lowest bidder over the last decades has caused vicious competition among cleaning subcontractors—with severe consequences for workers. Retail cleaners in Minneapolis say wages have been cut from $12 an hour, with some benefits, to minimum wage (sometimes less) with no benefits.

Wage cuts and workload increases have been the most dramatic at Cub Foods, which is run by Supevalu. Other abuses, said CTUL organizer Brian Payne, include sexual harassment, lack of air conditioning or heating, and threats of physical violence.

The industry as a whole is plagued by severe wage theft and human rights violations. Acting on a tip from overseas, the Department of Justice uncovered a slavery ring in Pennsylvania last year where Ukrainian cleaners put in 16-hour days, seven days a week, at retail stores including Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Safeway, for $100 a month. Prosecutors said workers were raped, beaten, threatened, and held in virtual bondage.

Pressure Nationwide

As the hunger strike begins in Minneapolis, delegations of community supporters will handbill customers and deliver letters to managers at 20 Supervalu-owned stores nationwide.

“The workers’ voices need to be heard,” said Gwen Snyder, executive director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice, which will lead a delegation to an ACME grocery.

The hunger strike is the latest front of a vigorous campaign targeting Cub Foods. Community activists have faced a brutal reaction to their protests. During an in-store guerrilla theater action March 15, demonstrators say a Cub Foods security guard assaulted them before dousing activists and bystanders with pepper spray, including a two-year-old.

The protest demanded the reinstatement of Colloly, who was fired for organizing with his co-workers. “Although the company broke the law when they fired me, I have not given up,” Colloly said.

Code of Conduct

The worker center is demanding a legally binding agreement or code of conduct from stores that subcontract their cleaning work. They want Supervalu to guarantee fair wages, improved working conditions, and the right for workers to organize free of retaliation. The group says it will work out specifics in negotiation—if chain executives will agree to meet.

The Twin Cities faith community has begun a “receipts for worker rights” campaign to remind management of the buying power supporters could withhold.

Peter Marincel, an organizer with Spirit of Faith Church, said congregations are collecting receipts from their purchases at Supervalu-owned stores and delivering them to company decision-makers.

“We want to send a clear message that our values are indeed aligned with our pocketbooks,” Marincel said.

Jennifer Christensen, UFCW Local 1189 secretary-treasurer, said the local backs the cleaners. The Food and Commercial Workers hold contracts for clerks, baggers, meat cutters, and stockers at Supervalu stores.

“Because of subcontracting and the hiring of temporary workers, many of these one-time UFCW members have seen their standards of living completely decimated,” she said. “We want to see all our shops organized wall to wall.”

The Service Employees union has seen success in organizing cleaners in commercial office buildings, but Greg Nammacher, a staffer at SEIU Local 26 in the Twin Cities, says the union hasn’t figured out how to organize in retail cleaning because it’s so splintered and decentralized.

SEIU members and staff have participated in marches, in-store actions, and delegations to subcontractors demanding Colloly’s reinstatement. “We support CTUL and the retail sanitation workers in keeping the pressure on these subcontractors and winning the respect and dignity they deserve,” Nammacher said.

http://labornotes.org/2011/04/minneapolis-grocery-store-cleaners-threaten-hunger-strike
For more information, visit: ctul.net

Sign your name in support of Earned Sick Time, and mark 5/26 on your calendar!

2011-05-20T13:05:00.003-04:00

Looking for a quick way to express your support for the Earned Sick Time bill before the weekend starts?

Great, because we need your signature: click here to sign the coalition's online petition for individuals in support of Earned Sick Time legislation in Philadelphia.

Next week we'll begin our final three-week stretch of action urging City Council to adopt this vital piece of legislation. This coming Thursday, May 26th at 8 a.m., we will be literally wrapping City Hall with the support cards the Coalition for Healthy Families has been collecting from Philadelphians. It should be an amazing action--we hope to see you there!

Hey Philly--

2011-05-17T11:38:00.000-04:00

Go forth and vote!

How do you like THEM apples, City Council? #EarnedSickTime Campaign delivers baskets of apples, moms' stories to Council

2011-05-12T10:36:00.000-04:00

Fun science factoid: an apple a day doesn't keep the doctor away.

If you've ever been a working mom with a tickle in your throat just receiving a call at work from the school nurse breaking the news that there are two sniffling, puking, flu-ridden kids sitting in his office waiting for a ride home and maybe some antibiotics, you almost certainly don't need me to tell you that.

But it seems like Mayor Nutter and some members of City Council would benefit from the info.

That's why moms, faith leaders, JwJ activists, and other supporters spent this morning making special deliveries to councilpeople. The delivery? Apple-o-grams--baskets containing apples and some pretty heartbreaking stories from local moms, gathered by Moms Rising.

Here's Councilman Bill Greenlee, accepting his basket and promising that "this bill will get done!"

Orange you glad I didn't say banana? Earned sick time applegram action TOMORROW, 9 am!

2011-05-11T13:45:00.000-04:00

Have you been keeping up with the Earned Sick Time campaign? If not, don't worry; we'll catch you up.

So here's the deal: we want folks in Philly to be able to earn paid sick time. Now, that doesn't mean taking paid sick days whenever you want, all willy-nilly. It simply means the right to accumulate a few paid sick days each year at your job.
Which means if you're sick, or your kids are sick, you don't have to debate whether to A) lose your pay and fall behind on the mortgage, or B) work anyway and make everyone around you (or all the kids around your kid) sick, too.

Let's face it, that option B isn't too great for any of us. Especially working moms and other guardians, who are forced to choose between earning the income that sustains their family and caring for an ailing family member.

So show up tomorrow and show your support. Here are the details, courtesy of the Coalition for Healthy Families:

Moms and children will deliver over 700 letters to Philadelphia City Council Members and “Apple-o-grams” – apples with messages from local families to Council urging Members to support a bill that would guarantee workers the ability to accrue earned sick days. Each Apple-o-gram will include apples and a booklet with personal messages from local families and stories about the need for earned sick days.
WHEN: 9:00 am, May 12, 2011

WHERE: 4th Floor, Outside of Council Chambers City Hall Philadelphia

The Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (Bill No. 08074) would allow workers the opportunity to earn paid sick days to care for themselves or loved ones. The bill unanimously passed out of a committee on March 1, 2011. If the bill is passed, Philadelphia will become the fourth city in the country to pass earned sick days legislation so that workers can care for themselves or a sick family member.

Help us show Council members the strong support for this bill by coming to City Hall. You are welcome to come to the press conference and then stay to help us deliver the baskets.

Pretty cool, right?

Right!

Austerity in America: the fall of Camden, NJ

2011-05-09T16:42:00.003-04:00

Hey, folks--

After some technical difficulty (and, to be quite honest, slight overcommitment on the part of our staff!) , we're back up and blogging. And what better way to start than by letting you know about a quite timely discussion of what happened in a city that could no longer fund its public workforce?

Austerity in America: The Fall of Camden, NJ

Monday, May 16th – 7pm
The A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA

Camden, New Jersey went from a diverse and mighty industrial city--home to 55,000 of good paying industrial jobs--only to become the one of the nation’s most segregated and poorest.

In 2002, The New Jersey state government claimed it needed to take over nearly all of the city’s functions--legally disenfranchising every resident--only to leave a trail of failed development schemes and enough financial ruin that the city recently laid off half of its police and fire departments.

Join us for an intriguing discussion about capital flight, severe austerity, urban development, and political corruption.

Panelists include:
Dr. Howard Gillette - Professor of History at Rutgers University-Camden and author of Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City.

Tom Knoche - Community organizer, Camden activist, and author of Common Sense for Camden: Taking Back Our City.

Dan Sidorick - Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at Temple University and author of Condensed Capitalism: Campbell Soup and the Pursuit of Cheap Production in the Twentieth Century.

