When you go to the polls on February 2, 2010 - Think Before You Ink!

MO JwJ Hiring Operations Coordinator

Posted January 28, 2010

Missouri JwJ is hiring an Operations Coordinator. This position is based in either the St. Louis or Kansas City office of Missouri JwJ.Deadline for applications is Friday, February 26, 2010.

Throughout Missouri, grassroots community, faith and labor leaders have come together to form a powerful statewide Missouri Jobs with Justice organization. This joins the 10-year old St. Louis Jobs with Justice coalition with an energized new Kansas City Jobs with Justice coalition and links both with leaders from throughout Missouri in a Statewide Executive Board.

The statewide organization is hiring an Operations Coordinator.

Click here to download a fuller description and directions on how to apply. All applications should include resume, cover letter, writing sample and at least two job references via email to hiring@mojwj.org.

Media and right wing spinners are holding down health reform while trying to claim it's dead.  Health reform efforts in Congress are ALIVE! Congressional leaders and President Obama are looking for guidance from voters to inform what happens next.  If we do nothing, they may chose to do nothing.

Click HERE to take 4 critical actions TODAY!

Register Today for 2010 Building JwJ Leadership Program

There will be two sessions this year.
 

Spring session will be Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 14 in Kansas City, MO.

Fall session will be Friday, September 10 through Sunday, September 12 in St. Louis, MO.

REGISTER TODAY

Missouri's Building Jobs with Justice Leadership Development Program provides leaders insight into organizing's key concepts and skills. Community organizing principles, as first articulated and carried out by Saul Alinsky in Chicago, encouraged leaders to act together to create powerful organizations and win on issues they care about. Registration deadline for the spring session is February 12, 2010. Registration forms can be submitted online HERE  or mailed to the JwJ office using the form in the brochure HERE.

Participants move through a series of sessions including such topics as: building relationships, understanding power, the meaning and understanding of self interest, issues and actions, and creating winnable campaigns. This training builds a stronger, more powerful movement for Jobs with Justice in Missouri.

Full Tuition is $500 per participant, which includes lodging, refreshments and materials. The discount for JwJ Member Organizations and Sustaining Individual Members (who give to JwJ monthly on their credit or debit card, sign up to be a Sustainer) and their members is $250. Those who cannot afford tuition out-of-pocket can work with JwJ staff to fundraise their tution. Details on the "fundraising option" are in the program's brochure. You can register and make a payment online. All questions should be directed to Jennifer Rafanan, 314-644-0466, ext 15.

Health Care in Our Christmas Stockings! Thank Sen. McCaskill

Then get ready to push in Conference Committee!

Deliver Health Care Day of Action

Posted October 22, 2009

Throughout the State, Jobs with Justice leaders and our allies contributed mightily to the National Health Care Day of Action. Designed to hold Congress’ feet to the fire to “Deliver on health care reform” rush hour, “Honk for Health Care” actions in St. Louis, Kansas City and even Ellington Missouri helped draw attention to the issue and increase public support for health care reform.

To find out more about these statewide actions visit St. Louis Jobs with Justice and Kansas City Area Jobs with Justice

Missouri JwJ Workers' Rights Board releases a report on the American Red Cross

Posted October 8, 2009

On Thursday, Oct. 8 We told the American Red Cross "Our blood supply is too important to cut corners!"

Missouri Jobs with Justice Workers' Rights Board released a national report today that raises concerns about donor safety and the security of the nation's blood supply at the country's largest supplier of blood and blood products. Members of the Workers' Rights Board also hand delivered the reports to the St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross.

TAKE ACTION NOW! You too can tell the American Red Cross "Our blood supply is too important to cut corners!"

The investigative report, which also details the treatment of Red Cross employees and the impact this has on the organization's work, underscores the need for a new round of reforms at the troubled organization.

“Few national institutions have a prouder name or a more storied history than the American Red Cross,” writes Philip Dine, an award-winning labor reporter and the author of the report. “But many frontline blood workers see the Red Cross as an employer that is increasingly determined to cut expenses and increase revenues, even to the potential detriment of donor safety, employee wellbeing and the security of the nation’s blood supply.”

Speakers at the event include State Representative, the Reverend James Morris, Missouri House District 58, Red Cross Workers James Plotts and Mary McDougall, and Joan Suarez, Missouri Jobs with Justice Workers' Rights Board Chair.

