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By Ricardo Valadez, on May 27th, 2010 Opinion
President Obama announced a decision to send 1,200 National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border. Mr. Obama is trying to appeal to enforcement-first and enforcement-only activists in and out of Congress with this escalation, but Republicans continue to distance themselves from any measures that include a path to citizenship for those in the US without documents.
The President has also continued to expand Bush-era policies that promote or force cooperation between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement, like Secure Communities and 287(g). Obama has offered mild criticism to Arizona’s S.B.1070, which forces police departments (often against their will) to demand papers from anyone who appears illegal, but his Administration’s own policies are moving the whole country in that direction. While DC Jobs with Justice was able to stop Secure Communities from coming to the nation’s capitol, efforts in other places, like San Francisco, have encountered roadblocks in fighting the program.
By expanding enforcement, the President opens the door to laws like Arizona’s and copy-cat bills across the
Continue reading A Climate of Fear
By Ricardo Valadez, on March 26th, 2010 The AFL-CIO and Jobs with Justice went another round against big banks this week.
Jobs with Justice mobilized this week with the AFL-CIO’s “Make Wall Street Pay” week of action. Building on our week of action to save jobs earlier this month, JwJ Coalitions participated in actions in at least 12 cities this week. Some 200 actions are reported nationwide, and the profile of these actions is rising as well, as this week’s New York Times article illustrates.
In Washington, DC the Billionaires for Bailouts asked lunchtime passersby to spare a few million dollars for their bonuses. Actions are escalating in several cities as anger mounts against CEO pay and consumer gouging. Over 1,000 people rallied at a Bank of America branch in Philadelphia, with 50 entering the bank and disrupting business. In Orlando, nearly 100 blocked the Bank of America branch, and 12 withdrew their money from the bank.
This is a critical time for action against Wall Street. After their reckless speculation nearly collapsed our economy they received tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer support. A year and a half later, they are using that money to pay near record CEO bonuses, charge high
Continue reading Pressure Mounting Against Wall Street
By Ricardo Valadez, on January 15th, 2010 National Workers’ Rights Board hearing exposes wage theft, safety violations; highlights need for collective bargaining for car wash workers in Los Angeles, Nation.
 Yesterday at Los Angeles City Hall, members of the Jobs with Justice National Workers’ Rights Board (WRB) were joined by other distinguished guests to hear gripping testimony about the hazards facing car wash workers. Over 250 union and community members packed the room to overflowing to hear from workers, consumer, health and safety advocates, and United Steel Workers President Leo Gerard.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the panel and the audience, thanking the WRBs’ leadership for protecting workers, and praising the courage of the workers who are speaking out. The Mayor pledged to remain engaged in this fight. “We look forward to reviewing the recommendations from this board for addressing abuses in this industry,” said the Mayor. “It’s important the public understand what’s going on at car washes in Los Angeles.”
Car wash workers reported being paid less than half of California’s $8 an hour minimum wage and some reported they are
Continue reading Cardinal, Los Angeles Mayor Hear from Car Wash Workers
By Ricardo Valadez, on September 11th, 2009 Yesterday, hundreds of community, faith, student leaders came to Washington to tell their elected officials why they support the Employee Free Choice Act. Jobs with Justice activists from Pennsylvania, Missouri, Maine and Indiana joined others in a jam-packed 36 hours of training and lobbying.
 Participants were welcomed Wednesday night by outgoing AFL-CIO president John Sweeney. On Thursday morning, Senator Harkin addressed the crowd with heart-felt remarks about his family’s life-long commitment to unions and workers’ issues. Harkin, who was just named Chairman of the House Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, brought a bittersweet message to the activists. “We will win strong labor law reform,” Harkin said, “but it may not happen this year.” Senator Harkin explained that health care would likely dominate the legislative calendar for the remainder of the year, but assured folks that the Employee Free Choice Act would immediately follow.
With the appointment of Harkin to lead the HELP Committee and President Obama’s Labor Day address reconfirming his support for the Bill, activists were energized to go out and meet with their Senators and Congressional Representatives. You can see
Continue reading Lobby Day for the Employee Free Choice Act
By Ricardo Valadez, on August 10th, 2009  Yet another example of why working people need the Employee Free Choice Act. In 2006, warehouse workers in Lancaster, CA decided they wanted to form a union. Despite the company’s attacks, a majority the of the workers voted to join ILWU Local 26 in March 2008. But more than a year later, the workers have not been able to negotiate a first contract.
Today, as these workers continue fighting for a contract, Jobs with Justice is releasing a report to tell their story. Rite Aid, Oliver J. Bell & Associates, and the Case for the Employee Free Choice Act documents how management employed union-busters and violated labor laws. Last year, the National Labor Relations Board was prepared to charge Rite Aid with 49 unfair labor practice charges before the cases were settled out of court.
Unfortunately, the problems faced by workers when they formed a union at Rite Aid are all-too-common. Profitable and unaccountable anti-union firms, like Oliver Bell and Associates, show companies how to manipulate and flout labor laws with little or no consequences.
The Employee Free Choice Act could make a huge difference in cases like
Continue reading Activists Hit Rite Aid Today in Support of Warehouse Workers, Employee Free Choice Act
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