Part of the Philadelphia Industrial Workers of the World’s Philly Labor Talk Series.

Contact walt.weber.iww@gmail.com or 215-839-9258 with questions. This event is FREE!

Hope to see you there.

Phlebotomists' Adorable Children Unite!

2011-04-08T15:44:00.006-04:00

First, the adorable:

I've been meaning to share this photo from HPAE Local 5103 American Red Cross campaign kickoff for a week now, and I think Friday's the perfect day for it.

Now, the background: HPAE Local 5103 organizes American Red Cross phlebotomists in the Philly area (they're the hardworking folks who collect and manage the American Red Cross blood drives). Blood saves lives, and phlebotomists make that possible. They're proud of that.

Unfortunately American Red Cross (whose former CFO, Scott Walker, has been making some very interesting headlines over in Wisconsin) hasn't shown the kind of respect for these workers that you might expect. Red Cross has a bit of a history of trying to slash pay and benefits while overworking its phlebotomists--a strategy that means HPAE's folks end up having to try and make the best out of long hours and understaffed blood drives. American Red Cross's cost cutting has resulted in numerous safety problems and fines--and every cent paid towards fines is a cent less going towards saving lives.

American Red Cross is also angling to eliminate the health benefits that they provide for Local 5103's families--including the children pictured above. Look at those faces. Do they deserve to be denied quality healthcare? Absolutely not!

Interested in getting involved in the campaign? Interfaith Worker Justice has put together a neat guide of questions to ask the next time your organization holds a blood drive. It's written as a guide for faith congregations, but could be pretty helpful for secular organizations, as well.

UPenn Student Labor Action Project wins on HEI Workers Rising campaign!

2011-03-31T12:11:00.004-04:00

I don't want to brag or anything, but we have some pretty fabulous Student Labor Action Projects (SLAPs) here in Philly. First, our SLAP chapter over at Temple University was recognized as SLAP Chapter of the Year down at United States Students Association's Legislative Convention earlier in March. Now, after years of work and coordination with Unite HERE!, UPenn SLAP has just come out victorious in their campaign to get the University of Pennsylvania to divest from HEI Management, a viciously anti-union hotel management company.

Here's the official statement from UPenn's Executive Vice President:

"Over the past three years, University representatives and I have met several times with student leaders from the Penn chapter of the Student Labor Action Project ( SLAP ). A joint initiative of Jobs with Justice and the United States Student Association, SLAP is working to persuade investors in HEI Hotels ( a privately held hotel management company specializing in under-managed U.S. urban business hotels and resort properties ) to divest from the company in protest of what SLAP describes as unlawful anti-organizing practices and unfair working conditions for employees at HEI properties. Subsequently, Penn’s SLAP chapter, and other chapters nationally, have requested universities pledge publicly not to reinvest in HEI-sponsored funds.
In 2004, Penn participated, along with other endowments and institutional investors, as a limited partner in HEI’s first fund. Penn has not participated in two subsequent funds. Due to confidentiality restrictions, the University does not as a general rule comment on its private investments. However in 2008, four years after Penn's participation, its investment was publicly disclosed, as one of several institutional endowment investors, by a representative of HEI during a company presentation. Shortly thereafter, the Penn chapter of SLAP, as with groups similarly organized on other campuses, raised concerns about HEI’s treatment of its labor force and argued that it was denying workers the right to organize a union. [...]
To clarify Penn’s position: The University has no plans to make future investments in HEI-sponsored funds. Any future consideration of an investment would take into account all relevant circumstances at that time.

SLAP is a joint project between Jobs with Justice and United States Student Association, so you can see why we're feeling pretty proud.

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution

UPenn SLAP members hold Ahold USA exec accountable

2011-03-21T16:14:00.004-04:00

Things were so crazy last week with Sunoco that I forgot to share a photo from the rally that the University of Pennsylvania SLAP held in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a worker-led group of largely immigrant tomato pickers down in Florida who have been waging an exciting campaign to protest the slave wages and mistreatment of farmworkers. Here's a photo, and some background:

Why It Matters (c/o CIW):

Florida farmworkers have long faced brutal conditions in the fields, including sub-poverty wages, widespread labor rights violations, and even modern-day slavery. Today, however, there is hope on the horizon, thanks to the efforts of farmworkers, Fair Food activists, Florida tomato growers, and nine food industry leaders (including Ahold USA competitor Whole Foods) who have joined in support of the CIW's Fair Food principles, including a penny-per-pound piece rate wage increase, a strict code of conduct, a cooperative complaint resolution system, a participatory health and safety program, and a worker-to-worker education process.

Last November, the CIW and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) signed an agreement to extend these principles to over 90% of Florida's tomato fields. And though the implementation of that agreement is being phased in gradually over the course of this season and the next, many real, concrete changes have already taken root on some of the state's largest farms.

Ahold USA, however, is refusing to do its part, and if they have their way, the unprecedented farm labor transformation promised by the CIW's landmark agreement with the FTGE would be significantly diminished. That's because the solution to farm labor exploitation and abuse contained in the Fair Food principles depends on the participation of all the major purchasers of Florida tomatoes. Each buyer must contribute its fair share – its penny-per-pound – for the pay raise to reach its full potential. Each buyer must commit to direct its purchases to those growers complying with the code of conduct – and away from those who don't – for working conditions to get better and stay better. In the words of the FTGE's Reggie Brown, "Everybody in the system has to be invested for it to work."

Inky column on our Sunoco Action yesterday.

2011-03-18T12:47:00.003-04:00

The Inquirer covered our action at Sunoco in today's paper. An excerpt from Mike Armstrong's column:

Elsenhans remained silent as the protesters, who later identified themselves as being from Philadelphia Jobs With Justice, a group that advocates on behalf of workers' rights, were escorted from the ballroom.
When she resumed, her remarks centered on the need for women in the workplace to identify mentors, embrace change, take risks, persevere, and give back to others. Her speech was interrupted several more times as individual protesters, usually women, stood and talked to the crowd about layoffs and the loss of health benefits at Sunoco.
Gwen Snyder, executive director of Philadelphia Jobs With Justice, said at least 13 activists with her organization as well as Student Labor Action Project members from Temple University and Swarthmore College paid $125 per ticket to attend the chamber lunch. "We respect female leadership," she said. "She may be a leader, but not the right kind."
Members of the unions representing Sunoco refinery workers in South Philadelphia and Marcus Hook demonstrated for an hour outside the Marriott. Jim Savage, president of United Steelworkers Local 10-1, said he found it outrageous that anybody would honor Elsenhans for actions that have led to longer unemployment lines and a diminished tax base.

VIDEO: Happy St. Patrick's Day, Lynn Elsenhans!

2011-03-18T12:35:00.003-04:00

It's not every day we get to ruin the day of a Fortune 500 CEO.

We did yesterday, though!

Lynn Elsenhans is not our role model.

2011-03-17T17:48:00.003-04:00

What has Lynn Elsenhans done for your community lately?

Well, if you're from the Greater Philadelphia area, then she's raised your unemployment rates and cut your neighbors' healthcare. She's even risked the lives of working Philadelphians by cutting corners and using an outdated chemical that can form giant, poisonous clouds of acid like this if accidentally released. And it wasn't until ABC shot an expose warning the public that Sunoco did anything about it.

Seriously, guys. Giant, poisonous clouds of acid. Not my idea of responsible leadership.

So you probably get why workers, students, and community members might be confused--baffled, even--that the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce had chosen to honor Elsenhans as a leader who has contributed "significantly to the socio-economic prosperity of the Greater Philadelphia region."

That's where Philly JwJ came in. Some members of USW 10-1, the steelworkers who risk their lives every day at Sunoco refineries, mentioned to us that they'd be protesting Elsenhans action outside the event. (and they did--I'm told it attracted 30 to 40 people).