MO JwJ Leaders Head to DC for Employee Free Choice

Posted September 14, 2009

The Missouri delegation includes: Jerry King, St. Louis Workers Rights Board and real estate developer; Christine Grande, Human Rights Office of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph; Rhonda Perry, a family farmer from Howard County and the Missouri Rural Crisis Center as well as JwJ State Board member; and Linda Meyer, former reporter of the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis. Meyer was part of leading a union organizing campaign at the Suburban Journals that illustrates perfectly the need for the Employee Free Choice Act.

"Working people should have power to establish equal footing in their place of employment, in order to pursue a better quality of life, liberty, and happiness," says Reverend Walter Maddox, Lane Tabernacle CME Church who visited earlier this year with Congressmen William "Lacy" Clay about supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. "If we do not fight for working families, we will lose that part of the American Dream."

Jobs with Justice celebrates Labor Day by focusing on Health Care.

Posted September 10, 2009

On Monday, September 7 Jobs with Justice Leaders and Staff participated in Labor Day celebrations across the state.JwJ's top priority for this year’s celebration was to help raise the visibility of health care as a key issue for working people. Leaders and Staff worked hard canvassing the crowd in St. Louis and organizing a health care reform “yard sign-making” table for other participants in the parade in Kansas City. CLICK HERE and HERE to find out how our visibility work helped the Labor Day coverage include a critical policy issue of the day .

Jobs with Justice also sends a great THANKS TO OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT for their hard work organizing the parade and being welcoming to allies like JwJ as part of their festivities.

KC JwJ organizes powerful support for health care reform at McCaskill forum

Posted August 27, 2009

Congratulations to KC JwJ’s leaders and allies for their powerful organizing in support of health care reform. The hard work showed real results at Monday’s forum with Senator Claire McCaskill where the crowd overwhelming supported reform that brings quality, affordable health care with a public option to all Missourians.

At right: Kansas City JwJ OC Activist Molly Madden distributes JwJ “Health Care for All” stickers in the crowd at McCaskill’s listening forum on health care this week

READ MORE

Kansas City Jobs with Justice is Hiring

Posted August 17, 2009

Throughout Missouri, grassroots community, faith and labor leaders have come together to form a powerful statewide Missouri Jobs with Justice organization. This joins the 9-year old St. Louis Jobs with Justice coalition with an energized new Kansas City Jobs with Justice coalition and links both with leaders from throughout Missouri in a statewide steering committee.

This new statewide organization is hiring a new organizer for its Kansas City JwJ Coalition.

Click here to download a fuller description and directions on how to apply. All applications should include resume, cover letter, writing sample and at least two job references.

Throughout this search process we are fortunate to have a talented interim KC JwJ Organizer on board in JENNIFER GORMLEY. She can be reached at 816.805.2385 and jennifer@kcjwj.org.

JwJ Speaking to Congressional Leaders for “Health Care Reform Now”

Posted August 10, 2009

The Rev. Ted Schroeder of the KC JwJ Organizing Committee was just one of the KC JwJ leaders at Saturday’s coffee with Congressman Cleaver. The Rev. Schroeder and others were willing to brave meetings that health care reform opponents are organizing to disrupt. “The stories of real Kansas Citians who need a better health care system are too important and need to be heard,” said the Rev. Schroeder.

For more information about Health Care Reform click HERE

St Louis Casino workers bring in their own “Lethal Weapon”

Posted on August 10, 2009

On Sunday, August 9 workers from the Lumiere and President Casinos had reason to stand tall as they learned the National Labor Relations board handed down a scathing ruling against their employer, Pinnacle Entertainment. The rulings call on Pinnacle to finally begin bargaining with the workers’ union, Workers United Local 74. The workers and their union had an “all star” cast of support on hand, including actor Danny Glover (pictured here). Also on hand were members of the St. Louis Workers Rights board, elected officials and area union leaders from throughout the labor movement.

Tell Congress Today: We Need Health Care Reform Now!

Posted July 28, 2009

Working people have been fighting to fix our healthcare system and building momentum for health reform THIS YEAR.

Opponents of health care reform—including the insurance industry—are spending $1.4 million a day to defeat reform.

Opponents are calling Congress in very large numbers trying to shut down reform efforts.

We must get health reform bills through both the House and Senate as early as possible, and Congress must feel increased pressure this week. Current drafts of health care bills will make quality health care more affordable for everyone, and give you choices between private insurance and public plans. To understand what’s in the bills, see WHAT’s AT STAKE

Beginning Tuesday, July 28, we need YOU to make consistent, clear calls to your US Representative and Senators. Call toll free 800-828-0498. We need you to call even if you’ve called before or think you know their position. Tell them.

1. Your name, address and zip code

2. Congress must fix health care THIS YEAR. We need lower costs, more choices, and coverage you can count on.

3. (Briefly) why health care reform is critical for you and your community.

