From September 24th through October 1st, activists and workers in dozens of cities took to the streets as part of Jobs with Justice’s week of action demanding economic recovery for working America. We covered a lot of ground, connected some dots along the way, and observed the 1 year anniversary of Bush’s TARP (bailout) program the same way we welcomed it – on the streets and in opposition to corporate welfare. 

With a national economy that continues to lose jobs, more and more homes being lost, and a debate around health care going nowhere unless we step up to the plate and mobilize for it, Jobs with Justice coalitions across the country brought diverse communities together to challenge those most responsible for the current crisis.

U.S. September Job Cuts Exceeded Forecasts, Unemployment Rose – and many believe that we’ll easily pass the 10% figure officially in terms of unemployment (which some argue puts us closer to 20% unemployment).  A report by the AFL-CIO found that workers under 35 are worse off than they were

Continue reading Shifting Gears: On the Offensive for Jobs, Health Care, and Housing

The figures are staggering.  Unemployment is at 9.1 percent and new unemployment claims continue to increase.  By one measure, real unemployment and underemployment are double the official rate.  According to the Labor Department, job seekers now outnumber openings by six to one!

That’s why more than 1,000 union members, unemployed workers, students, clergy and community leaders came together for an October 1 march and rally to highlight the growing jobs crisis.  The group protested on the Boston Common, at Verizon’s New England headquarters and at the Hyatt Regency Hotel against a corporate agenda that has left far too many workers behind. 

Eighty labor and community groups sponsored the march and rally.  Accompanying the march was the IBEW Local 103 One Hundred and Third Drum and Bagpipe Band and the Somerville Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Marching Band. 

The action also focused on how big banks have misused our tax dollars.  So far, few of the hundreds of billions in taxpayer money that

Continue reading Boston Workers March for an Economy That Works for Everyone

More than 200 people gathered in front of Wells Fargo in downtown Chicago yesterday to hold them accountable for their corporate crimes.  Protestors demanded justice for the workers at Quad City Die Casting and an end to evictions and foreclosures. 

Quad City Die Casting was forced to close after Wells Fargo cut off operating credit to the company.  Since the plant closure, UE Local 1174 has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board because Wells Fargo has denied payment of $200,000 in back-pay and benefits owed to workers.  Deb Johann of UE Local 1174 said:

“Wells Fargo first ends financing, forcing our company to close, and now they won’t pay us what we are owed by law. To us, our vacation, insurance and wages mean everything to our families. But to Wells Fargo it’s pennies, not even a blip in their billions. Yet they choose to cheat us out of what we have earned. And to think we helped them out when they needed it!”

Protestors also

Continue reading Chicago Activists Protest at Wells Fargo