Well, here at we decided to do a little investigating of our own. Specifically, we sent in 13 activists to call the famously reclusive Elsenhans on her past record. Two of our folks unfurled a banner reading "Real Leaders Don't Destroy Families." Meanwhile, dressed as detectives, other activists searched high and low for responsible leadership.

Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found.

sunoco event infiltration a success!

2011-03-17T13:47:00.001-04:00

15 jwj protesters just infiltrated the paradigm awards event honoring sunoco's lynn elsenhans. Video soon!

Whose recovery?

2011-03-07T16:17:00.002-05:00

Have those reports of an econonic recovery felt a bit... removed from your experience, Philadelphians? You're not alone. Philly CBS reports the following on a new poll conducted by Philadelphia Research Initiative:

What makes him think it’s the economy, even though we’re supposed to be in a recovery? The question: “Have you or someone in your household been unemployed in the last 12 months?” Last year, 49 percent said yes. This year, the number is 52 percent.

Over at Working Life, Jonathan Tasini reminds us that we should take a careful look at what indicators pundits are using to make the case that a real recovery is underway:

Right now the share of working-age population that is actively involved in the work force — that is, either in a job or actively looking for one — is at 64.2 percent. That is the lowest labor force participation rate in 25 years, an indication that many Americans are waiting for hiring to get better before resuming the job hunt.

Philadelphians, In New Survey, On A Bit Of A Downer About Philadelphia « CBS Philly

Stand with Kenneth--Stand up to Sodexo!

2011-03-03T12:38:00.005-05:00

It's not really a big secret--Sodexo is evil.

Given the long lists of abuses it shouldn't come as a huge shock to discover that Sodexo has, once again, tried to intimidate workers exercising their legal right to organize. From SEIU 32BJ:

"On February 22, 2011 Kenny Rivera, who works for Sodexo at Good Shepherd, was suspended indefinitely without pay.

His manager claims he gave away free food. Kenny says he did no such thing. Kenny believes this is just pretext for Sodexo to retaliate against him for his efforts to organize his co-workers."

Surprising? No.

Deplorable? Yes.

So take action now--click here to send a letter and take a stand.

PA workers' rights next in Koch's crosshairs

2011-02-28T13:59:00.003-05:00

As if public sector workers didn't have enough of a struggle coming up this year, it looks like the right wing billionaire Koch brothers have our Keystone state workers coming up on their hit list.

Writes Will Bunch over at the Daily News:

"Last week, the president of a tea-party-linked political group heavily funded by the Koch oil-and-gas fortune - Tim Phillips of Americans for Prosperity - told reporters covering the labor unrest in Wisconsin that Pennsylvania is one of three states, along with Ohio and Indiana, where the group plans a push to curb union benefits and power.
"Americans for Prosperity, or AFP - the national budget for which has soared to $40 million in the past two years with support from the Koch brothers and like-minded wealthy conservatives - sent another strong signal last week when it announced that former Reading-area lawmaker Sam Rohrer, who was backed by many tea-party groups when he ran for governor in the 2010 GOP primary, will serve as the group's state executive director.
" 'I personally believe - and I think AFP would underscore this - that anybody who's paid by the public, who's paid by the taxpayers, has neither the right to strike nor the right to collective bargaining,' Rohrer said in a phone interview."

Also interesting--Koch donated $5,000 to Corbett's campaign back in the fall. Looks like we've got a big fight on our hands this spring.

Wisconsin: We are One!

2011-02-21T18:04:00.002-05:00

Workers' rights are human rights!

Join us and many others this Thursday to rally around the brave folks in Wisconsin who are delivering a reminder of this fundamental truth to Governor Scott Walker.

Across the country, working people are mobilizing in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin. People of faith, union members, and community groups alike are banding together to send an unmistakable message straight to the ears of Scott Walker and his buddies: we will NOT take an attack on workers' right to organize lying down.

So let's get mad, speak out, and stand up as one! Join Philadelphia Jobs with Justice, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and many, many more in a city-wide show of solidarity.

Thursday February 24, 2011
11:30 AM
MSB Plaza – 15th and JFK (Across from City Hall)

We will be heard!

Coming this summer--JwJ National Conference in DC!

2011-02-14T13:47:00.003-05:00

Mark your calendars--it's almost that time again. This summer, join JwJers from across the nation as we converge in DC to discuss how activists, workers, and their families can face the current harsh economic realities and fight for a world that values people over profits. It's a time to reflect, to engage, and to strategize for the struggle.

The details:

Build power. Fight back. WIN!
Jobs with Justice National Conference
August 5-7, 2011 in Washington, DC

This year - starting now - we are expecting an array of serious attacks on workers’ rights to hit state legislatures, including Right to Work for Less laws, paycheck deception, anti-prevailing wage bills, anti-immigrant bills, and continued attacks on the public sector. Corporations want to use the failing economy as an excuse to reverse every worker protection put in place over the last century, but we won’t let that happen.

Come to the Jobs with Justice conference to learn from and strategize with labor leaders, rank & file workers, students, religious leaders, community activists, workers excluded from labor law protection, and many, many more about how to build a powerful movement of working people to defeat the corporate agenda.

Please save the date & stay tuned to learn more about the program, action, and celebrations planned at the 2011 Jobs with Justice National Conference.

Round-up: SLAP gets a shout out from the AFL-CIO blog, and kittens of the world unite

2011-02-02T12:30:00.004-05:00

First of all--don't forget: we're rallying with the UFCW tomorrow at 11 a.m. at City Hall against Walmart's poverty wages.

Second: lots of sleet, lots of organizing, and a rally tomorrow--we've got a lot going on, so I'll keep this short and sweet. A few links to warm your activist hearts:

AFL-CIO's blog interviewed national Student Labor Action Project organizer Chris Hicks yesterday.

Pro-democracy protestors: 2, authoritarian leaders: 0--in both Egypt and in Yemen, demonstrators proved that organized direct action can really work.

Also, I am having trouble locating a third heartwarming and relevant story in the news. So, in lieu of telling you more depressing stories about New York City and its war on public workers... here is what you get when you type "kittens of the world, unite and take over!" into Google Images.

Heart warmed? Good! Now go sign up for UFCW 1776's rapid response team. They need your help fighting liquor store privatization in Pennsylvania!

Re-Scheduled > Walmart: We can't afford it in our communities

2011-01-25T14:02:00.005-05:00

Thursday, February 3rd, 9:00 a.m.

West side of City Hall

TELL WALMART: POVERTY WAGES AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH

This Thursday--a UFCW national day of action--join JwJers, NAACP, and UFCW to push City Council to let Walmart know that Philadelphia wants good, family-sustaining wages--not poverty wages. While unions have spent their time from Day 1 pushing for fair wages and working conditions ("Unions: from the people who brought you the weekend"), Walmart spends millions every year actively union-busting, hiring experts to prevent organizing and reverse the hard-won victories of working people's movements.

Walmart execs are always trying to sell us the line that new Walmarts mean new jobs. What they won't tell you is that for every 100 jobs a new Walmart creates, 50 community jobs disappear within a year--and 20 jobs within the Walmart disappear within 5 years due to "vertical integration" (Basker, University of Michigan 2004).

Join us Thursday, and make it clear to Council: our communities need real, lasting jobs--not poverty wage jobs that disappear as soon as the permits are signed and Walmart settles in.

A little good news!

2011-01-19T11:54:00.003-05:00

In the wake of Corbett's inauguration--a.k.a. the official launch of an all-out, Christie-style war on public sector workers, healthcare, state liquor store employees, and more--we could all use some cheering up.

So here it is--a big worker-led organizing victory! Down in Florida, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers just won an exciting victory--a penny more a pound of produce picked (say that three times fast!), which will add up to thousands each year in additional income for this traditionally exploited immigrant workforce. CIW is a great reminder that dedicated organizing and solidarity really work.

