by DC Jobs with Justice | Jun 4, 2014 | Projects
Tuesday was an eventful day at the DC Council! After years of grassroots organizing, the “Ban the Box” and “Wage Theft” bills were voted on by the DC Council for their first time. The Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2014 aims to put in place stronger policies to deter unscrupulous employers from cheating their employees out of their wages. As it currently stands, there are few effective ways for workers to recover wages they are owed and little protection for employees that speak out against their bosses wage theft practices. This system makes it easy for employers to get away with stealing from their workers and creates a disadvantage for businesses that follow the law properly. DC JwJ and the Wage Theft Coalition have been advocating for the current bill, championed by by Councilmember Vincent Orange, which proposes to change that by putting in place penalties and fines from employers that commit wage theft and creating a better process for workers to recover their money. DC residents, workers, and advocates gathered outside the DC Council at 9:30am for a rally highlight the issues of wage theft and employment discrimination against returning citizens. Before the initial vote on the Ban the Box and Wage Theft Prevention bills, a clear message was sent to councilmembers: “Stand with Workers! Apoye los trabajadores!.” Allies and supporters from the Wage Theft Coalition and Ban the Box advocates filled the council hearing room to highlight the importance of these bills. Despite strong support from councilmembers, the DC Chamber of Commerce and other business interests groups had been lobbying behind the scenes for amendments they hoped could water down the strength of...
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 17, 2014 | Projects
Cold weather didn’t stop over 75 people from showing up on the steps of the City Council on Friday morning for a rally calling for an end to wage theft in the District and the passage of new legislation to tackle the issue. The crowd gathered with signs and “No Wage Theft” stickers at 8:30 AM before the scheduled committee hearing on the Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2014. The bill, co-introduced by Councilmembers Orange (At- large), Cheh (Ward 4), and Graham (Ward 1) with a number of co-sponsors, will create better protections for workers that speak out for their rights, as well as create a mechanism for issuing enforceable judgements at the Office of Wage-Hour that can result in penalties for employers that repeatedly break the law. Community members shared their moving stories and demanded and end to wage theft during the rally outside before the committee hearing. Beyond explaining that people should be paid fairly for the work they do, speakers also adamantly stated that wage theft is an issue that hurt everyone. By not penalizing employers that break the law, business that do the right are at a competitive disadvantage, since not paying workers effectively becomes an interest-free loan. Ari Weissbard, Director of the Employment Justice Center, explained in his testimony that DC received an F on a recent study as a result of how widespread wage theft is in the city. “A worker is more likely to be robbed by their employer than they are on the street or at home.” Yet, while there are channels to receive renumeration for most theft and penalties against...
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 | Apr 3, 2008 | Projects, Student Labor Outreach Project
Students from universities across DC picketed in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ campaign for better wages and working conditions outside the K St NW Burger King Wednesday. rnrnThe students chanted “Down, down with exploitation! Up, up with the fair food nation!†and asked the rush hour crowds to sign petitions in support of the campaign. Following the picket students delivered a letter to the downtown BK’s management. The action was part of the National Student-Labor Week of Action, during which thousands of students at hundreds of campuses across the country hold events to show solidarity with worker justice struggles. rnrnMembers of the DC Student Labor Action Project and DC Student-Farmworker Alliance have been holding regular actions at Burger Kings in DC, as well as tabling and petitioning to raise awareness. rnrnFor more information about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and to sign their petition,...
