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Making Our Laws Real: Protecting workers through strategic enforcement of DC’s labor laws
The DC Just Pay Coalition has released a new report which recommends a focus on strategic enforcement to turn the tide on wage theft in Washington, DC. While the District has some of the strongest labor laws on the books, far too many companies in DC still fail to pay workers the minimum wage, overtime pay, and on time. Companies continue to misclassify employees as independent contractors, and refuse to allow their employees to take an earned sick or safe day. This report offers concrete recommendations and best practices to build a robust system to enforce DC’s labor laws in order to advance worker rights and dignity. The Just Pay Coalition is a coalition of local labor unions, community groups, and worker organizations that is committed to ensuring successful implementation of The Minimum Wage Act of 2013, The Paid Sick and Safe Leave Amendment Act of 2013, and The Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act of 2014. Read the full report.... read more
The attack on public sector unions is an attack on Black workers
By Elizabeth Falcon and Sequnely Gray This month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31. The case could interfere with the ability of working people to stick together in strong unions to improve their workplaces, their lives and their communities by attacking the collective power of local government workers. Here in DC, it’s DC Public Schools teachers, nurses, and bus drivers, professors at UDC, trash collectors, neighborhood librarians, and crossing guards who keep our community running that are under attack. Data analysis done by DCist using 2013 data showed that the areas with the highest level of government workers in the District are wards 5, 7, and 8 – areas that include higher levels of unemployment and poverty than the rest of the District. These are jobs with a true path to the middle class for District workers, and have been so for decades. (Adjoining Prince George’s County, one of the richest Black-majority counties in the country, shows over 30% of the workforce employed in the public sector – clearly demonstrating how public sector jobs have contributed to the total economic security of county residents.) Across America, state and local governments have historically provided more employment and advancement opportunities for Black workers in comparison with the private sector. Through legislation and the adoption of affirmative action and antidiscrimination policies, the public sector exceeds the private sector in maintaining a commitment to a diverse workforce. As a result, Black Americans comprise a higher share of the state and local workforce compared to the private sector (12.8 versus 10.3 percent). Similarly, women constitute a disproportionately... read more
Join our Team! DC JWJ Seeks Organizer
DC Jobs With Justice is looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team! The ideal candidate will excel at developing and implementing strategic campaigns, building and maintaining relationships, and building consensus among diverse stakeholders with different priorities to enable effective work together on a common goal. This person will be a team player, excited about the role of unions and coalitions in social change, and committed to justice in Washington, DC. We are currently listing two positions – one full time and one part time – in order to reach a wide diversity of candidates with varying availability. We will only fill one position. The part time position will have the option to work full time with DC JWJ after three months. Full Time Position Part Time Position Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references with emails and phone numbers to jobs@dcjwj.org . DC Jobs With Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ, and differently-abled people to... read more
DC Jobs With Justice Resolution in Support of Inauguration Protesters
The DC Jobs With Justice Executive Committee has made the following resolution and is proud to share it with you: DC Jobs With Justice Resolution in Support of Inauguration Protesters WHEREAS, DC Jobs With Justice works for justice in Washington, DC; WHEREAS, the right to free speech and free expression of ideas is enshrined in the first amendment of the Constitution; WHEREAS, the labor movement was formed by workers bravely exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech; WHEREAS, increased policing, militarization of local police departments, and excessive use of force disproportionately impacts African American communities, other communities of color, immigrant communities, trans communities and persons who are homeless; WHEREAS, DC Jobs With Justice and our members at times participate in protests and other exercises of their right to free speech on the streets of Washington, DC; WHEREAS, on January 20, 2017, when tens of thousands of citizens gathered in Washington, DC to exercise their first amendment right to protest the inauguration of President Trump, a crowd of more than 200 individuals – including journalists, medics, and bystanders – were rounded up without warning and mass arrested without individuated probable cause; WHEREAS, 190 of those arrested are now facing outrageously inappropriate and draconian multiple felony charges and up to 61 years of prison time for exercising their first amendment rights, and such reprisals constitute a dangerous chilling effect on the right to speak out and all forms of free expression; THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that DC Jobs With Justice wholeheartedly condemns the arbitrary, overbroad detention and arrest of hundreds of citizens exercising their right to free speech while... read more
DC Jobs With Justice Seeks Lead Organizer
