by DC Jobs with Justice | Jan 15, 2016 | Campaigns, Projects, Walmart: Respect DC, Workers' Rights Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, January 15, 2016 CONTACT Ari Schwartz, DC Jobs With Justice, (202) 674-3228, ari@dcjwj.org For a PDF of the release, click here District Officials Ignored Residents and Got Duped By Walmart Countless residents knew better than to trust Walmart, but were ignored by elected officials eager to believe the company’s false promises WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nikki Lewis, Executive Director of DC Jobs With Justice, released the following statement today after Walmart announced it will not open two stores planned for the District and will close 269 stores worldwide: “I wish I could say that I am surprised by Walmart’s plans to cancel two stores, but the sad truth is, I am not. Today’s announcement proves once again that Walmart is a company that cannot be trusted. “In meetings with residents and community leaders, the company promised to bring much-needed retail to Ward 7. Some residents were even told that wages would start at $13.50 an hour at these stores. “Unfortunately, when residents attempted to codify these promises in a written agreement, and later the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA), Walmart responded by threatening to cancel their plans to open three additional stores – effectively forcing Mayor Gray to veto the LRAA. “With today’s announcement of store closures, Walmart is canceling these plans and footing the residents of D.C. with the bill. Make no mistake, Walmart has duped the District with false promises and is now earning profit at the expense of everyone who lives here. “The District should have ignored Walmart’s threats instead of its own residents. Moving forward, the District should be cautious about believing other retailers...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 13, 2015 | Projects, Workers' Rights Board
On July 14, we are bringing back the DC Jobs with Justice Workers’ Rights Board to discuss the need for Just Hours! The Workers’ Rights Board is a board composed of community and religious leaders, prominent members of the community, and public officials who support struggles for economic justice through investigations, hearings, press conferences, meetings and other events. This year’s board members are: Reverend Dr. Kendrick E. Curry is the Senior Pastor of The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (PABC), a ministry that transforms lives for the common good of the church and community. Dr. Curry actively participates in the faith community and the community at-large. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Baptist Convention of DC and Vicinity, where he serves as Treasurer, and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC), where he is the Chair of the Mission, Stewardship, Support and Development Team and serves on the Council for Ordination. As a member of the Missionary Baptist Minister’s Conference of DC and Vicinity, Dr. Curry serves on the Civic and Social Action Committee. He has served as the Chair of Mayor’s Interfaith Council and as a mayoral appointee to the Project Labor Agreement Task Force for the Washington Nationals stadium. Dr. Curry is also a Director of the Stoddard Baptist Home Board and serves on the Board of Trustees of UDC. He is a strong advocate for education and academic excellence, and as such serves as the Vice Chair and Ambassador for the Washington DC Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WDC STEM) Partnership. Dr. Curry is happily married to the Reverend Karen Whitney Curry and is...
by DC Jobs with Justice | May 11, 2012 | Projects, Workers' Rights Board
(affiliations listed for identification purposes only) CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE DC WORKERS’ RIGHTS BOARD (2012): Pastor and Founder Raymond C. Bell (Chair) – Spirit of Love and Deliverance Baptist Church Christine Hart-Wright – STRIVE-DC Yvette Bryant – Florida Baptist Church Terry Lynch (Past Chair)- Downtown Cluster of Congregations Parisa B. Norouzi – Empower DC Carol Rosenblatt – Coalition of Labor Union Women Reverend Edwin Jones – Living Faith Baptist Church and International Ministries PAST MEMBERS OF THE DC WORKERS’ RIGHTS BOARD: Kwame Brown – DC City Council, At-Large Msgr. Raymond East – Archdiocese of Washington Bishop Carlos Harvin – Imani Temple Eugene DeWitt Kinlow – Washington East Foundation Bill Lightfoot – Attorney Phil Mendelson – DC City Council, At-Large Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Marcel Reid – DC ACORN Rabbi Robert Saks – Congregation Bet Mishpachah Rabbi Gerry Serotta – Temple Shalom Rev. Lennox Yearwood., Jr. – Hip Hop...
