by DC Jobs with Justice | Oct 31, 2014 | Campaigns, Projects, Walmart: Respect DC
Less than one year after its opening, small business owners within the immediate vicinity of a new Walmart Supercenter in the nation’s capital say their establishments are already in danger of closing, according to a new report released by Respect DC and Ward 4 Thrives. The report cites several local business owners who claim the District has granted preferential treatment to the giant retailer by removing parking spaces in front of their stores and relocating a bus stop to directly in front of the Walmart. One owner claimed her local medical supply store has suffered an estimated 25 percent loss of revenue since parking changes were made to accommodate Walmart. Jose Chavez, owner of nearby Usulután Grocery, said his store has lost 85 percent of its revenuesince the supercenter opened. “The day Walmart opened was the last day I had good sales here,” he said in a press release published with the report. As Ari Schwartz, an organizer with DC Jobs With Justice and editor of the report, explained to DCist: “When you’re shopping locally, that business owner is more often than a big box store banking locally, buying inventory locally, paying local taxes, sending their kids to a local school, all of which puts money back into communities. Walmart and giant corporate chains return their profits to their corporate headquarters and shareholders rather than D.C.” The report authors led efforts last year to prevent Walmart from opening stores in Washington without first coming to a written community benefits agreement with the surrounding neighborhoods. When the company failed to do so, the coalitionsuccessfully passed the Large Retailer Accountability Act through the city...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 15, 2014 | Actions & Events, Ban the Box, Campaigns, Wage Theft
On Monday, July 14th, the D.C. Council voted on two key pieces of legislation that will strengthen rights for all workers in DC. The Fair Criminal Records Screening Act (also known as “Ban the Box”) will begin to remove barriers to gainful employment for returning citizens or people with arrest records by prohibiting questions about a person’s criminal record on employment applications. The Wage Theft Prevention Act will overhaul wage and hour enforcement in D.C. by creating formal hearings and increased penalties for employers who do not pay their workers what they promise or what DC law requires. DC workers and community members from the Ban the Box and Wage Theft Coalitions held a brief rally before the vote. Both laws passed unanimously! This is a truly monumental day for ALL workers in DC. Thank you ALL for the support you gave to get these laws passed! And congratulations to all those who fought for this...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 11, 2014 | Actions & Events, Minimum Wage Increase, Paid Sick And Safe Days, Press
On July 1st the coalition of workers, business owners, faith leaders, labor organizations and community groups came together to celebrate the increase in the minimum wage and the extended legislation of paid sick days that they worked so hard to pass through the City Council. The press conference was held in front of Flava @ Wa-zo-bia Restaurant. We had an incredible turnout from various press outlets and some of our own were highlighted. Check these out! NBC 4– “DC Minimum Wage Increase Begins”: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/New-Minimum-Wage-DC-Money-Wages-Pay-265381311.html Washington Post– “D.C. Minimum Wage Measures Won’t Make 2014 Ballot”: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2014/07/01/d-c-minimum-wage-measures-unlikely-to-make-2014-ballot/ WNEW 99.1FM – “D.C.’s New Minimum Wage Goes Into Effect Today”: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2014/07/01/d-c-minimum-wage-measures-unlikely-to-make-2014-ballot/ City Paper– “The Minimum Wage Will Increase Tomorrow in D.C.”: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2014/06/30/the-minimum-wage-will-increase-tomorrow-in-d-c/ In the Capital– “D.C.’s Minimum Wage Is Going to Increase on Tuesday”: http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2014/06/30/minimum-wage-increase-dc-950-july-1/ CSN Washington– “D.C.’s New Minimum Wage: What to Know”: http://www.csnwashington.com/article/dcs-new-minimum-wage-what-know WJLA-ABC 7– “Minimum Wage Jumps to $9.50, Will Continue to Climb Until 2016”: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/07/d-c-minimum-wage-jumps-to-9-50-will-continue-to-climb-until-2016-104679.html Voice of Russia– “DC Rolls Out Annual Minimum Wage Increase”: http://voiceofrussia.com/us/2014_07_02/DC-Rolls-Out-Annual-Minimum-Wage-Increase-4077/ Telemundo– “Aumentan Salario Mínimo en D.C.”: http://www.holaciudad.com/aumentan-salario-minimo-dc-n461774 Washington Hispanic– “Minimum Wage Hike, a Triumph for Washington DC”: http://www.washingtonhispanic.com/nota18350.html WYTV– “States, Including Ohio, Debate Minimum Wage”:...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 9, 2014 | Actions & Events, Minimum Wage Increase, Paid Sick And Safe Days, Press
On July 1st the coalition of workers, business owners, faith leaders, labor organizations and community groups came together to celebrate the increase in the minimum wage and the extended legislation of paid sick days that they worked so hard to pass through the City Council. The press conference was held in front of Flava @ Wa-zo-bia Restaurant. Speakers included D.C. workers, Joslyn Williams, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO; Elissa Silverman, former policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, Rev. Graylan Hagler from Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, and Monica Kamen from Jews United for Justice. We had a great press turnout and a great turnout of supporters! Thank you to all the speakers, the workers, and everyone who came to support DC worker’s rights! Thank you to all the people that stayed to canvass the neighborhood after the press conference to ensure that workers are fully aware of these rights. Check out the rest of the photos of this event on our Facebook...
by DC Jobs with Justice | May 13, 2014 | Actions & Events, Campaigns, Projects
On Saturday, May 17th celebrate the 60th year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision that ended segregation in our public schools. Join us for a day of action focused on continuing the fight for great public schools. ...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Mar 31, 2014 | Campaigns, Projects
The Metro Washington Public Health Association, DC Jobs with Justice, and many others have been pushing Metro to hire and retain workers who have previously served their time in jail or prison. More than 7,000 people return to DC neighborhoods from prison and jail each year, and these residents disproportionately tend to be African-American. These returning citizens have an urgent need for good jobs. Further, there is an urgent need for Metro – as a publicly funded and large institution – to provide good jobs to DC residents, especially these returning citizens. Two weeks ago, Metro fired Mr. Lescount Jackson, a bus operator who returned to work after a year of cancer treatments. His shop steward immediately filed a grievance. Union and MWPHA members and DC JWJ members circulated a letter demanding his immediate reinstatement that drew over 45 signatures in hours and organized a rally at the Metro Board meeting. On March 26, Metro rehired Mr. Jackson! Mr. Jackson’s friend reported: How grateful he is to have you guys jump to his corner and did not even know him. Shows that you guys just don’t talk the talk. You guys make it happen. Thank you to everyone who signed the letter and planned to rally. Our MWPHA Health Disparities Committee and friends will continue to push Metro to change its hiring policy. There are many others denied employment there. One woman was convicted for riding in a stolen car, lost her Metro job, her house, and moved out of the area, leaving her son. This policy has a racist impact. While Metro applies these policies to all workers,...
