by DC Jobs with Justice | Jan 29, 2015 | Minimum Wage Increase
A new report from the DC Fiscal Policy Institute confirmed what we’ve been hearing from workers: wages in low-wage jobs are stagnating, unemployment is lasting even longer, and lots of workers who want to work full-time can only find part-time jobs. Already this year, we’ve seen workers from Walmart to Georgetown University stand up and demand the right to work full-time, since part-time work at their already meager wages simply isn’t enough to get by. Workers in low-wage jobs know firsthand that $11.50/hour isn’t enough to live in the District, and our Councilmembers shouldn’t have any illusions that the minimum wage increase has fixed low-wages. We have lots of work to do. From DCFPI: DC’s economy may be well on the road to recovery from the Great Recession, but a look beneath the surface shows that many residents are being left behind. Low-wage workers have seen their wages fall, while higher-wage workers have seen earnings grow by thousands of dollars per year. And workers without a college degree continue to experience levels of unemployment – and especially long-term unemployment – that are far higher than in 2007. While DC has a number of strengths to build on, such as the increase in the minimum wage to $11.50 an hour, our new report finds that more needs to be done to strengthen literacy and training programs to help more residents earn a living...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Oct 3, 2009 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
Day laborers in DC scored another big victory on October 2nd: recovering over $10,000 in stolen wages for eight workers. Several members of the Union de Trabajadores de Washington, DC, a day laborer association, had been doing work on a DC public school building over the summer, and were paid less than promised. They reached out to DC Jobs with Justice and the DC Employment Justice Center, who quickly realized this public project entitled the workers to higher, “prevailing wages†for their work. rnrnAfter reaching out to other workers from the project and talking with several building trades unions to confirm the proper rate, DC JwJ and the DC EJC went to the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization to discuss this violation of DC’s contracting laws. The Office collaborated in forcing the contractors to pay back wages, including proper overtime rates. rnrnThis victory not only secures justice for the workers involved, but sends an important message to contractors who believe they can hire immigrant workers and pay them lower rates. Current broken immigration laws invite such exploitation by creating a pool of undocumented workers who employers believe don’t have rights and can’t organize. On Oct. 13th, workers and community members will rally at the Capitol for just and humane immigration...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Apr 17, 2008 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
After four years of struggling to organize and negotiate with their companies, the 1,500 security officers who are members of SEIU Local 32BJ in Washington, DC won their first union contract on April 10th. rnrnThe contract establishes a minimum starting salary of $12.40 an hour, with 50 cent raises for officers who were already making above that level. The companies will also pay for health insurance for all full-time workers. Part-time officers did not yet gain full health benefits, but they and their families will receive some employer-paid benefits, such as prescription drugs, dental care, vision care and life insurance.The contract also provides 8 paid holidays and 7 days personal days, as well as addressing important job quality and security issues. rnrnThe contract will cover officers working for Admiral Security, AlliedBarton, Guardsmark and Securitas at commerical office buildings in DC. Together these companies employ about three-quarters of the District’s office building security workforce.rnrnThe officers were supported in their long struggle by Interfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington. Members of the IWJ network participated in delegations to employers, visited workplaces, collected letters, highlighted security officers during Labor Day weekend services, and brought officers to speak at their congregations. rnrnYou can read more in...
