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By Camilo Viveiros, on September 27th, 2010
Central Falls, Rhode Island is the smallest city in the smallest state in the U.S. Central Falls is also the poorest and the most densely populated city in Rhode Island, which has the third highest unemployment rate in the nation. As of the 2000 Census, fifty percent of Central Falls’ residents identify as Latino or Hispanic. Lately, this small, poor, community with the highest percentage of Latino residents anywhere in the state has been ground zero for economic justice struggles in Rhode Island.
In February, 2010, the Central Falls became the center of the national debate around school reform when the school district fired every teacher and all administrative staff in the district. The state was instituting a plan endorsed by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who applauded the decision to fire the teachers. 93 individuals were fired including teachers, counselors, physical education teachers, assistant principals, the school psychologist, reading specialists, and the principal. Under the turnaround model, no more than 50% of faculty and staff could be rehired. George Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO called the firings “immoral, illegal, unjust, irresponsible, disgraceful and disrespectful.” Mark Bostic of the National American Federation of Teachers stated
Continue reading Central Falls, RI: “School Reform” Was Just the Beginning
By Camilo Viveiros, on March 3rd, 2010
 On November 7, 2009, the Westin Providence fired three housemen, Alfred Palumbo, Mike Crone, and Jose Minaya, in retaliation for their legally protected union protest. The Westin refused appeals from the Union and community leaders to reinstate them. The workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 217, filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which investigated the case for four months.
On Wednesday, February 24, the NLRB Regional Director in Boston gave notice that the Federal Government has authorized a civil prosecution of the Westin Providence for the firings.
In order to avoid further prosecution, the Westin Providence suddenly offered all three workers reinstatement at the hotel to their previous jobs, pay and benefits. Once the NLRB authorizes a complaint, the Westin will be required to make all three workers whole for lost back pay and benefits, and post an official Federal notice throughout the Hotel in order to avoid a trial before a federal labor judge.
Mike Crone was a houseman at the Westin for 12 years before he was terminated by the
Continue reading Fired Westin Workers in Providence, RI Win Their Jobs Back After NLRB Action
By Camilo Viveiros, on February 12th, 2010
Members of community, labor, religious and student organizations gathered on February 11th to hear from and support workers facing exploitation at the hands of Gillette stadium’s contractor and the outrageous tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in ambushing dozens of immigrant workers.
Earlier this year ICE detained 58 workers who were on their way to work at Gillette Stadium at a roadblock in Foxboro. The workers were hired to shovel snow from the stadium seats in preparation for a New England Patriots game. These hardworking Rhode Islanders now face deportation.
This ICE attack is the most high-profile act by ICE against Rhode Islanders since the raids at six RI courthouses in 2008. It is the largest number of Rhode Islanders detained by ICE since the 2007 raid at the Bianco Factory in New Bedford.
While ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have tried to claim that the raid was directed toward people with criminal records, the vast majority of people arrested had no record whatsoever, and were unknown to ICE at the time of their arrest. According to Juan Garcia of the Immigrants in Action Committee, “This action shows that ICE is not focused on going after people with records
Continue reading RI JwJ Demands Justice for Gillette Stadium Workers Ambushed by ICE
By Camilo Viveiros, on December 7th, 2009
 On December 2, RI Jobs with Justice joined a demonstration organized by member organization American Friends Service Committee to oppose the escalation of troops in Afghanistan and to demand Health Care NOT Warfare and Good Jobs not Bombs! RI JwJ highlighted how we can’t afford the financial or human costs of war in Afghanistan and called for resources for job creation, green jobs, and community needs.
The Providence Journal has video from the rally here.
Camilo Viveiros is Director of Rhode Island Jobs with Justice.
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