 |
|
|
|
|
|
Recent local Workers Rights Victories that
Washington State Jobs with Justice is Celebrating
(May, 2005)
Roll Call of Victories
CAFTA, Bush's attempt to expand NAFTA and export good local jobs, is dying a rapid death. As a testament to the effective community-based campaigns of the JwJ Pierce County and Whatcom County Organizing Committees coordinated with our member organizations, we have reversed a long trend of US Reps in Western Washington supporting corporate trade policy. This week South Sound Congressperson Adam Smith and North Sound Congressperson Rick Larsen announced their opposition to CAFTA. As a national leader of "free trade" New Democrats, Smith helped persuade his New Democrat leadership to join him in pledging to organize all other Democrats to oppose CAFTA. Without these Democrats' support, Bush's CAFTA maybe DOA as 60 Republicans have already declared their opposition.
In a nod to the "Job Exporting" JwJ Workers Rights Board hearing and findings in which Smith participated and signed on last December, Smith declared his reasoning based on his support of worker rights. We expect this shift in US politics will have major national and global impact on the way future trade agreements will be negotiated, including stronger rights for workers worldwide.
The second sentence of Smith's letter to President Bush on Wednesday May 5 reads:
"Due to the DR-CAFTA's inadequate protections for workers' rights, as well as your Administration's refusal to invest adequately in the American workforce and economy, we will oppose this agreement when it comes to the floor of the House." Smith and his co-chairs go on to cite concerns voiced at the Workers Rights Board hearing by local outsourced workers and social service providers who testified about challenges finding substitute living-wage jobs, affordable and relevant retraining, and avoiding joining a global "permanent underclass of workers." Smith and colleagues assert that "trade agreements must be a tool for lifting workers abroad out of poverty, provide them the opportunity they so desperately need and eventually move them into a larger global middle class."
DBM janitors voted 24 to 5 to defend union rights to bargain for living wages and affordable healthcare with SEIU 6. After a spirited march and rally around downtown Tacoma commercial buildings during work-time, building managers and janitor contractors asked for peace. The contractor agreed to be neutral during the union vote (a pledge that under 5% of all US bosses make) and then set dates to negotiate immediately after (another rare event). Almost all commercial janitors in Tacoma do not make a living wage and do not have affordable healthcare, having to work 3 jobs to survive.
The Bush Administration has withdrawn their attempt to fire Veterans Hospital (VA) healthcare union leader Barbara Phinney of AFGE 3197, after JwJ featured her story to 5000 peace activists at a Seattle rally to "Bring the Troops Home." When Barbara spoke out about Bush's cuts to veterans' healthcare, the Bush Administration retaliated, attempting to fire her under the Hatch Act. This was part of a synchronized union-busting attack on over 20 AFGE leaders nationwide in the lead up to Bush's "NSPS" proposal to strip federal workers of union and other basic rights during the winter. At the Seattle VA, administrators broadcast the retaliation to try to cast a chill against workplace organizing for patient care and worker rights. While we have yet to defeat NSPS, this victory emboldens VA workers to see that unity and exposing injustice can overcome boss retaliation.
On the eve of a Kentucky JwJ Workers Rights Board hearing near Taco Bell's corporate headquarters and after a multi-year struggle, numerous JwJ protests at and inside North Sound (especially Bellingham) Taco Bell stores, and a national campaign capturing the inspiration and activism of hundreds of economic justice organizations including scores of local JwJ coalitions and sister student SLAP chapters, Taco Bell said "UNCLE." Yum Brands (the parent of Taco Bell and the largest restaurant company in the world) has agreed to increase the amount it pays for tomatoes by a penny per pound, with the increase to go directly to workers' wages. Yum Brands has said it will also help the farmworkers' efforts to improve working and living conditions. This penny-per-pound increase will be the workers' first wage increase since 1978.
Some St. Joe's workers are homeless, cannot afford their own healthcare, and earn poverty wages despite years of loyal service. That's about to change when the new union contract (with SEIU 1199NW) goes into effect this month. Despite a management culture of racism and divisive boss tactics, St. Joe's workers united and sought support from JwJ Pierce County activists to expose this plantation operation with street theater, life-size puppets, and a special May 1st St. Joseph's Day of the Worker celebration. Just before these activities, management improved their bargaining proposals and came to terms. Now, we enter a new phase to help change a management culture that should reflect the values of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the worker. Many organizations and leaders contributed to this victory including the Tacoma Mayor Baarsma.
At a LELO (Legacy of Equality Leadership & Organizing) forum in Seattle's Central District for which JwJ helped mobilize, Seattle Housing Authority officials publicly committed that 100% of the new hires will be low income residents at several public housing projects. The SHA has also pledged that the new hires will be given skill training to improve future job prospects. The local hiring history on past SHA projects has been spotty at best and this understanding marks a new turn in relations between SHA, LELO, and the community.
Kudos go to the mostly immigrant production and repair workers at Alan Ritchey Inc. facility in Auburn and Teamsters 117 organizers Kathryn Akeah (also JwJ Treasurer) and Brenda Wiest for winning union recognition in a 68 to 20 vote, despite the attempted mental terrorism of nationally notorious anti-union firm Jackson Lewis. Alan Ritchey Inc. is a contractor for the US Postal Service with locations around the U.S. They perform services for the USPS under the requirements of the Service Contract Act which requires that they pay a prevailing wage, but does not require that they treat their employees with dignity and respect. "The workers grew ever more united while Alan Ritchey Inc. hired Jackson Lewis, ratcheted up the workplace tension with stressful captive audience meetings, regular firings, and messages of despair and threats," said Kathryn. We anticipate that these new members of Teamsters 117 will need broader community support as they begin their bargaining campaign to win respect and dignity on the job. Stay tuned for upcoming support actions.
Please support WA State JwJ!
|
|
|
|