And in other labor-related news...

In Harrisburg, thousand of Pennsylvanians urge Corbett to preserve adultBasic, which delivers affordable health insurance to many thousands of working folks in the state.

Meanwhile, Trumka is giving the DC establishment and Obama a little pushback in hopes that Obama will use 2011 to make a real push for what working people (and people who want work) need:

“So let me get this straight,” Mr. Trumka says, according to excerpts of remarks obtained by The Caucus. “We need to slash retirement and health benefits for the elderly because we are on the brink of fiscal crisis — but we can afford to squander hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the super-rich? Only at the Mad Hatter’s tea party does this make sense.”

PDA hosts: "Healthcare not warfare," 1/28

2011-01-18T16:19:00.004-05:00

Remember our amazing Save our Jobs rally back in September? JwJers across the country mobilized to let big business know that it was time for workers to see some kind of return on the bailouts that we paid for with our taxes.

Well, you may also remember that Progressive Democrats for America (PDA) co-sponsored and mobilized for many of those rallies and brown bag vigils across the country. This month, PDA is set to host a forum/potluck called "Healthcare not Warfare" next Friday at the William Way Community Center here in Philadelphia at 1315 Spruce Street. The panel will include two amazing ladies and longtime JwJ supporters: Kathy Black (AFSCME District Council 47, President of CLUW, co-convenor of US Labor Against the War) and Alice Hoffman (Social Security Works advocate, labor history badass). I'll also be joining the panel--here's the full speaking list:

• Tim Carpenter, national director, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA)
• Chuck Pennacchio, Ph.D, executive director of Health Care for All Pennsylvania
• Gwendolyn Snyder, director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice
• Bill Deckhart, coordinator of Coalition for Peace Action
• Kathy Black, co-convenor of USLAW
• Alice Hoffman from Social Security Works

I'd love to see any JwJ'ers who are able to make it out! If you're interested in attending, you can register online at the PDA website.

-Gwen

It's time to end fire station brownouts

2011-01-14T15:05:00.002-05:00

Today's post is written by intern Olivia Natan.

Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes Monday in West Philly, the students and teachers who have lost the Global Leadership Academy Sunday in two five-alarm blazes. We also want to take just a moment to recognize the brave firefighters who battled the fires and rescued reside

nts of the apartment complex.

These fires are a tragedy, but they also are a reality that must be dealt with. The Philadelphia Fire Department has been forced to conduct rolling brownouts since August. That means, in plain English: the city is closing down firehouses--and slowing down response time.

As a result, the cost is one to public safety, in property, and even in lives, as Bill Gault, the President of the Philadelphia Fire Fighter’s Union points out in this Fox News 10 video.

Putting budgetary issues before public safety is a poor choice; budgetary changes should be made without sacrificing safety.

Bad spirits: Corbett's attack on state liquor stores

2011-01-11T15:44:00.008-05:00

Philly JwJ extern Allison Roseberry-Polier reports!

As state budget crises continue nation-wide, state governments are looking for new cuts and new scapegoats. Particularly as new governors and state legislators come into office, attacks on unions, especially those in the public-sector, are rising. Incoming Wisconsin Republican governor Scott Walker is threatening to prohibit state workers from unionizing. Ohio’s new Republican governor wants to take away the right of public school teachers to strike. Even Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York is proposing a one-year pay freeze for public workers. Across the country, workers are under attack.

Pennsylvania is no exception. Incoming Republican Governor Tom Corbett is proposing to save $2 billion by privatizing state liquor sales. It is not the first time that Pennsylvania government has made such a proposal. Governors in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s have tried and failed to end state ownership of wine and liquor shops. Corbett, however, has the advantage of having both the state House and Senate in Republican hands. Corbett has no reservations about capitalizing on the current fiscal crisis in order to attack a state-run system that maintains fair working standards and consistently generates much-needed revenue for the state.

United Food and Commercial Workers are fighting back to save their jobs. In an Inquirer op-ed this week, UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell W. Young IV explained that the state system currently “provides 4,500 family-sustaining, tax-generating jobs held by Pennsylvanians. The alternative, under privatization, would be part-time jobs with no benefits.”

Corbett is joining the nation-wide trend of busting unions and good jobs in the name of closing budget gaps. We must prevent Corbett and his allies from succeeding.

Take action! Let the media know that working Pennsylvanians want to keep good jobs by keeping wine and spirits shops state-run. Vote NO on PCN TV's poll about privatization!

Back to blogging!

2011-01-11T15:36:00.004-05:00

Thanks to everyone who donated during our 2010 end-year appeal, and to all our sponsors and guests who made our Labor Law reception a success!

Our books are kept, we've had great support on our fundraising efforts, we've already gotten started on some of our exciting program plans for the year. In all the rush, though, one thing we haven't done is much blogging.

But no fear, gentle readers. We are back on track, ready to keep you informed and up to date. So--only a bit belatedly--Happy New Year!

Stop the Lies: Public employees fight back

2010-12-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

Express Scripts: "Shock Doctrine" in action

2010-12-01T10:23:00.004-05:00

Back in October, National Jobs with Justice regional organizer Treston Davis-Faulkner highlighted the rise of shock doctrine union busting tactics--right wing use of economic crises as an excuse to push through radical free-market ideology that cuts jobs, undermines worker power, and undercuts our social safety nets.

Treston wrote about the struggles of ILA Local 1291 dockworkers fighting back against the highly profitable Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., which despite two years of record profits eliminated about two hundred union jobs in the Philadelphia area, replacing them with poorly paying jobs at a nearby Camden port "organized" by a company-controlled sham union. When the laid-off workers protested, Del Monte slammed them with an injunction that effectively gagged the local and its members. Luckily, family members, community supporters, and allies--including Philly JwJ--have stepped up and united in a campaign to fight to restore these workers' jobs.

Another big labor struggle in the area also fits snugly into the shock doctrine model. In the midst of a recession, SEIU Healthcare PA workers continue to fight scheduled facility closures in Bensalem. Is the elimination of these jobs a matter of company survival, somehow a regrettable but ultimately necessary business decision? Nope. Express Scripts hauled in an easy $1.7 billion in profits last year.

SEIU's blog has more on the Express Scripts fight:

According to a new research report, Express Scripts (ESI), the second-largest pharmacy benefit management firm in the country, is alienating clients by engaging in pricing schemes, handling personal data carelessly, expanding so fast the company may be overvalued, and is so loaded with debt its liquidity may be in danger. The report titled "Overdosing on Greed" was issued by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, which represents ESI workers in Bensalem, PA, and is locked in a dispute with the company.
Express Scripts, racked up profits of $1.7 billion last year while processing 449 million prescriptions -- 12 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States. Nevertheless, the company is demanding draconian concessions and threatening to close two of its facilities in suburban Philadelphia if the workers don't agree to the concessions by mid-December. The closures would put an estimated 1,000 workers out of jobs in this economically hard-hit community just in time for Christmas.

In the Philly area and across the country, companies are using the recession as an excuse to put more folks out of work. Thankfully, people are beginning to stand up and call these callow tactics what they really are--corporate greed. Those of us who care about workers, their power, and their rights need to be vigilant now more than ever, and it's exciting to see workers like the SEIU Healthcare PA folks and Local 1291 fiercely taking these battles head-on.

Denver JwJ's rally in support of the ILA 1291 laid off Del Monte Fresh Produce workers

2010-11-29T19:12:00.006-05:00

Check it out: more about the Denver action in solidarity with the ILA 1291 dockworkers and in support of the Del Monte Boycott.

Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez met the delegation outside in 28-degree weather and stated, “It’s a cold day and a cold night but this is an action of solidarity. We are here because what Del Monte is doing is undermining the fundamental pillars of the work force in America. They are taking us back to the 1920s.”
Councilman Lopez continued, “I personally will boycott Del Monte products until this issue is resolved and in a few moments we will be getting signatures from Denver City Council on a letter to the head of Del Monte.”