In addition, it’s time to make this personal. Send a fax or personalized email to your Senators and your Representative with the information above.

--Look up your US Representative Here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

--Senator Claire McCaskill

Email: use form at http://mccaskill.senate.gov/contact/

FAX (202) 228-6326

--Senator Kit Bond

Email: http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

Fax: Fax: 202-228-1333

THEN REPORT YOUR CALLS AND EMAILS TO amys@stl-jwj.org, so we can keep you updated about this critical fight.

Click HERE for more information and to find out what's at stake.

MISSOURI'S SERVERS GET A RAISE TOMORROW – THANKS TO YOU!

Posted July 23, 2009

Tomorrow the federal minimum wage is increasing to $7.25/hour. And thanks to Proposition B, passed overwhelming with your help in Missouri in 2006, waiters and waitresses around Missouri will also get a raise. Their minimum wage is 50% of Missouri's minimum wage for non-tipped workers.

This last legislative session Jobs with Justice and the waiters and waitresses of the "Save Our Tips" campaign (see picture at right) narrowly defeated state legislation that would have excluded waiters and waitresses from increases in the minimum wage. Because of that successful campaign nearly 60,000 waiters and waitresses will get a raise tomorrow.

But the Battle is Coming Again

Rep. Tim Jones (R-Eureka) vowed to re-introduce legislation to exclude tipped employees from future minimum wage increases – maybe even CUT their pay back to the federal minimum of $2.13/hour! With your help, JwJ and the waiters and waitresses of the "Save Our Tips" campaign will be ready to go BACK to the Capitol and defend their minimum wage.

Here's how you can help:

Donate just $20 today to help raise $2000 for a Missouri server lobby day to protecttheir wages when the attacks begin next session (or you can donate through our Facebook page)

Download a "tip card" to make sure your waiters and waitresses know they've gotten a raise - and they can defend that raise by going to www.SaveOurTips.org

Visit the Save Our Tips website for more information and to find out how you can continue to help.

Visit the Missouri Department of Labor for more information on tomorrow's minimum wage increase.

Rally with SEIU Local 1 for Declaration of Affordable Healthcare Now!

Posted July 15, 2009

On Wednesday, July 15 - We told Congress we need Affordable Healthcare NOW!

Members of Kansas City Jobs with Justice and SEIU Local 1 rallied outside of Blue Cross Blue Shield to demand that Congress act with passage of Affordable Healthcare For All.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and other stakeholders in the healthcare system will called on Congress to make healthcare more affordable, give people the freedom to choose their coverage, and offer the working people the same quality healthcare that members of Congress receive.

For more information please contact Aaron Jones

CWA Informational Picket

Posted July 7, 2009

On Tuesday, July 7 - We told AT&T to give workers and retirees a fair contract.

KC JwJ joined CWA members in an informational picket at AT&T in Independence, MO. CWA is fighting for a fair contract that respects retirees and protects health care for all workers’ families.

For more on this important fight, visit MO JwJ Member Organization CWA Local 6360 online.

June 17 Rally for the Employee Free Choice Act

Posted June 19, 2009

On Wednesday, June 17 - We told Elected officials To support the Employee Free Choice Act and help re-build our economy.

Kansas City Jobs with Justice and the Kansas City AFL-CIO, along with countless unions, community groups, activists and elected officials rallied on June 17 in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Almost 150 Jobs with Justice Activists and allies gathered in the parking lot of Home Depot to remind elected officials how critical the Employee Free Choice Act is to protecting the rights of workers and rebuilding our economy.

Hear a news report on the rally from Heartland Labor Forum on KKFI

Watch video of the Rally

ClickHere and Here for articles on the Rally

Learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act

You Did It!! Missouri JwJ members Saved Our Tips

Posted May 29, 2009

The waiters and waitresses in Missouri will NOT have to deal with a paycut during this economic crisis. Despite the best efforts of some Missouri legislators, the waiters and waitresses in Missouri united with their allies through Jobs with Justice and defeated Rep. Tim Jones' (R-Eureka) bill to weaken the minimum wage for tipped employees.

In 2006, 76.4% of Missouri voters passed Proposition B which increased the wage for tipped employees. The ballot initiative passed in every single Missouri county by 16 points or more. Since then, business interests and their allies in the legislators have tried to chip away at the minimum wage continually.

During the last 4 months of the legislative session you sent thousands of emails, made calls, and lobbied your legislators and they heard you loud and clear. Thanks to tremendous pressure the bill died in the Senate as the legislative session came to a close on May 15.

