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By Chris Hicks, on February 23rd, 2011
On February 7th, chants were ringing out in front of John Wilson Building. “WalMart better come correct! DC residents deserve respect!” and “1 2 3 4, DC residents deserve more, 5 6 7 8, WalMart must negotiate!” were crowd favorites, even pulling in passer-bys.
Respect DC, a coalition of community, faith, environmental, student and labor organizations, was at the John Wilson building after meeting with DC Council Members and their staffs. Their message was simple: DC demands fair wages, fair treatment and community benefits from the world’s largest employer as it plans to open four locations in the District.
Speeches were delivered from local business owners, community members and faith leaders. All aimed at one thing: WalMart must respect DC. WalMart is making big promises to bring jobs and tax revenue, but has a history of pulling communities apart with low paying jobs and setting a low standard for all other retailers.
We want our elected leaders to consider the long-term impact of WalMart and what it really means to have 4 new stores open in DC. WalMart has a proven track record, and we don’t think it fits our community or reflects its values – and we
Continue reading DC Residents to WalMart, “Respect is not Negotiable”
By jwjnational, on February 22nd, 2011
In neighborhoods around the country, the buzz is at full blast as Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer (and one of the largest employers) aims to expand into urban communities. This is not happening in isolation, but during one of the biggest economic crises in recent history. Walmart’s new attempts at expansion center around one question: Who determines the future of work in America? Corporate CEOs like Walmart’s Mike Duke, or working people.
In partnership with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, Jobs with Justice coalitions in DC, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, and elsewhere have launched a new campaign to challenge Walmart’s expansion and demand high quality jobs, the rights of Walmart Associates to organize a union without intimidation or interference from the company, and the sustainable economic recovery of our communities.
Having saturated all of its other markets, Walmart has no where else to go but to the cities—giving urban communities new leverage over the multi-national corporation based in Arkansas. Since Walmart is the largest private employer in the U.S., and the largest retailer in the world, Walmart associates winning the right to organize freely and fairly would have an enormous impact
Continue reading JwJ Renews Fight to Hold Walmart Accountable to Our Communities
By Kristi Barnes, on September 8th, 2009
The fact that our government often subsidizes the profits of big corporations instead of investing in our communities isn’t new, but it’s time that we say enough is enough. How are we going to tackle the tough problems facing our country when our state and local governments—often the places where we can make the greatest impact—are unaccountable and unable to implement the change we need?
New York City’s government frequently greenlights massive redevelopment projects that rely on millions of taxpayer dollars. In one of the most expensive cities in the world, projects that reshape entire neighborhoods get approved without considering if they will meet community needs, or deliver good jobs and affordable housing.
New York Jobs with Justice was part of a coalition that fought back during the rezoning of Coney Island to win significant community benefits, including 35% affordable housing units, money to renovate the local hospital’s emergency room, land for a new school, and much more.
Right now, the Kingsbridge Armory project in the Bronx will saddle a community desperate for good jobs with a shopping complex that will create 1,200 permanent, primarily poverty-wage, part-time, no-benefit retail jobs unless NYC residents take action. The New York
Continue reading Fighting for Accountable Development in NYC & Beyond
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