In other news, stay tuned for more information about this campaign. If Del Monte thinks ignoring these workers and their families will make this whole thing go away, they're dead wrong.

Last Monday was only the beginning.

Buzz: Monday's Del Monte Boycott Day of Action

2010-11-23T15:18:00.006-05:00

Dennis Olson of ILA and Gwen Snyder of Philly JwJ talk about the campaign live on The Union Edge Radio show, right now on 1180 am. Download the show as an mp3 at their site.
WHYY reports: "Longshoremen protest invades convenience store." Video below:
"Boycott Del Monte! Protestors block Philadelphia traffic"--National JwJ blogs about our efforts.
The National AFL-CIO blogged today about the national actions against Del Monte's corporate greed.
Florida activists from ILA and Central Florida JwJ post pictures up on Flickr from their action at Del Monte Coral Gables HQ solidarity with the laid-off Port of Philadelphia longshoremen.
The Galveston County Daily News down in Texas covered the efforts of ILA and community allies rallying in solidarity with the laid-off dockworkers yesterday.
Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO has passed a resolution in support of the Del Monte boycott.
The ten thousand-strong ILAW also passed a resolution today supporting the boycott.

Philly JwJ ED Gwen Snyder, ILA's Dennis Olson on Union Edge Radio today, 1180 AM from 2-4 pm

2010-11-23T13:36:00.003-05:00

Philadelphia JwJ Executive Director Gwen Snyder and ILA Local 1291's Dennis Olson will be on air today live on The Union Edge, a talk show for workers, today from 2 to 4 pm.

Catch it in Philly on WFYL 1180 AM, or stream it live at WFRN's website.

Workers and supporters block traffic in Center City Philadelphia in protest of Del Monte's efforts to undermine fair workplace standards

2010-11-22T19:04:00.013-05:00

Nearly four hundred people, including dockworkers, their families, and Philadelphia Jobs with Justice activists joined together in Love Park today as a part of a National Day of Action to protest Del Monte Fresh Produce's elimination of family-sustaining union jobs at the Port of Philadelphia.

In other cities around the country, from Coral Gables, FL, to Galveston, TX to Denver, CO, hundreds of activists rallied in solidarity with the laid-off dockworkers of ILA Local 1291. Workers in Portugal and Spain also demonstrated in a show of support.

Prominent Philadelphia leaders including Councilpeople Jannie Blackwell and Bill Green, Johnny Dougherty (business manager of IBEW Local 98), President Pat Eiding of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and John Meyerson (political director, UFCW Local 1776) joined family members of laid off dockworkers at the Love Park rally, sounding a clear call for a boycott of Del Monte goods.

The rally culminated with the three year old daughter of a laid-off longshoreman joining the director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice onstage to tear the Del Monte logo off of a giant prop pineapple, ripping it to shreds.

The spirited crowd spontaneously took to the streets, occupying the entirety of John F. Kennedy Blvd., an arterial Center City thoroughfare, then took over a local Wawa supermarket (Wawa is a major purveyor of Del Monte fruit in the Delaware Valley area). Kicked out by management, the crowd of hundreds took to the streets once again. Motorists honked and clapped in support as the crowd marched around City Hall several times, completely halting the flow of traffic through the critical intersection during the noontime rush.

Once again, workers of Philadelphia have made it clear that we are a city of people that believe that all people deserve good jobs with fair wages and benefits. Workers in other parts of the country--and the world--have also shown their strong support for the longshoremen's cause.

I can say this with certainty: Del Monte is in for one hell of a fight.

Interested in finding out more about ILA Local 1291 and the Del Monte boycott? Visit the boycott website to find out more.

Fightback Rally to Re-instate ESI Workers tomorrow in Bensalem

2010-11-18T20:18:00.007-05:00

Express Scripts Suspends 3 Workers for Trying to Save Their Jobs.

FIGHTBACK RALLY ON FRIDAY, Nov 19, 4-7 PM

@ Express Scripts, 4850 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19053.

On Wednesday instead of bargaining -- ESI suspended 3 bargaining committee members without pay for telling customers about their plight. These workers have 31 years of service amongst them and excellent records. This action is despicable, outrageous and violates our member’s rights to union activity.

Join them at a rally this Friday to demand that ESI immediately re-instate Ken Smith, a Data Entry Tech for 5 years; Debbie Dronsfield, a PCA for 16 years; and Jackie Dixon, a Data Entry Tech for 7 years and that they negotiate a fair and just contract now.

Monday, Nov 22 @ 11am: Rally at Love Park

2010-11-17T22:47:00.005-05:00

Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. has cut at least 200 family-sustaining living wage stevedore jobs unionized under the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1291 at the Port of Philadelphia and is moving its business to a privately owned terminal that pays its workers barely minimum wage. These workers have served Del Monte loyally for twenty-two years; Del Monte gave them four days' notice before finalizing the details of their abandonment of these folks.

Meanwhile, Del Monte has posted record profits in each of the last two years.

Join us Monday, November 22nd, at 11 am in Love Park to protest Del Monte's callous behavior.

Want to know more? Check out the Call to Action put out by Friends And Family of Local 1291, then download pdf flyers about the rally and boycott.

Click on the above image for more information

Boycott Del Monte - Support Longshore Workers

2010-11-09T15:18:00.007-05:00

Click on the images to enlarge,

and on the boycott logo for the Labor Notes story

...more to come soon!

Oct. 30: Town Meeting for Jobs Not Wars

2010-10-29T10:24:00.003-04:00

Click on the image to enlarge it

COINTELPRO all over again? PA government intel agency monitors Philly JwJ, other progressive local state organizations

2010-10-11T20:30:00.004-04:00

Of course, not that I'm shocked, but...

In the middle of one of the worst economic crises in American history, our government is wasting taxpayer money paying a private international firm, the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response (ITRR) to monitor the activities of groups like Philly Jobs with Justice and the Brandywine Peace Coalition. Our peaceful 9/15 jobs action (about which we not only made all details public, but notified the city Civil Affairs office!) endorsed by organizations like Philadelphia NAACP and Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women, earned us entire paragraphs in the bi-weekly, PA Homeland Security-funded ITRR bulletins. HuffPo has the details.

One particularly chilling quote they pull: ITRR brags to its contractor--our state government--about its work finding out details from "intercepted communications."

Just over a month ago, ProPublica broke the story that Pennsylvania's Office of Homeland Security contracted with the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response (ITRR), a private Israeli-based company, to assess terrorist threats impacting law enforcement priorities in Pennsylvania.

For almost a year, ITTR provided bi-weekly intelligence briefings to Pennsylvania Homeland Security which focused in equal part on "jihadist" communications and trainings throughout the world, and also social justice organizing and protests across the country.
Pennsylvania Homeland Security, in turn, distributed this information to 800 federal, local and state law enforcement agencies, along with "relevant stakeholders" like local businesses. Information provided included the political views and movement building strategies of hundreds of law-abiding groups and individuals.

Click here to download a PDF copy of their analysis of our 9/15 Jobs rally--your tax dollars at work.

Want to voice your disapproval in a strongly worded letter?

Write the editor at....

The Inquirer: inquirer.letters@phillynews.com

The Daily News: views@phillynews.com

City Paper: [online form]

Philly Weekly: aince@philadelphiaweekly.com

One Nation Rally, this Saturday: Sign up by 5 pm tomorrow, and get a free seat down from Center City!

2010-09-29T20:12:00.006-04:00

Awesome update: Thanks to the good folks at 1199c and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, we are now offering seating from both Sam Fels High School up in North Philly, and from 1199c's headquarters in Center City at 1319 Locust Street. John Hundzynski of 1199c also mentioned that they'll have free boxed lunches on their bus. And some of those great looking t-shirts that they had at the city Labor Day parade.

