Indiana beats "Right to Work" (for now); struggle continues across country
Across the country, the corporate-driven campaign against workers and communities is meeting stiff and growing resistance. Republican lawmakers are attacking workers as political payback to the Wall Street and Corporate CEOs that financed their elections – the very people that created the economic crisis in the first place. JwJ activists will not let them continue to amass record cash reserves and bonuses while leaving the rest of us in a permanent “jobless recovery.” 
Jobs with Justice coalitions have been mobilizing in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. At this writing, Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin and Indiana are boycotting their legislative sessions, to prevent radical undermining of worker rights.
In Indiana, JwJ activists led a sit-in Tuesday. On Wednesday, the 3rd straight day of rallies, JwJ members were among 10,000 supporters who packed the halls of government. “Hall of Fame’ banners, featuring House Democrats that have boycotted the session in protest, were dropped from balconies, followed by “Hall of Shame” banners listing the anti-worker bills.
Two of the 11 anti-worker bills have been killed (for now). Unfortunately, Gov. Mitch Daniels just signed into law a plan to reduce unemployment benefits by 25% -- but give tax breaks to businesses.
Ohio JwJ activists were among the crowd that swamped the statehouse two weeks in a row. Tuesday, JwJ helped coordinate student groups; GESO, Free the Planet, Defend Ohio, and Ohio Student Environmental Coalition.
JwJ and allies are organizing support rallies across the country, e.g.:
In Boston, over 2000 people mobilized in solidarity with Wisconsin yesterday.
Wednesday in Washington, DC, JwJ helped mobilize 1,000 people for the “We Are One” rally in front of the Wisconsin Governor’s DC office. Workers, students, immigrant rights activists, community leaders, and individual activists gathered in solidarity with Wisconsin workers and all who are under attack by governors and state legislatures.
Chicago JwJ and the Chicago Federation of Labor sent 2 busloads of people to Madison on Monday.
See a sampling of photos from protests: here, here, here
The corporate-funded effort to undermine worker justice is long-term. Our mobilization must continue and grow. Get involved:
- Join the “Save the American Dream” day of action, Saturday, February 26, led by Move-On and sponsored by JwJ and other groups.
- Get your friends to sign up for the JwJ “I’ll Be There” pledge
- Plan a solidarity action and let us know at Naomi@jwj.org .
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