by dcjwjeditor | Mar 7, 2013 | Actions & Events, Immigrant Rights, Projects, Trabajadores Unidos de DC / United Workers of DC, Wage Theft
Chants of “la lucha – sí, la lucha – sí” (the struggle -yes, the struggle – yes) echoed off the DC Council chamber walls as more than 50 workers and community activists packed the Wilson Building on Monday, March 4th to demand more protections for workers against wage theft. DC Jobs with Justice, United Workers of DC, and the DC Wage Theft Coalition accompanied workers as they presented Councilmember Marion Barry with a giant paper bill for outstanding unpaid wages. The bill totaled more than $260,000, yet only represented the wage theft claims of about 40 workers, a small number of the many more victimized by wage theft in Washington, DC. Pledging to seek justice for the workers, Councilmember Barry quoted Frederick Douglass: “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will.” With that, the group filed into the performance oversight hearing for the Department of Employee Services. Witness after witness testified about the inability of the Office of Wage-Hour to protect workers who struggle to recover their rightfully owed wages. United Workers of DC President Carlos Castillo explained, “Without significant changes, going to the Office of Wage-Hour to file claims often becomes a waste of time, of money, and of opportunity to find a good option for daily work for a day laborer.” Moved by this and the many other testimonies from workers and advocates, Councilmember Barry vowed to investigate the workers’ claims, to explore new resources, systems, and funding for the Office of Wage-Hour, and to consider proposing legislation to protect workers against wage theft. Coming off a tremendous victory at popular Georgetown restaurants,...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Nov 25, 2012 | Campaigns, Get Involved, Injured Worker Advocate
Over 2,000 injured D.C. government employees go through the Public Sector Workers Compensation Program each year. Disability benefits are intended to give injured government workers financial security when injured on the job and help them pay their medical care, rent, and other basic necessities. Unfortunately, due to a decade of poor administration an noncompliance, formerly middle-class injured workers have been driven into poverty. The D.C. Council should act immediately and pass legislation to: Restore the great weight afforded to the opinions of treating physicians to ensure accurate medical assessments of injuries Provide that injured workers will not lose disability compensation while they are navigating the administrative process Enable compensation for mental stress or emotional conditions suffered by workers as a result of their injuries Protect workers with injuries that last longer than 500 weeks, but are still classified as “temporary” rather than “permanent” Bring the compensation program back “in house” rather than contracting with a company that profits at the expense of workers Take Action >>> Sign the...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jun 5, 2012 | Press, Projects, Trabajadores Unidos de DC / United Workers of DC
For Immediate Release Contact: Sarahi Uribe, NDLON, 202.285.9673 sarahi@ndlon.org Community Applauds DC Council for Passing Emergency Detainer Compliance Act on Day of S-Comm Activation Washington DC Maintains Bright Line Between Police and Wrongful Deportation Policies June 05, 2012. Washington, DC. The Washington, DC Council was praised by a wide coalition of community, faith, and labor organizations for passing the Immigration Detainer Compliance Emergency Amendment Act in response to today’s federally imposed activation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s controversial “Secure Communities” deportation program. The act, which was introduced by Councilmember Mendelson, will limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of District facilities and equipment and also narrows S-Comm’s deportation dragnet by only responding to immigration detention requests for individuals who are over 18 and have been convicted of a dangerous crime. Last fall the permanent version of the act, the Immigration Detainer Compliance Amendment, was unanimously co-sponsored by all DC councilmembers. The act builds upon the Mayor’s Order 2011-174 (October 19, 2011) that prohibits all public safety agencies from inquiring about individuals’ immigration status or transmitting information about immigration status. Sarahi Uribe of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network says, “We’re proud to live in a city with a bright line guarding against unjust deportation policies that erode trust, divide our communities, and endanger our families. DC has joined a growing trend of local governments that care about protecting the safety and rights of their residents. When DHS Secretary Napolitano spread S-Comm throughout the country, it triggered a movement that is growing stronger by the day to resist and overcome the criminalization of immigrants.” Paromita Shah of National Immigration Project says,...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Mar 7, 2012 | Campaigns, Injured Worker Advocate
On March 1st, DC Jobs with Justice Executive Director Nikki Daruwala and members of the Injured Worker Advocates (IWA), along with Employment Justice Center testified before the Council of the District of Columbia’s Oversight Hearing on the Office of Risk management Committee on Government Operations. In her testimony, Nikki Daruwala stated that “over 2,000 injured DC government workers go through the Public Sector Workers Compensation Program each year. Disability benefits are intended to give injured government employees financial security when hurt on the job and help them pay their medical care, rent and other basic fundamental human necessities. Unfortunately, due to a decade of poor administration and noncompliance, formally middle-class injured workers have been driven into poverty as a result of their on-the-job injuries.” The coalition made recommendations to the Council and asked them to pass legislation that would reform flaws in the Disability Compensation Program.rnrnWould you like to support the IWA? Please sign this petition http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4023/c/188/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3758 and help the IWA tell the District Government that they deserve their rights and benefits....