If you want to join JwJ activists taking the 1199c bus from 1319 Locust, you MUST sign up BEFORE 5 PM tomorrow (Thursday), so that they'll have a headcount. Register using our form over at SurveyMonkey. The bus will be leaving at 6 a.m. sharp from 1319 Locust street; please be sure to be on time.

There is also still room available for JwJers on the PFT bus from Sam Fels High School, which you can register for here. My apologies for any confusion about the other two PFT bus locations--PFT is only able to offer free transportation for non-PFT members going from Sam Fels.

This is a rally you want to be at. We need full employment and fair jobs, and Washington needs to hear that from us. Between Glenn Beck's Tea Party rally last month and the noise the Stewart/Colbert folks are making with their parody events, the press is suddenly interested in talking about rallies. We have a crucial message, and we have a tremendous opportunity to deliver it not just to Washington, but to the entire country.

Saturday, 10/2. Get excited!

Phila. Federation of Teachers providing FREE bus seating to 'One Nation' Rally in Washington on Oct. 2

2010-09-23T13:05:00.001-04:00

New information about the historic ONE NATION March, Oct. 2, Washington, DC. Reserve a seat on a free bus to Washington Today:
9/3/2010

It's time to put America back to work and pull America together.

That's why the PFT is sponsoring free buses to Washington , D.C., on Saturday, October 2, where we will join tens of thousands of Americans for a massive rally at the Lincoln Memorial.

Reserve your seat below to ride with your friends, family and colleagues to the One Nation March. (It just takes a minute to register, and you can register yourself, as well as family members and friends at the same time.)

You will receive an Email Confirmation, which you must print out and present as your boarding pass.

For complete information, visit the PFT site here!

With Persistent Unemployment & Record Numbers in Poverty, Protesters Declare a Jobs Emergency

2010-09-17T14:29:00.001-04:00

On September 15, Jobs with Justice coalitions and allies in more than 100 cities nationwide brought the voices of workers, community members, and the unemployed into the debate on how to move forward on a jobs plan that would put people back to work immediately. With 15 million people out of work and one in seven Americans living below the official poverty line, the time is now for Congress to take bold action to move the country towards full and fair employment and to ensure that Wall Street pays their fair share.

Jobs with Justice coalitions organized a wide range of events to send a message: If Congress won't act to create jobs, then maybe they don't deserve to have jobs. JwJ activists were in the streets to demand that Congress create and save jobs through legislation like the Local Jobs for America Act, extension of the TANF emergency fund, and action on President Obama's call to invest in the country's infrastructure as well as to extend unemployment insurance and pass legislation that ensures Wall Street paytheir fair share.

Philadelphia Jobs with Justice held a rally for fair jobs, full employment, and funding for public services in front of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and in view of City Hall. A group of approximately 100 activists rallied to demand an end to local tax breaks for big business, protection of public services in the city, and adoption of national, pro-worker legislation, especially the Local Jobs for America Act.

Here are some photos of the Philly scene graciously provided by JwJ activist Jesse W. Brown. (Click on an image to enlarge.)

Join Philly JwJ tomorrow, 9/15/10, at noon to rally for jobs!

2010-09-14T17:49:00.001-04:00

Could you imagine a Philadelphia without libraries, firefighters, trash collection, or even basic after school activities for our children?

Could you imagine a city that serves only its billionaires, and taxes only its poor?

Could you imagine a city without livable jobs?

That's the Philadelphia that C.E.O.'s at big businesses like Comcast, Verizon, and Sunoco would love to make a reality.

Tomorrow, with our neighbors, our co-workers, we fight back.
Tomorrow, we take our fight for jobs and a fair economy to the streets.
Tomorrow, we tell big business: pay your fair share.

Join us in part of a nationwide Emergency Day of Action for jobs.

When:: 12 pm - 1 pm, Wednesday, 9/15/2010
Where: : Corner of Broad and Walnut Sts., Philadelphia
What:: SOS Jobs: A Rally for Jobs

Don't let City Council forget that this is a city of people, not corporations. Let's remind them what a fair city economy looks like: funding for city services, fair employment, and an end to tax breaks for millionaire and billionaire corporations.

Endorsed by AFSCME District 47, Philadelphia NAACP, Philadelphia One Nation Organizing Committee, Coalition for Labor Union Women, Media Mobilization Project, Philadelphia Unemployment Project, Coalition for Essential Services, Act Up Philadelphia, National Jobs with Justice, and Progressive Democrats for America.

Corporate America isn't going to know what hit 'em.

RSVP on Facebook now!

If we could only share this video up to the 1:48 mark, we would.

2010-09-07T19:41:00.002-04:00

We kind of have mixed feelings about "Bed Intruder Song," which has now broken the Billboard 100. But the Gregory Brothers, who masterminded that super-catchy work of questionable gender politics, have another piece we can definitely get behind: "Banker's Song." For your viewing pleasure:

Oh, hindsight.

Link: Banker's Song (we didn't see it coming) (Autotune The News)

Link: How Wall Street made the crisis worse (NPR and ProPublica)

We need you: help us help workers!

2010-09-02T12:49:00.005-04:00

This fall is going to be an exciting one for Philly JwJ, with a full slate of direct action and organizing work that will build power for workers and their communities, and win battles for full employment, fair jobs, and funded public services. As we mobilize for our September 15th SOS Jobs Rally, we are asking anyone who is able to join as a sustaining member to help us win these fights. We need your help to step up and help us reach our goal of signing up 99 new sustainers this fall in protest of the 99 week gap on unemployment benefits. Sign up to sustain, and get into our October 16th Sustainer Soiree for free!

Here's what sustainers will help us accomplish this fall:

Kick off an exciting campaign to win rights for local workers and community members up in the area around Temple;
work alongside city residents and public service workers in a fierce direct action campaign to keep city workers fairly employed, and keep essential services like libraries, pools, after-school programming, and more free and open;
fight alongside workers and unions in solidarity during contract fights and other workplace disputes;
connect faith leaders and labor with our September Labor in the Pulpits program in coordination with Philadelphia AFL-CIO, Interfaith Workers' Justice, and dozens of congregations in and around the city;
build student leadership and training the next generation of organizers through our Student Labor Action Project;
push for local, state and national legislation to guarantee full employment, fair jobs, and funded public services in coordination with National Jobs with Justice; and
mobilize for direct actions on 9/15, 10/2, and more to force big business to pay its fair share.

We have an amazing movement full of excited volunteers, staff, interns, and allies, all ready to launch this full slate of programming. Help make our vision for Fall 2010 a reality by signing up as a monthly sustainer with Philadelphia Jobs with Justice.

Thank you for your support--you are what makes this movement happen.

-Gwen

Fresh from the RSS farm: jobs news you might have missed

2010-08-31T10:03:00.003-04:00

Okay, JwJ-ers. Here's some of the going-ons in and around the workplace that have caught our eye these past few days:

Immokalee Workers: McDonald's and Sudexo down, Wal-Mart and Publix to go. Coalition of Immokalee workers--the Floridian tomato pickers who visited Philly a few weeks ago with their chilling touring exhibit about contemporary slavery in the U.S.--recently had a victory in their struggle against mega-food company Sudexo. Next stop: big chain supermarkets like Walmart and Publix. (Via United Steel Workers' blog)
Everyone's getting psyched for the One Nation Working Together March on Oct. 2: CWA's Larry Cohen warns us not to miss the bus, and Mayor Nutter threw his weight behind it at a press conference yesterday (not to brag, but JwJ was definitely namedropped!). SEIU, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, NAACP, and a long and illustrious list of other allies are also on board.
UFCW continues its struggle up at Motts.
In the not-particularly-surprising department, a new report on the current economic situation finds that "New England states have too long viewed funding for public services and economic development as competing interests"--wrongly. In other words, we need to save our economy by targeting Wall Street, not by firing our librarians and social workers.
And finally, SEIU's fight for basic workers' rights at Express Scripts Inc. rages on. Says Express Scripts Inc. employee Ray Teachey:
"We're not asking to be millionaires, we're just asking for fair wages, good healthcare and just a little bit of a better lifestyle," said Express Scripts Inc. employee Ray Teachey to the crowd assembled behind the Boilermakers Local 13 building.