DC Jobs With Justice Seeks Lead Organizer Overview: DC Jobs With Justice (DC JWJ) is a coalition of labor unions, community organizations, faith institutions, and student organizations dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of working people in the DC metropolitan area. DC JWJ has helped win a precedent-setting minimum wage increase in DC, as well as led various campaigns to hold large corporations accountable to DC communities. In the past we have worked on a range of issues, from labor law to health care; from union organizing campaigns to immigrant rights. Please see www.dcjwj.org for more information. DC JWJ is seeking a Lead Organizer to lead the organization’s campaigns and programmatic work. The ideal candidate will excel at developing and implementing strategic campaigns, building and maintaining relationships, and building consensus among diverse stakeholders with different priorities to enable effective work together on a common goal. This person will be a team player, excited about the role of unions and coalitions in social change, and committed to justice in Washington, DC. This position will report directly to the Executive Director of DC Jobs With Justice. This position is part of the IFPTE Local 70 bargaining unit and subject to the provisions of the union contract. Job Responsibilities: Campaigns: Lead strategic coalition campaigns to promote economic, racial, and social justice in Washington, DC. Coordinate and facilitate coalition campaigns by working with members and allies to develop campaign strategy and plans. Convene coalition meetings on a regular basis to develop campaign strategy Oversee strategy implementation among coalition members Mobilize and develop infrastructure to support ongoing activities Assess and develop campaigns targeting bad... read more
Press Release: DC Government Must Stop Delays and Step Up to Help Student Loan Borrowers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 24, 2017 CONTACT Ari Schwartz, DC Jobs With Justice, 202-674-3228 or ari@dcjwj.org DC Government Must Stop Delays and Step Up to Help Student Loan Borrowers Link – http://bit.ly/2oEqcRj As Trump’s Department of Education and loan servicers abandon borrowers, the DC Government must hire its Student Loan Ombudsman to bring much-needed oversight over loan servicers and guidance for District borrowers WASHINGTON, D.C. – Months after the DC Council unanimously passed legislation to create a Student Loan Ombudsman with authority to license loan servicers, the relevant DC government agency has yet to hire the Ombudsman. At a time when the country’s largest student loan servicer, Navient, declares “there is no expectation that the servicer will act in the interest of the consumer,” the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB) should not be dragging its feet. Instead of moving forward with hiring this crucial position, DISB has undermined the law and its own ability to find a qualified applicant by requiring the position also serve a secondary, distinct role as Foreclosure Ombudsman. Elizabeth Falcon, Executive Director of DC Jobs With Justice, issued the following statement: “More than ever, DC residents desperately need support from District Government to fight our student debt crisis. We are the most indebted jurisdiction in the country, as around 140,000 residents owe an average of $40,885, and 1 in 10 DC borrowers are in default. East of the Anacostia, our neighbors face the brunt of predatory loan servicers and are three times more likely to be behind on their payments. “In December, we were heartened to see Councilmember David Grosso and the DC Council... read more
On May 1, Out of the Workplace and Into the Streets!
May 1 is our day. It’s International Workers’ Day and it’s our time to celebrate our victories and resist against the oppression our communities still face. This year, Washington, DC will be at the heart of that resistance. Across our neighborhoods, businesses, and communities, thousands will be on strike, in the streets, and showing our resistance. We stand together to fight racism and xenophobia, challenge unfair workplaces and corporate exploitation, and join together in solidarity. We support the brave workers who are going on strike, closing businesses, and leading the resistance. DC Jobs With Justice is committed to supporting those workers and their vision for our future. We’ve compiled lots of the action happening on May Day into one info sheet. You can find it here Join us on May Day! Find out where you can get involved by clicking... read more
How to request support from the Solidarity Squad
Process: The Solidarity Squad Advisory team will meet weekly on Monday morning to review requests. This team reflects DC JWJ staff, board, and membership. Please send requests in as early as possible so staff can ask any clarifying questions and present to advisory team. Staff will have a limited ability to approve requests that come in after Monday morning on an emergency basis. Submit requests to solidarity@dcjwj.org. Criteria: The central decision-making body for DC JWJ is the Steering Committee or organizational members of DC JWJ. As a result: To request solidarity, you must be a member of DC JWJ or partnering with a DC JWJ member. Solidarity requests that already have been supported through the DC JWJ Steering Committee will be given preference. The leadership team may not be able to approve support for an activity that has not already had approval from the DC JWJ Steering Committee. Organizations wishing to become members are encouraged to do so All requests should include types of solidarity you are requesting such as mobilization, event support, canvassing, etc. Preference will be given for solidarity requests that connect local targets to national threats arising from the current right-wing federal government. These include but are not limited to: Threats to communities of color, immigrant communities, Muslims or other religious minorities, and LGBTQ people Expansion of corporate power over individuals and/or privatization of public goods Threats to collective action especially threats to unions Threats to working families and DC’s safety net Threats to DC’s autonomy Preference will be given to actions that target local government and/or corporate targets where DC residents have leverage to sway... read more
Take action. Join the Solidarity Squad.
