by DC Jobs with Justice | Apr 25, 2014 | Projects
On Thursday, DC Jobs with Justice joined UNITE HERE! Local 23 and other coalition members for a lunch time picket in support of cafeteria workers. These cafeteria workers, employed by Seasons Culinary at the National Education Association building, are currently facing a wage freeze over the next three years. Food service workers in DC have fought to win a standard that includes fair raises AND health insurance. We’re not going to let these cafeteria workers be left behind! The company, Seasons Culinary, is not meeting the standard for food service workers in this city. Here are some examples of how their proposal compares with what DC workers have at a similar cafeteria: Seasons Culinary Proposal: No raise for the next 3 years Employees would pay $187.25 per month for single health insurance DC UNITE HERE Local 23 Contract at Holocaust Museum Cafeteria: Raises of 25 cents twice a year Employees pay $53.50 a month for single health insurance on the same plan as is being proposed at...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Apr 8, 2014 | Projects
“Ni Una Más Deportación! Ni Una Más Deportación!” “Not One More! Not One More!” These were the chants echoing in the streets on Saturday, as several hundred people marched down 16th Street NW to the White House. As the number of individuals deported since Obama took office in 2008 nears 2 million, thousands of Americans across the country gathered on April 5th to demand #Not1More. DC Jobs with Justice joined the local action, organized by the day labor organization Trabajadores Unidos de DC – United Workers of DC. The national day of protests was coordinated by NDLON, the National Day Labor Organizing Network, which says that the president must act to fix the immigration system with whatever power he has, since comprehensive reform remains stalled in Congress. Grassroots organizations in over 70 cities took up the call to organize rallies in the communities with the clear message to the president that the time to act is now. In DC, Trabajadores Unidos worked hard to outreach to local organizations, unions, activists, musicians, and both the immigrant and non-immigrant communities. Around 11AM on April 5th, people began to gather in Lamont Park in Mount Pleasant, a neighborhood that has historically been home to many Central American immigrants. The crowd was rallied by traditional Mexican folk music played by a local band, as well as speeches from clergy and community members before setting off on a march to the White House. The parade of marchers was accompanied by colorful flags and signs, drummers, and people in costume. As the march snaked its way down 16th Street with many supportive cheers and honks from onlookers, the...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Mar 9, 2014 | Projects
On Saturday evening, Jobs with Justice was in attendance at the People’s Platform Mayoral Forum at THEARC on Mississippi Ave in Southeast. The forum was organized by ONE DC and co-sponsored by DC Jobs with Justice and many other activist community groups working for a better DC. Mayor Gray was not present (he was attending a funeral), but all of the other mayoral candidates were on stage. Candidates were asked to answer tough questions ranging from housing to gentrification to jobs, while audience members gave feedback by demonstrating their support or dislike of the answers by holding up green or red cards. Two workers stood up to ask about what the candidates plan to do about the issue of wage theft in DC and whether they support the newly proposed legislation. While Bonds said she “thinks” she is in support of it, Wells and Shallal both emphatically said that they could not understand why anyone wouldn’t support workers getting paid their fair share – that’s what we like to hear! ONE DC will be having their annual meeting next Saturday, March 15th at 1pm in at the New Community Church at 614 S Street NW....
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...