9/15/2010 Day of Action

2010-08-30T16:03:00.005-04:00

Demand fair jobs, full employment, and funding for public services.

September 15 is National JwJ's Jobs Emergency Day of Action.

Join Philadelphia Jobs with Justice as we demonstrate outside the Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce. We need to tell big business that enough is enough: it's time for fair jobs, full employment, and funding for all of our essential city services.

When: 12:00 pm noon, Wednesday, September 15

Where: City Chamber of Commerce, 200 S Broad St. (NW Corner of Broad and Walnut, at the Bellevue)

Together, let's send a clear message to the millionaires and billionaires protected by the Chamber of Commerce: it's time to start hiring and end corporate tax breaks.

RSVP on Facebook
Flyer for the 9/15/10 action in Philly
Background info from National Jobs with Justice

Target Ain't People

2010-08-20T12:07:00.001-04:00

I never thought I'd say this, but... this might rival the Bad Hotel video from San Francisco.

Sign the petition and tell Target now: "I won't shop at Target until it stops spending money on elections. Companies like Target should stay out of elections, period."

Things we found out from Google Reader today.

2010-08-19T11:16:00.005-04:00

Here at Philly Jobs with Justice, we're gearing up for a pretty packed September: Labor in the Pulpit events, Labor Day, the National JwJ 9/15 Day of Action, and our work with Philly CES launching the direct action component of our campaign to raise funding for city services by making big business pay.

That doesn't mean, of course, that we aren't keeping our ear to the ground when it comes to labor issues in the news. Here are some pieces from today that we thought were interesting:

Willie Brown of TWU Local 234 sat down with Plan Philly for an interview about SEPTA's stubborn unwillingness to cooperate with labor. Contrary to what Nutter and other city officials tried to tell us during the strike last fall, TWU is on the riders' side on most issues. Brown argues for increased safety standards, a more sensitive approach to customer service, and for finding sources of revenue other than fare hikes.
The Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 19th Amendment this week by quoting a letter suggesting that women seeking equal pay are infected with "a Scrooge-like fetish for money." Classy stuff, CoC.
Global youth unemployment has reached record levels. But hey, canvassing subcontractors are always prepared to hire desperate, unemployed kids. For a day or two, anyway.
No surprise , but Glenn Beck is at it again, this time suggesting unemployed workers are irresolute pinkos who just need to suck it up and get a job at McDonald's. Beck seems to subscribe to the same delusional school of thought as Tom Corbett: he just can't get it through his head that there simply aren't enough jobs out there.

Sorry to be such a downer. Here's a video of penguins chasing a butterfly at the Philadelphia Zoo to make you feel better.

AFSCME Local 752 represents zoo workers, so it's totally relevant.

Freeloaders, Thugs, and Communists: Media Matters report on right wing media and union smearing.

2010-08-16T13:59:00.006-04:00

If you haven't read it yet, you should: media monitoring group Media Matters just recently released a report on the systemic smearing of unions in right wing media.

Some choice material from the report:

Glenn Beck claims unions have "raped" police and firefighters. First of all, it would be remiss of me not to point out that this comment trivializes rape. Second, Beck's implication about unions and their relationship with public workers is is just wrong. Unions are the front line in the fight to preserve public funding for social services--and as we've seen in the fight against fire station brown outs this summer in Philadelphia, both the community and rank-and-file public workers support them.
Pretty much everybody on Fox seems to think unions are composed entirely of fat cats and thugs. Limbaugh's take on the Employee Free Choice Act, a piece of legislation that might have evened the playing field a bit for workers: "The Union Brass Knuckles Busting On Your Knees Act."
And my personal favorite, another Beck-ism: "even the Boy Scouts aren't safe from SEIU's thuggery."

Chances are that if you're reading this post, you've got at least a little bit of a workers' rights sensibility to you. If we want to win this fight, we need to be aware of the kind of virulent disinformation that the corporate-funded right wing media is spreading about the labor movement. Workers' rights are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back.

But first, we need to know what we're up against.

link: Media Matters report on union busting in the media.

Idealists for Hire: Canvassing works, but is its success at the cost of its workers?

2010-08-14T13:51:00.002-04:00

Gwen Snyder, Philly Jobs with Justice Executive Director - and formerly involved with area canvassers, was interviewed for an in-depth article published this week as the cover story in the City Paper. Click here for the complete story!

Paul Krugman: "I’m starting to have a sick feeling about prospects for American workers."

2010-08-02T15:11:00.004-04:00

The New York Times--centrist liberal, sure, but hardly a bastion of radical economic thought--has finally begun to recognize the dire position in which American workers are increasingly finding themselves trapped.

Last week in a column titled "A Sin and a Shame," Bob Herbert detailed the ways in which corporations have exploited the economic downturn, using the recession as an excuse to take advantage of workers even as worker productivity has increased dramatically. Writes Herbert,

The recession officially started in December 2007. From the fourth quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2009, real aggregate output in the U.S., as measured by the gross domestic product, fell by about 2.5 percent. But employers cut their payrolls by 6 percent.

Today, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman sounded additional warning bells. It's a bad scene, he says--1 in 6 unemployed or underemployed, average length of unemployment 35 weeks and growing. We can, and we have to, do something now--but he fears that politicians are biding their time until it's too late, waiting until a moment where they can call unemployment structural and unavoidable.

Concludes Krugman, "I’d like to imagine that public outrage will prevent this outcome. But while Americans are indeed angry, their anger is unfocused."

If ever there was a time for action, it's now. It's time to stand up and remind our elected officials that they are ultimately accountable to us, and that we, their constituents, demand aggressive action on job creation. Congress returns from recess September 10th, and the Jobs with Justice network is gearing up for a September 15th National Day of Action to let Congress--and our local officials-- know that America demands the creation of good jobs now.

Join us as we remind Congress: their bosses live on Main Street, not K Street.

Video: Pro and anti-immigration groups clash in South Philadelphia

2010-07-17T00:45:00.001-04:00

Several of the Philly Jobs with Justice immigration rights supporters at the Geno's protest rally

2010-07-16T22:40:00.001-04:00

Ch. 6 coverage of protest at Geno's anti-immigration rights fundraiser

2010-07-16T22:37:00.002-04:00

Philly taxi drivers protest immigrant detentions

2010-07-15T23:02:00.000-04:00

by Ben Sears

July 8, 2010

PHILADELPHIA--Close to 200 members and supporters of the Philadelphia Taxi Workers Alliance braved 100 degree heat and rallied outside the headquarters of the Philadelphia Parking Authority today, July 7, to protest the continuing detention of four of their members and the harassment and temporary detention of 21 others.

Weeks ago, the Parking Authority mailed notices to 100 drivers to report to headquarters to receive money they were owed for fares collected by credit card transactions. When they arrived on June 30, 25 drivers were "thrown up against the wall," searched and detained by ICE immigration agents. Twenty-one were released that evening after being held for several hours, and four were detained indefinitely. The Alliance, an ethnically diverse organization, includes citizens and non-citizens among its ranks, including many first generation immigrants.

Taxi Worker Alliance President Ron Blount told the World that the spirited rally was to protest the intrusion of the Philadelphia Parking Authority into the enforcement of immigration law, an area where they have no jurisdiction. He pointed out if only four of the 6,000 members of the alliance were being detained, then "there is not a problem," in the area of immigration. The great majority of immigrant drivers are in the country legally, and the Parking Authority was clearly out of bounds, he said.