As we prepare for a new federal government that threatens our communities in countless ways, we are reminded that the fight for justice always begins at home. We are strengthening and deepening our 16 year legacy of standing for worker’s rights, immigrant justice, and a strong progressive Washington, DC that supports all residents. We are asking you to make a commitment to that work by joining what we’re calling the “Solidarity Squad.” Members will commit to: Taking concrete action with workers and communities facing attacks. Attending a training on immigrant and worker rights, then participating in “Know Your Rights” outreach to share these rights with impacted communities and allies. Attending demonstrations to stand with workers whose rights have been violated or who are already leading in fights for workplace justice. Join the Solidarity Squad today! Look out for more info about our first meeting on February... read more
Community Organizations & Labor Leaders Call on Chairman Mendelson to Renounce “Moratorium”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, December 2, 2016 CONTACT: Ari Schwartz DC Jobs With Justice; ari@dcjwj.org or 202-674-3228 Community Organizations & Labor Leaders Call on Chairman Mendelson to Renounce “Moratorium” On the eve of a Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress, D.C. Council Chairman shockingly announces refusal to consider further progressive legislation. Washington, D.C. – Community organizations and labor unions applaud the news that the Universal Paid Leave Act will move to a vote in the D.C. Council on December 6th and look forward to it passing by the end of the year. But in announcing a revised proposal of the legislation on Tuesday, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson buried a brief and shocking statement at the end of his press release. Seemingly to placate businesses that “may be unhappy that this bill establishes a new tax on them,” the Chairman said he will “support a two-year moratorium on the adoption of similar bills, such as mandating scheduling requirements or nurse staffing ratios in hospitals.” Various community organizations and labor unions that advocate for and represent working people across the District were stunned and deeply concerned to see the Chairman make such an unprecedented statement. Elizabeth Falcon, Executive Director of DC Jobs With Justice, called Chairman Mendelson’s statement “the opposite of the leadership we need in this new era.” She said, “The Council will improve the lives of thousands of District residents when it passes Paid Family Leave. But that alone is not enough to have a good life in the District. Workers already face barriers to enough work, dignified working conditions, and opportunities for real careers. And what new issues... read moreEVENTS
In D.C., a Call for Just Hours
This week, employees of companies like Marshalls, McDonald’s and Macy’s told nearly 100 Washington, D.C. residents gathered at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church how unstable hours and so-called “just-in-time” scheduling practices take a toll on their families and their ability to make ends meet. The community hearing kicked off the launch of the DC Just Hours campaign, and gave the men and women who work in D.C.’s service industry a chance to talk about their experiences, and for them, along with representatives from community organizations and elected offices to present policy solutions for a problem ripe to be solved. Those who spoke at the hearing, hosted by the DC Jobs With Justice Workers’ Rights Board, included not only employees, but also education advocates, faith leaders and elected officials. In a report on D.C. employer scheduling practices released last month by DC Jobs With Justice along with Jobs With Justice Education Fund, DC Fiscal Policy Institute and Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, a survey of 436 respondents in the retail and restaurant/food service industries found that D.C. employees are granted too few hours on too short notice, challenging their ability to lead a good life. At the hearing, testimony given from people who work for fast food and retail companies confirmed the report’s findings. RasImani Diggs, a clerk at Marshalls described her experience asking her supervisor for additional hours: “We ask for more hours, but it’s always the same song. They say, ‘We don’t have enough,’ but then hire 15 more people.” “Just-in-time” scheduling practices, where employees are asked to come and go depending on how... read more
New DC JWJ Report Reveals Unfair Scheduling Practices in DC
Today, DC Jobs With Justice, Jobs With Justice Education Fund, DC Fiscal Policy Institute and Georgetown University Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor released the first-ever study on service sector scheduling practices in Washington, D.C. Read the Executive Summary here The report, “Unpredictable, Unsustainable: The Impact of Employers’ Scheduling Practices in D.C,” draws on a survey conducted in 2015 with hundreds of people employed in the District, focusing on the retail and restaurant/food service industries—the broadest citywide study of scheduling practices in the service industry to date. In line with previous research, it finds that “just in time” approaches to scheduling negatively impact many D.C. employees’ lives, often resulting in erratic and unpredictable hours for the women and men who serve our food, stock our shelves and sweep our floors. Employees are granted too few hours on too short notice, resulting in unpredictable incomes and work schedules that make it hard to budget, arrange childcare, continue with education or hold down a second job to try to make ends meet. You can read the full report here Some Key Findings: Low Pay Common: The typical employee works 32 hours per week at a pay rate of $10 per hour resulting in an annual income of approximately $16,000 More Hours Needed: Four out of five people said it was very important or somewhat important to get more hours. Second Jobs Required: Nearly one-quarter of individuals work at least one additional job. Unpredictable Schedules: A typical respondent faces a 13 hour range in weekly hours per month, receiving as little as 25 hours some weeks and a high of 38 hours... read more