by dcjwjeditor | Feb 10, 2014 | About, Wage Theft
Councilmember Tommy Wells, chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, held a hearing at the Wilson Building on new legislation to “Ban the Box.” The bill would prevent employers from asking job candidates about their criminal history on their applications. The hearing gave the public a chance to testify about the wording on the proposed “Fair Criminal Record Screening Act of 2014” (1). During the 4 hour hearing, almost 40 people gave testimony about the legislation. The stacked line-up included many public witnesses, as well as advocates from many community organization speaking in support of the bill (2). Among those who presented were the Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, DC Employment Justice Center (EJC), Restaurant Opportunity Center (ROC), Bread for City, and our very own Executive Director, Nikki Lewis! As Councilmember Wells explained, DC is estimated to have 60,000 residents with criminal histories and approximately 8,000 returning citizens annually. With the current background check for employment and housing applications, finding a stable job and place to live is nearly impossible for these formerly incarcerated individuals, as many of the public witnesses conveyed in their testimony. As a result, residents and family members of those that have had previous contact with the criminal justice system are unfairly forced to suffer unequal discrimination. With our broken system not providing the opportunity for employment and housing, many end up back in jail. Perhaps because of the strong public support for the bill, Wells expressed that he plans to make sure the bill passes as one of the most comprehensive pieces of ban the box legislation in the nation. Significantly, however, many testimonies applauded...
by dcjwjeditor | Jul 30, 2013 | Projects
L&M Construction to pay nearly $113,000 to settle major sexual harassment case with US Labor Department Agreement includes back wages and job offers for 14 Hispanic workers WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that federal contractor L&M Construction has agreed to settle allegations that it permitted sexual harassment, retaliated against workers who complained about a hostile work environment, and interfered with a federal investigation. The conciliation agreement entered into by L&M and the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs resolves these and numerous other violations of law at the company’s construction work sites across the Washington metropolitan area. In May 2012, OFCCP’s Arlington Area Office scheduled L&M Construction for a compliance review. During a workers’ outreach forum that month, department officials were alerted to complaints of sexual harassment that included inappropriate touching, lewd acts, sexual gestures, comments and propositions directed at female employees of L&M between May 1, 2011 and April 30, 2012. Upon further investigation, OFCCP compliance officers discovered that the company terminated nine employees for complaining about the hostile work environment created by this harassment and then fired five more workers to prevent them from being interviewed during OFCCP’s review. The 14 terminated workers were seven Hispanic men and seven Hispanic women. “No worker should ever have to put up with degrading and inappropriate behavior in order to keep a job,” said OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. “I hope this settlement sends a clear message to federal contractors – and to the men and women who work for them – that OFCCP will not tolerate retaliation against workers who exercise their...
by dcjwjeditor | Jul 17, 2013 | Actions & Events, Campaigns, Walmart: Respect DC
July 10th was a historic day for D.C. as the DC City Council stood strong against Walmart’s bullying and threats and voted 8-5 to ensure that big box retail jobs will be good jobs for D.C. workers. Every retailer with over $1 billion in revenue and stores over 75,000 square feet will have to pay a living wage of $12.50 to their D.C. employees. Now, the fate of the LIVING WAGE BILL is in the hands of DC Mayor Gray. Click here to contact Mayor Vincent Gray NOW and tell him to sign the LIVING WAGE BILL! The DC City Council showed it would not be bullied and intimidated by Walmart’s attempt at political blackmail. Eight city council members, Phil Mendelson, Vincent Orange, David Grosso, Anita Bonds, Jim Graham, Jack Evans, Kenyan McDuffie, and Marion Barry held strong against Walmart’s threats and cast their votes in favor of the Large Retail Accountability Act. Tell the Mayor to stand with us...
by dcjwjeditor | Jul 8, 2013 | Projects
The issue of confirmation of the full 5 members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will come to a head in the US Senate when they return to Washington on July 8th. Tuesday July 2nd was the national day of ACTION called by CWA to rally our side (and educate the public) about the urgent need to get confirmation. Currently only 1 member of the NLRB is confirmed and his term ends in August – a full 5-member panel has been submitted by President Obama and they need a Vote! Help to protect workers call...
by dcjwjeditor | Jun 11, 2013 | Get Involved, Projects
ABOUT THE BOOK We Are The Clash is a book-in-progress that excavates the often-dismissed last two years of The Clash, after the controversial ejection of Mick Jones and Topper Headon from the band. The book challenges existing interpretations of this period, resurrecting the dramatic last stand of one of the few rock bands that truly mattered. This was a moment where the band’s struggles with punk ideals, Top Ten success, addiction, and personal/musical differences crashed head-on into a rising wave of right-wing power. In the process, a hopeful but ultimately heartbreaking tale played out, bringing an end not only to The Clash as a band but an entire era of political and economic struggle, and setting the stage for our world’s present challenges. WHY THIS BOOK Much of this story has been simply airbrushed out of the official Clash histories, and skimmed over in the more popular independent accounts. Two important works on this period, Out of Control (by Vince White) and The Rise and Fall of The Clash (by Danny Garcia) do exist. However, neither does what we are attempting here: going past autobiography or “Behind the Music”-style reportage, to dig deeper, taking a searching look at the band’s last years, placing its story in the proper historical, artistic, and political context. This version of The Clash, after all, played more than 120 shows, and wrote nearly two dozen new songs, including some of the most poignant social protest/commentary marking this turning point in British–and international–history. This was when Thatcher broke the back of the National Union of Mineworkers, Reagan brought the world to the brink of nuclear...
