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Action and Results are what Jobs with Justice Delivers
Jobs with Justice has put together a program to focus on immigrant workers rights as one of the main priorities for 2003. Today's workforce is at a crossroads in what the future holds for our families and us. Especially, immigrant workers who are most vulnerable in today's workplace. Not only are workers of color the lowest paid workers on average, but now have to carry the burden of being harassed and intimidated by employers. We are being used as scapegoats and labeled as anti-American. This wedge issue is the employer's tool to keep wages, benefits and working conditions of all workers to a minimum. Companies that divide us, interfere with our right to organize, and send our jobs to sweatshops are driving the American economy into a tailspin. We can't deny that the economy is at an all time low, but many noted authorities have suggested that the best solution to boosting the economy is to create living wage jobs. Workers are a company's most valuable resource and should be paid accordingly and have the right to a voice at work, regardless of immigration status. JWJ is constantly being called upon to assist Washington State workers in such need.
Recently at Seattle downtown office buildings, a major building owner was denying janitors quality health benefits and a living wage. JwJ community activists organized peaceful visits to high-rent paying tenants to alert them about the plight of these workers and the service they provide. The JWJ action demonstrated the true meaning of community involvement in forcing corporate accountability, since the building owner pledged to match union scale and benefits while 2500 union janitors recently approved a new 5-year contract with wage increases through the life of the contract totaling $1.20/hour. Health benefits remained intact with a $2.10/hour contribution over 5 years. The struggle that brought these workers together paid off in gaining a respectable contract and was truly an effort by all coalitions interested in workers justice.
In May, JWJ assisted the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in an organizing campaign at Eldorado Stone Co. in Carnation, WA. The workers at Eldorado Stone are mostly Latino and work under sweatshop conditions. Management blatantly coerced and threatened the workers during a vote to form a union. JWJ quickly mobilized a rally at a critical juncture in the drive, putting together a contingent of community and political officials to confront Eldorado Stone management about violating worker rights. Although management's retaliation blocked the unionizing drive, many publicly pro-union workers saw the community rise to their support and emboldened them to pursue Labor Board charges against management.
JWJ nationally is focusing on three main campaigns: 1) Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, which commences on September 20th 2) Protests against the corporate plan to enact the next "NAFTA on steroids" trade agreement called FTAA that culminates in November, 3) National Right to Organize Day on December 10th. Locally JWJ is looking forward to our annual Honoree dinner on October 25, 2003. We will be celebrating the achievements of Sergio Salinas and the Justice for Janitors campaign, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett and the MLK Celebration Committee, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union for making a difference in the lives of working people in Washington State. Come join us in honoring these heroes and get involved in a social movement that can really make a difference.
Join Jobs With Justice! Take the I'll Be There Pledge! Support the struggles of your community! JwJ has organizing committees in King, Pierce and Whatcom counties and 47 autonomous chapters nation-wide. Log on to our Website: www.wsjwj.org, or call our office: (206) 441-4969 or email wsjwj@igc.org.
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