THEY'LL BE BACK AND WE'LL BE READY!

The restaurant industry and its lobbyists were clear that they are not done trying to pick the pockets of their waiters and waitresses. We expect to see another bill to undermine the tipped employee minimum wage next session so JwJ and its leaders will continue to strengthen our network of waiters, waitresses and supporters of working people throughout the state to protect FAIR WAGES FOR SERVERS.

Jan 23 Rally for State Health Programs and Jobs!

Posted January 26, 2009 at 2:45 pm

On Friday, January 23, We Told Congress--- To Pass Economic Recovery and protect state health programs and jobs!

Thanks to CWA 6355-the Missouri State Workers Union, Missouri Jobs with Justice, the Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery, and community groups we sent a strong message to Congress to act now. Almost 150 Jobs with Justice activists and allies demanded a federal bailout that puts people first and increases funding for state health programs, food stamps, our safety net and our public jobs! See press coverage of the event here.

Jan 7th Launch for Jobs and Economic Recovery Now

Posted January 26, 2009 at 2:30pm

On Wednesday, January 7th – Congress went back into session, and we took to the streets!

Missouri Jobs with Justice, along with Missouri ProVote, ACORN and countless unions, community groups, activists and elected officials rallied on Jan. 7th and called on Congress to quickly pass an Economic Recovery Package that will put people to work and lay the foundation for sustainable growth.

JwJ activists and allies sent a clear message to our elected officials in Congress.Stay tuned for more actions in the coming weeks as we fight to ensure that Congress puts the priorities of working families first as they address the economic crisis.

See press coverage of the event here

Kansas City to become the first city in Kansas to raise State minimum wage!

Posted July 24, 2008 at 7:00pm

On July 24, Greater Kansas City Jobs with Justice, teamed with the Kansas Action Network, won its first local victory when the Unified Government of Wyandotte County unanimously passed an ordinance raising the minimum wage for workers in Kansas City, KS who are excluded from federal minimum wage law. Current State law allows these excluded workers to be paid an absurdly low rate of $2.65/hr but with the passage of this ordinance, an estimated 2,300 workers in KCK will now get a raise to the federal level of $6.55/hr. The ordinance also mandates that the minimum wage remain matched to federal level in to the future.

A coalition of labor, faith and community groups including United Autoworkers Local 31, Tri-County Labor Council (AFL-CIO), Interfaith Worker Justice, and the Business and Professional Women of Kansas, worked with Jobs with Justice and KAN for 6 months lobbying commissioners, collecting petition signatures from KCK residents, and developing ordinance language. Greater Kansas City Jobs with Justice thanks our partners for all their great work in this campaign and will continue working with KAN to see that a statewide law is passed raising the wage for all of Kansas' lowest paid workers.

Raise the Wage Kansas is a campaign of the Kansas Action Network to raise the State's minimum wage. The Kansas wage, which has not changed since 1988, is the lowest of all states that have a minimum wage. Because anti-worker forces in the legislature have killed multiple attempts to raise the wage, and because Kansas has no ballot initiative process, KAN is working to pass ordinances in the State's three largest cities - Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City - in an effort to increase pressure on the State legislature. A 2006 study estimated that at least 17,000 workers in Kansas were making less than the then federal minimum wage of $5.15/hr.

For more information on the campaign, see Raise the Wage Kansas (http://raisethewagekansas.org)

You Did It! Missouri JwJ Leaders Save Affirmative Action

Posted May 5, 2008 at 8:27 am

Missouri Jobs with Justice, working as part of the broader WE CAN coalition, won a tremendous victory when the so-called Missouri Civil Rights Initiative failed to turn in signatures which would have placed a constitutional ban on affirmative action on the November ballot.

Missouri Jobs with Justice coordinated a three-month, volunteer crew of voter educators including Cathy Goldstein and Palmer Alexander pictured here. These voter educators combed the streets of their communities day in and day out to find petitioners. Once they found petitioners, educators stood alongside them and made sure voters knew exactly what the deceptively-named "Missouri Civil Rights Initiative" would do to Missouri.

Volunteers logged well over a thousand hours next to petitioners, who usually gave up signature gathering on a site when they encountered an educator.

Jobs with Justice worked in coalition with Missouri ACORN whose voter educators also worked throughout the state to complement the volunteer crews. Other WE CAN Coalition partners spearheaded community education efforts such as public forums, a speakers bureau and press conferences throughout the campaign.

Read more from the JwJ Solidarity Calendar.
Visit the St. Louis Jobs with Justice site.
Visit the Kansas City Jobs with Justice site.