Dave Bennion, an attorney with the Nationalities Service Center, said the Parking Authority is not even a law enforcement agency, and that its action undermines the ability of law enforcement officers to do their jobs.

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, their reporter was told "the Parking Authority worked with federal authorities on this operation."

This reporter spoke to two drivers who had been released but were wearing ankle bracelets pending a future court date. Soulieymane and Mamadou, both from Mali said they had been in the United States since 1995. Mamadou said, "You come here, you work, you try to do the right thing, and then you get arrested like this."

Steve Chervenka, a second generation American and a Vietnam veteran, is political director of the Taxi Workers Alliance. He told the crowd that an attack on first generation immigrants was an attack on all the members and that the Alliance was showing the Authority that "We do have a voice."

The rally drew support from a wide range of groups including clergy, labor, community and Jobs with Justice.

Photos: Ben Sears/PW

People's World / Mundo Popular

Action: Is Philly taking its cue from Arizona?

2010-07-06T19:59:00.005-04:00

Jobs with Justice supporters of the Taxi Workers' Alliance rally in support at the PPA

Dear friend,

Today (July 6), Jobs with Justice received a chilling phone call from Taxi
Workers' Alliance.

As many of you are already aware, just last Wednesday the
Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) participated in a dishonest and
exploitative raid at the request of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE).

PPA sent out deceptive letters to 75 taxi drivers, promising to pay
them earned wages from credit card fare transactions. When they
arrived and requested the promised earned income, they were sent into
an office one at a time, then immediately thrown against a wall,
handcuffed, and locked up in a warehouse by ICE and the PPA. Some were
released when they were able to produce documents about their
citizenship; four drivers are still being detained.

The Taxi Workers' Alliance is calling for a prayer vigil tomorrow,
Wednesday June 7, at noon in front of the Parking Authority at 3101
Market street.

I hope you will join me there tomorrow in uniting against this unjust
and misleading attempt to trap low-wage immigrant workers.

In solidarity,
Gwen Snyder

Click image to enlarge

Saturday, June 26: STAND UP for Social Security and Medicare, and against the deficit hawks!

2010-06-24T14:18:00.012-04:00

On Saturday, the latest attacks on Social Security begin, with an America Speaks National Town Meeting. Don't let the deficit hawks endanger America's most effective social program. Make your voice heard.

Philadelphia Jobs with Justice encourages everyone to join with Social Security Works in a picket at the America Speaks National Town Meeting, which aims to gut Social Security and Medicare. Please join us at the picket line at 10:30, or, if you can, register to attend the event and speak up! More about the President's bi-partisan commission and the likelihood it will recommend devastating cuts to these critical programs, can be found here.

PICKET: 10:30 am, Saturday, June 26, 38th & Market Streets

The Philadelphia Town Meeting details:

Sat, Jun 26, 2010 | 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Philadelphia Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor
First District Plaza, 3801 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

DIRECTIONS: http://www.firstdistrictplaza.com/1088231.html

Dear Friends,
It doesn't matter that spurring job growth is the best way to address the nation's economic problems. It doesn't matter that most of our deficit today stems from the economic crisis, President Bush's tax cuts for the rich and the cost of two wars that were never paid for. It doesn't matter that long-term deficits are driven by the inefficiency of our health care system.

Conservative groups and Wall Street players are spending more than $1 billion to convince the public to cut Social Security to ribbons and stymie the kinds of domestic investments that fuel job growth--all in the name of deficit reduction. Social Security--which is not responsible for the deficit and should be providing more, not less, retirement security--must not be on the chopping block.

The next big attack on Social Security starts in earnest on Saturday, during an America Speaks National Town Meeting in at least 19 locations and online. Organizers and funders include groups that have been gunning for Social Security, and although the national town hall is billed as "neutral," we expect the questions asked will be skewed to solicit responses aimed at cutting the budget at the expense of working people and retirees and sparing Wall Street and the wealthy from having to pay their fair share for the investments needed to fuel strong job growth. Don't let the conversation be one-sided.
Outside some of the meetings, activists will be protesting under the banner "Hands Off Social Security and Medicare: Make Wall Street Pay."
Organizers plan to present results from the national town hall meeting to Congress, President Obama, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, the Bipartisan Policy Center's Debt Reduction Task Force and the public--and to lobby to get them enacted.
Make sure the point of view of pro-worker, pro-retiree progressive activists is heard loud and clear by taking part.
In solidarity,

Marc Laitin

AFL-CIO Online Mobilization Coordinator

Philly Jobs with Justice delegation travels to the US Social Forum in Detroit

2010-06-23T00:32:00.000-04:00

LISTEN: Residents Battle Service Cuts at City Hall

2010-06-10T16:48:00.011-04:00

Thu, 06/10/2010

At a rally at City Hall, the Coalition for Essential Services called for a stop to cuts, and more taxes for big business. A report by Milena Velis for Labor Justice Radio. Featured MMP Audio

Last Thursday, the Coalition to Save the Libraries demonstrated in City Hall alongside AFSCME Local DC47, Firefighters Local 22, and over 50 friends and allies to demand that this budget crisis be paid for by the businesses that caused it, and not the poor and working people of Philadelphia.

In late May, when Mayor Nutter heard that City Council had adopted a regressive 9.9% real estate tax instead of his proposed soda tax, he threatened the City with another $15 million in surprise cuts, including $2.5 million in cuts to libraries, which would reduce library hours from five to four days a week.

“It would be horrible [to go from five to four days]," said Joe Baker, president of the Friends of the Independence Branch Library. "To me, it's a sign the city is dying."

When Mayor Nutter took office in 2008, a decade of tax breaks and handouts to big corporations had already devastated Philadelphia’s finances. Center City lobbyists were invested in political candidates who promised to be “pro-business” and elected officials had directed millions of dollars in public funds towards skyscrapers convention centers, stadiums and casinos. By the time the Recession hit, Philadelphia was giving away over $80 million dollars in corporate tax cuts per year.

It’s no wonder that, by November of that same year, Nutter was forced to announce a 1.4 billion dollar budget shortfall. Instead of closing the deficit by reversing the business tax cuts, the Mayor and City Council passed the cost onto Philadelphia residents with a regressive sales tax increase and drastic cuts to essential city services, including an attempt to close down 11 city libraries that was defeated by a grassroots effort.

“Philadelphia is supposed to be the creator of liberty,” said Sheila Washington, of the Haddington branch library, speaking in front of Council Chambers. “But they are taxing the poorest the highest. It isn’t fair.”

A year later, City Hall continues to protect businesses at the expense of neighborhoods and communities. Youth violence reduction programs are facing an irresponsible 1.7 million dollars in spending reductions, supportive housing services are losing half a million dollars, and firefighters are being threatened with the loss of two fire companies – a full 40 positions. “My job is to save lives,” said Bill Gault, president of the Local 22 Firefighters Union. “With fewer firehouses this becomes harder for me and my team to do.”

The cuts go into effect on July 1st, and neither the Mayor nor Council have shown any interest in avoiding them. Reverend Jesse Brown concluded the demonstration in City Hall with a short prayer, asking God to give Philadelphia politicians the courage to stand up for the needs of regular people as the budget crisis continues.

Zachary Hershman
Coalition to Save the Libraries

Join Wake Up Walmart Activists Across the Nation on June 4, 2010

2010-06-03T20:59:00.002-04:00

Wake Up Walmart activists will be gathering across the country on Friday, June 4, at the same time that Walmart holds its annual shareholder meeting. They will be asking Walmart shoppers to write to Walmart executives demanding Walmart prove that female associates have an equal opportunity at the company.

Walmart located at 1675 S. Chris. Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA.
Beginning at 3 pm.

United Food and Commercial Workers