by DC Jobs with Justice | Mar 15, 2016 | Projects
Hey there! My name is Bria Wade and I’m currently a freshman at Georgetown University from New Jersey majoring in African American Studies and minoring in Women and Gender Studies. I’m the new intern with DC Jobs With Justice and I’m extremely excited to be working with the amazing team and organization this semester! I had no idea what to expect when I arrived for my first day working with DC JWJ because I truly didn’t have a firm grasp on what organizing was. Since then, I have learned so much from the people I work with and going out and doing the work in places like Columbia Heights and Union Station. Although it can be disheartening at times because of the nature of outreach, I have been able to see the magnitude of impact that organizing has on the lives of retail workers in DC. The work that I have done so far has inspired me to become more involved with worker justice. I started working when I was twelve years old in order to assert my independence and make money for myself so that my parents would have to contribute less to getting me the things that I needed. I have maintained a steady job ever since and throughout my time working in the food industry (McDonald’s), I noticed several things about the way things were run that didn’t sit well with me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until this past summer that I became aware of organizations that work specifically to address injustices faced by workers all over the country. My firsthand experience in conjunction with my passion...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Nov 28, 2009 | Campaigns, Justice At Wings, Projects, Student Labor Outreach Project
Taking time from cramming for mid-terms, students from the George Washington (GW) University and members of DC Jobs with Justice’s Student Labor Action Project joined striking Wings workers on a delegation to the university to demand that the institution take action to ensure a rapid resolution of the strike. rnrnWorkers at Wings are know as “rodmen” and do the tough work of placing the reinforcing steel in the concrete structure of buildings. The company – the biggest of its type in the region – does work on campuses around the area, including University of Maryland – College Mark and George Mason University, in addition to GW.rnrn”In 2008 I suffered an accident on the job,” explained Mauricio, one of the striking workers. “I was working on a wall and the foreman asked me to come down to the floor. I was descending slowly but the foreman shouted at me that I should come down more quickly. When I jumped down I seriously injured my left foot and left shin. The company did not offer to provide any medical attention, pay for the days I missed or compensate me for my injury.” rnrnStudents also requested that the company launch an investigation into working conditions for Wings workers on the Square 54 construction site, which is being managed by Boston Properties and Clark Construction Group. “As GW students, it’s important to us that the workers building our facilities are treated fairly,” said Aaron Keshner, a student at GW and leader of the Progressive Student Union. “We had a good discussion with the president’s office, and will work to ensure that they follow...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Nov 28, 2009 | Projects, Student Labor Outreach Project
Cold fall rain did not deter more than 40 students and staff who rallied Nov. 13th at Georgetown University to support campus police officers. Representatives from a variety of student organizations, as well as Georgetown staff, gathered on Red Square to show their support for the Georgetown Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers in their union negotiations. The officers’ union, Allied, has been in negotiations with the university since August; the university has yet to agree to the union’s proposal to bring hourly wages – now about $3 less than other area colleges — on par with other campus police in the metro Washington area. rnrnThe issue was brought to forefront after Georgetown experienced two hate crimes based on sexual orientation. Students involved in the resulting dialogue about campus safety realized that the uncompetitive salary for DPS salary resulted in an understaffed department and a lack of resources for officers. After speeches by representatives of the Georgetown chapter of NAACP, the Latino-American group MEChA, Asian American Students Association, and the labor rights group Georgetown Solidarity Committee, the demonstrators carrying signs saying “Show Us Your Values” and “How Much is Your Safety Worth?” marched to the offices of President DeGioia and Vice President Dimolitsas to deliver petitions with hundreds of signatures from students, professors, and organizations, including the College Democrats and Republicans. rnrn- report/photo by Julia...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Mar 12, 2008 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
rnWhile many of their fellow students were off carousing sun-drenched beaches in time-honored Spring Break tradition, nine Georgetown students rallied and leafleted in DC as part of an Alternative Spring Break program called “Worker Justice DC.” rnrnCoordinated by Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and Georgetown University Center for Social Justice, the program provided an intensive introduction to worker justice issues with a focus on reflection and action.rnrnrnThe jam-packed week included taking part in direct action and leafleting campaigns – coordinated by SEIU 32BJ – with Northern Virginia janitors and DC security guards, rallying and participating in street theater at Tuesday’s DC City Council vote on the paid sick bill, discussing future opportunities in the labor movement with Metro Council President Jos Williams, and visiting with Alexandria construction workers who are training through the Residential Construction Workers Association (http://www.astracor.org/Default.htm), which works to improve the lives of all workers employed in residentialrnconstruction to receive their special certification cards.rnrnThe program also emphasized the responsibility, as students of a Jesuit university, for working towards social justice and showed students the intersection of Catholic social teaching and low-wage worker issues. “We considered ways in which we could advocate for justice in our immediate community and around the world,” said Andrew D’Souza, a freshman in the School of Foreign Service. “We would like to thank Interfaith Worker Justice and the Center for Social Justice for this eye-opening experience. And to all the workers around Washington and beyond, we, Georgetown students, stand with you in solidarity for justice.” rn rnReported by Julia Leis, Spring Break Program Coordinator and IWJ National...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Nov 1, 2007 | Projects, Student Labor Outreach Project
Order up: burgers and hot dogs, hold the coke. The George Washington (GW) Progressive Student Union held a cook-out and petition drive Tuesday to demand that GW dump Coca-Cola and switch to local vendors who respect worker and environmental rights. Over 100 students pledged support for the campaign and also agreed to stop purchasing Coca-Cola products. “Overwhelming evidence links the corporation to horrible crimes of murder, kidnapping, and environmental destruction,” said GW sophomore and Progressive Student Union member Nick Savio. “GW should not be rewarding such actions with a lucrative contract.” The campaign is part of a larger nationwide movement that has resulted in 30 schools dropping their contracts with Coca-Cola, including the University of Michigan, Rutgers, Drexel, Smith, and...
