by DC Jobs with Justice | Oct 24, 2012 | Campaigns, Press, Walmart: Respect DC
Coalition says developer does not deserve Developer of the Year Award when their projects are harming communities and displacing residents. WASHINGTON, D.C., October 24 – Calling for an end to development that has been bringing low wage, part time jobs and displacing longtime residents, Respect DC rallied at noon today outside the Wardman Park Marriott in DC where the JBG Companies were receiving the “Developer of the Year” award from NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, at their annual meeting, which costs over $1000/per person to attend. “Developers should not be rewarded for displacing residents and bringing jobs that make it impossible to live in the area and support a family,” said Mike Wilson, with DC Jobs with Justice. “DC and the region need more affordable housing, and jobs that allow people to work full time for a living wage. Fighting to stop the First Source hiring law, bringing a low wage employer like Walmart, and replacing affordable housing units with luxury condos and hotels, only harms our community.” Respect DC is calling on JBG to bring Walmart to the table with community groups and sign a Community Benefits Agreement before they move forward on any projects with the retailer. They also demand that JBG, which sits on the board of the Associated Builders and Contractors, the group suing the DC government over the recently strengthened First Source Hiring Law, call on ABC to drop the law suit. In addition, they joined with Tenants and Workers United in calling on JBG to preserve affordable housing and not displace more than 2,000 working families residing the Beauregard redevelopment zone...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Mar 24, 2009 | Building Black-Brown Unity, Projects
On Saturday, March 28th, workers, tenants, organizers, parents and children from all walks of life will gather for an all-day city wide forum on racism, immigration and class in the District of Columbia. The all-day forum titled “Facing What Divides Us: building unity between Black and Brown communities,” seeks to create a safe space for people to come together, express their feelings, analyze the divisions between communities of color, and share strategies for finding common ground in the workplace. rnrnFor more than half a century, Washington, DC has served as a magnet for people fleeing economic and national oppression. The 1940s saw tens of thousands of African Americans migrate to D.C. in search of opportunities denied to them in the deep South. Today, a new generation migrants is flowing into to the city, often as a result of destructive US foreign policy. As D.C.’s demographics change, landlords, bosses and even and even policy makers are using “divide and conquer” tactics to pit new immigrants against the children and grandchildren of those who migrated to the city in the 1940s, as a means to divide communities, control labor and undermine workers’ rights.rnrnThe current economic crisis only exacerbates matters. As public services contract and housing programs are shut down, working people are scrambling for an even smaller piece of the pie.rnrnThe forum will take place Saturday March 28, 2009. 9:30am-4:00pm at Foundry Methodist Church, 1500 16th St NW.The training is free and open to the public, you can register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=22JSS1222HVvulIcgbCXwg_3d_3d rnBreakfst and lunch will be provided. Childcare and interpretation available upon request/ Call...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Apr 4, 2008 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
In response to news that Safeway and Giant were trying to cut back health and pension benefits for 23,000 grocery workers in DC, MD and VA represented by the UFCW Local 400, local faith leaders sprung into action. In addition to spreading the word to their congregations, members of Interfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington led a delegation to a Safeway store and delivered a letter to the manager. “Members of our congregations shop at these stores,†Rev. Kay Johnson of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in DC told the manager at the Dupont Circle Safeway. “We’re prepared to support the workers in any way we can.â€rnrnRick Walsh, a long time OPEIU Local 2 union member brought the issue to his church, Providence United Methodist Church in Fort Washington Maryland. The congregation offered a special prayer for the grocery workers during Sunday services and made plans to visit three stores in the surrounding area together to offer words of support to the employees there. rnrnJust days before the contract expiration, ministers from across the city came together for a press conference to express support for the workers and call on Safeway and Giant to maintain quality benefits. “They’re not asking for a raise, but they’re also asking not to have them come out of their pocket to pay for insurance, and we believe that’s fair,” said the Rev. Raymond Bell, pastor of First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church. Faith leaders pledged that if the workers strike, they will tell members of their congregations not to cross the picket lines. “As people of faith, we’re standing up with the workers, and...
