As trade negotiators prepared to hammer out what’s known as the “NAFTA of the Pacific”, Chicago Jobs with Justice joined a Labor Day rally to demand: ”Fair Deal or No Deal!” 

Hundreds heard speakers from labor, farmer, community, environmental and fair trade groups then marched around the Chicago hotel where delegates are working on what is officially called the Trans Pacific Free Trade Agreement.  Negotiations include the United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Australia, Peru and Chile

“The Labor Day is not just a day to barbecue, but to fight,” said Jim Robinson, director of United Steelworkers District 7.  Local unions, community organizations and activists rallied nearly 500 people on Labor Day to call for a fair trade deal or no deal at all.

Citizens Trade Campaign argues there’s not evidence such an agreement could significantly incrfease exports, as the US already has so-called ‘free trade’ agreements with half the participating countries – 80% of the GDP of those economies.

Negotiations are scheduled to continue through mid-September.

Wall Street recklessness and corporate greed have pushed millions of Americans out of jobs and homes, while concentrating record profits and bonuses for the very top – megawealth that gives them a stranglehold on both our economy and democracy.  They want to redefine “normal” as a permanent “jobless recovery” with high profits for them and high unemployment and insecurity for the rest of us.  One US Senator went so far as to say the banks “own” Congress.  Breaking the grip of Wall Street is a necessary part of the fight for Full and Fair Employment and a New Economy.  

 Tax Wall Street to Heal Main Street

 As a national network, JwJ has been pushing for a Financial Speculation Tax (FST, aka financial transactions tax or ‘sales tax on Wall Street’) ever since our “peoples bailout” agenda in late 2008.  It has been part of efforts to make Wall Street pay for wrecking the economy,  pass bank reform and end the jobs crisis, supported by multiple coalition partners.  An FST

Continue reading Tax Wall Street to Heal Main Street

 The Ohio state fairgrounds will be the scene of the Stand Up Ohio Festival on Saturday,  August 20.

The Noon-dusk festival features information and inspiration from a wide cross section of grassroots groups plus musical acts including:

JwJ coalitions in Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland have been mobilizing as part of the Stand Up Ohio coalition, helping to spark the movement resisting the Kasich/Wall Street agenda.

JwJ and its partners know it’s time to demand Full and Fair Employment and a new economy that puts people and planet before profits.  In addition to supporting the strikes at Verizon and Rite Aid, JwJ activists in Ohio are ramping up outreach and education around Issue 2 (repealing the anti-worker SB5), voter suppression, community benefits agreements and the need to rein in Wall Street speculators.

To read mainstream media’s celebration of official unemployment rate dropping from 8.9% to 8.8%, you wouldn’t know that the jobs deficit remains dire for millions of Americans (not coincidentally,  corporate profits are going through the roof).

Let’s look through the hoopla:

Democratic lawmakers say their effort, and the unprecedented grassroots mobilization, prevented serious undermining of community and worker standards, but the corporate agenda is not going away. 

Continue reading Concessions won; Indiana lawmakers end boycott

Nearly 10,000 people rallied in 14 cities across Ohio, standing up for Good Jobs and Strong Communities.  Jobs with Justice coalitions were lead organizers of rallies outside of Cleveland and Columbus, and mobilized to actions near Toledo, Dayton, Mansfield, Akron and Cincinnati.

In Cleveland, more than 1,500 persons withstood the rain to hear JwJ Religious co-chair Rev. Bob Strommen denounce the greed of “Big Money” and call us to live by shared values.  Teachers, firefighters and a small businessman and local Catholic priest also spoke against the threats of Governor Kasich’s slash and burn budget and elimination of collective bargaining rights.

After the formal program ended, hundreds of people stuck around in the pouring rain lining Strongsville’s Royalton and Pearl Roads, waving signs and chanting as cars honked horns in support.

Columbus JwJ organized a rally in Gov. Kasich’s home suburb of Westerville.  More than 1,500 persons learned more about the causes of the OH budget shortfall (hint:  it was not workers) and marched to Kasich’s home.

Continue reading Ohio Stands for Good Jobs, Strong Communities

The same Wall Street and corporate CEOs that created the economic crisis which caused budget shortfalls are financing the attack on workers and the middle class in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere.

Wall Street recklessness and corporate greed wrecked our economy, eliminated millions of jobs, damaged our communities and forced millions from their homes.  The corporate criminals got bailed out and are back to record profits, record cash reserves and big bonuses as usual.  Jobs with Justice coalitions and allies won some valuable bank reforms in the first round, but the struggle continues.  Don’t let them get away with corporate crime!

Wall Street and the US Chamber of Commerce are quietly trying to undermine any effort to hold banksters accountable for their massive fraud.  They are trying to

Continue reading Oscar Winner Asks: Are banks “too big to jail”?

Despite a near news blackout from corporate media, the movement to save worker rights against corporate greed is gaining support — in Wisonsin, Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere.

Political leaders in Wisconsin had reportedly called for state police to clear everyone out of the capitol building, but police union leaders resisted, and even asked officers to join the sleep-in.  Last night, Madison police allowed protesters to stay in the Capitol building.  More rallies are planned all week.

Indiana community, religious, student and labor activists are mobilizing all week, in Indianapolis, anticipating another attempt to push extreme anti-worker measures thorugh a key committee.  A massive mobilization is planned for March 10.  Sign up here to help.

Ohio groups are converging again on Columbus on Tuesday, March 1 for a similar battle.  OnMarch 15, there will be rallies and events in more than a dozen cities across the state.

Many student groups around the country are staging rallies on Wed, March 2.

Momentum is turning away from the corporate CEO front groups, as more Americans recognize that “budget crises” are simply are simply being

Continue reading Protesters Stay in WI State House, despite orders to clear building