by DC Jobs with Justice | May 8, 2012 | Workers' Rights Board
rnrn rn rnThe 2012 Workers’ Rights Board from L to R: Yvette Bryant (Florida Baptist Church), Reverend Edwin Jones (Living Faith Baptist Church), Parisa Norouzi (Empower DC), Terry Lynch (Downtown Cluster of Congregations), Pastor Raymond Bell (Spirit of Love and Deliverance Baptist Church), Carol Rosenblatt (Coalition of Labor Union Women), and Christine Hart-Wright (STRIVE-DC).rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnDC Jobs with Justice held a successful Workers’ Rights Board hearing on Thursday, May 3, 2012 that highlighted the struggles of female workers in the District. The DC Workers’ Rights Board continues to be a powerful tool for defending the interests of working people. The information recorded from the testimonies along with the Workers’ Rights Board recommendation will be presented to the DC Council and other city officials, regulators, and legislators.rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnThe Worker Panel spotlighted issues and concerns from several local campaigns including: Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) – DC’s Paid Sick Days for All, UFCW’s OUR Wal-Mart campaign, Housing for All’s Campaign to demand that DC Council budget for affordable housing, the Amalgamated Transit Union’s Campaign to support Circulator drivers, and Empower DC’s Childcare for All efforts.rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnThe Expert Panel featured experts from the...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Feb 22, 2010 | Projects, Workers' Rights Board
Workers, advocates, labor leaders, and community activists packed the basement of First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church last Thursday night to examine how “Wage Theft” is impacting local workers. rnrnA board of 10 prominent community leaders, chaired by Rev. Raymond C. Bell of First Rising Mt. Zion Church, heard testimony from day laborers, security officers, ironworkers, and cleaners – all of whom had their hard-earned wages stolen in different ways. rnrn“The problem of stolen wages is very deep and very broad,” said Socorro Garcia, a day laborer and leader of the Union de Trabajadores, who has twice had to fight employers who refused to pay what they owed him. An estimated 60% of day laborers in DC experience non-payment or under-payment of wages. Frustrated by slow action by the DC Office of Wage and Hour, Garcia and others have been using direct action to help recover their rightful pay. Garcia urged other workers to report incidences of wage theft and work together for justice. “I know it is very difficult,” he said, “but we have to have the courage to step up and complain.”rnrnEric Sheptock, a homeless activist, echoed the sentiment, adding that education is important so that all workers know their rights. Last year, Sheptock was working for a cleaning company and being paid $7 per hour. After a friend pointed out that the DC minimum wage is $8.25, Sheptock spoke up and got the DC Office of Wage and Hour to investigate, resulting in an audit of the company and payment of back wages to Sheptock and all his co-workers. rnrnKeith Pugh and Carlene Olobayo, both former...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Nov 25, 2008 | Workers' Rights Board
rn(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO) rnCatastrophe, intimidation, terror. These were common words used to describe DC Mayor Adrian Fenty’s two years in office by over a dozen speakers at Thursday’s Workers’ Rights Board (WRB) hearing. The hearing – which took place at the John A. Wilson Building to a standing-room only crowd of hundreds of residents, workers and activists – was held to examine Mayor Fenty’s assault on DC public sector workers and proposals to cut public services.rnrn”I see what is happening right now as a major catastrophe,” said Roger Newell, chair of DC Jobs with Justice. “We need to speak loudly and strongly that working people made this city and stuck with this city through times of crisis. Workers should be respected not attacked and politicians who attack workers should be held accountable.” Metro Council President Jos Williams said that Mayor Fenty has created an “environment based on intimidation” of workers through the gutting of the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) (Mayor Faulted for Crisis at Public Employee Board 6/24/08 UC), abolishment of the Labor-Management Partnership Program (Labor Updates 4/7/08 UC) and the appointment of School Chancellor Michelle Rhee who “has made it her mission to make every employee at-will.” “The door was closed to labor immediately by the Mayor after taking office,” said Dwight Bowman, AFGE National Vice President for District 14. “The Mayor chose to ignore our efforts to reach out.” Bowman also compared Mayor Fenty’s refusal to address the crisis with the PERB to similar moves by the Bush Administration to destroy the federal grievance process.rnrnOther panelists discussed Mayor Fenty’s assault on DC public sector workers...
