August 3, 2010 – Primary Election Vote NO on Missouri Proposition C
The so-called “Health Care Freedom Act” tricks voters into protecting insurance companies instead of people.
Don’t be
fooled! Vote NO!
Find out more information about this misleading proposition HERE!
Download Flyers to help educate friends, family, and your network HERE and HERE!
Take the Pledge to Vote NO on Proposition C!
For more information and to get an email that you can forward to your contacts email Amy Smoucha amy@mojwj.org .
Kansas City Area JwJ Supports DREAM Act Students
On June 16, Jobs with Justice activists stood with MECha & Cross Border Network at a Solidarity rally for Kansas City youth Yahaira Carillo and other undocumented students who were arrested in Arizona. This rally coincided with the first appearance of these activists in immigration court after they were arrested during a sit-in at Sen. McCain's office, in an attempt to secure his co-sponsorship of the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would grant conditional residency, and thus a legal path to citizenship, for undocumented youth at the Federal level.
Activists gathered in Kansas City at the KS/MO Dream Alliance Solidarity Rally to demand a resolution and a future for all undocumented youth.
For more information on the Dream Act CLICK HEREGood News, Bad News for MO Workers
Sunday, May 2 was the deadline to turn in signatures for November 2010 ballot initiatives in Missouri. Missouri Jobs with Justice and its members organize every year to insure the values and interests of Missouri's workers are represented in this process.
2010 sees both good news and bad news for Missouri workers on the November 2010 ballot.
- The GOOD NEWS the so-called "Save Our Secret (SOS) Ballot" initiative failed to turn in signatures to qualify this anti-democratic initiative for the ballot. Read more
- The BAD NEWS is that the Millionaire Tax Cut – the Earnings Tax initiative did turn in enough signatures that it will likely qualify for the November 2010 statewide ballot. Read more about this reckless threat to essential public services in our state's two biggest economic centers
Activist Tell Big Banks "Enough is Enough"
On Tuesday, April 27
members of Kansas City Jobs with Justice,
SEIU Local 1 and GRO participated in National
People's Action's "Showdown in the Heartland."
Hundreds of activists marched through Kansas City to tell
Bank of America and all Big Banks "ENOUGH
IS ENOUGH"!
Americans are demanding that the big banks take responsibility for the havoc they created and stop stonewalling the passage of common-sense financial reform that protects consumers and ensures they can't destroy our economy again.
This demonstration in the heart of Kansas City's financial
district included activists
from Missouri, Kansas
& Iowa and kick off a week of actions
to hold Big Banks accountable in San Francisco, New York and
Charlotte, NC.
ACT NOW: Tell your State Representative to pass the Streamlined Sales Tax bill!
A very important issue will be voted on in a House Committee on Thursday, April 15, and it will give Missouri the opportunity to collect revenue at a time when our State budget is in crisis.
HB 2302 – referred to as the Streamlined Sales Tax bills- would allow Missouri to collect sales tax on Internet shopping purchases.The bill has strong bi-partisan support, and it needs your voice to help push it through to the end.
WE NEED YOU TO E-MAIL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!
CLICK HERE TAKE ACTION NOW to keep Missouri from losing $159 million in state and local sales tax revenue in 2010.Find out more about what the Streamline Sales Tax Bill will do for Missouri's economy.
Kansas City Mayor Tells Residents "Decline to Sign"
Kansas City Mayor Mark
Funkhouser, joined with Jobs with Justice
Leaders and activists to urge
residents to “decline to sign” any
petition seeking a statewide ballot measure on repealing the earnings
tax.
St. Louis Billionaire Rex Sinquefield has invested $1.75 million into the petition initiative for a state wide ballot measure that could devastate Kansas City’s budget by eliminating $200 million in annual income. The ballot initiative could also lead to $155 million in income lost for St. Louis.
CLICK HERE to see video of Mayor Funkhouser urging residents to “Decline to Sign” the petition to repeal earnings tax.
Find out more about the petition to repeal the earnings tax and how you can help stop these petitioners at www.unitedformissourispriorities.org
*UPDATE* Bill to Cut Youth Wages Headed to House
Floor!
On March 23, 2010 House Bill 1792 was passed out of committee. This amended version of the bill we told you about last month would reduce the minimum wage for workers 18 and Under. For most teens this would mean almost $2.00 an hour lost!
In 2006, 76.4% of Missourians voted to pass Proposition B to raise the wage for ALL Missouri workers of ALL ages.
Don't let the Missouri State House of Representatives vote to overturn the will of the voters!
Young workers are important leaders in Jobs with Justice and the workers’ rights movement in Missouri. Have their back! Stand up against the attack on minimum wage for workers under 20.
Find out more about this campaign on www.FairWagesForMOTeens.org and Follow us on facebook by joining the cause "Missouri Jobs with Justice" and the group "Fair Wages for Missouri Teens"
VICTORY: Landmark Health Care Reform is a victory for working people!!
You called Congress, canvassed your neighbors, raised awareness, money and power . . . all in support of historic legislation to reform and improve our health care system.
Yesterday, by a vote of 219-212, the US House of Representatives passed historic health care reform. The measure will soon be signed into law by the President.
Final legislation reduces the deficit, expands health coverage to 32 million Americans, strengthens Medicare and Medicaid, and makes health coverage more affordable for all of us!
Now it’s time to call Congressman Cleaver at 1-866-922-4970
to tell him THANK YOU for voting for Health Care Reform!
Our work in Missouri ensuring that reform is implemented is beginning already, and we will need your help to bring this victory home. DONATE to Jobs with Justice health care organizing project to shore up our resources for the state fight.
ACT NOW:Protect MO’s Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees
(In 2009 Missouri Jobs with Justice sent 13 servers to Jefferson City to stop the bill that threaten the minimum wage for servers. Pictured to the right)
In 2006, 76.4% of Missourians voted to pass Proposition B to raise the wage for ALL Missouri workers, including tipped employees.
Now, Senate Bill 889 threatens to roll back the minimum wage for tipped employees to that of 16 years ago.
We must act NOW! Tell the Missouri State Senate that the citizens of Missouri want to protect the wages of 53,240 tipped employees.
We need you to TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW:
1) Tell your Senator that you support waiters and waitresses and oppose Senate Bill 889
3) Make whatever donation you can to make sure Jobs with Justice and its leaders can help servers throughout Missouri protect their minimum wage
4) Join the "Save Our Tips" Facebook group and stay informed
Find out more about this campaign.
|
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.
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!
On Christmas Eve, the Senate will cast a final vote approving its historic health care bill. The United States Congress has never come this far in advancing comprehensive health reform.
Like many significant human and civil rights struggles, we have won a lot, lost some of our demands, and we still have a long way to go. Click Here to reflect on our accomplishments so far.
Now
is the time to Thank Senator McCaskill today for her YES vote that
moves us one step closer to meaningful health care reform.
Then, stay
tuned for the New Year's push to get a strong bill out of Conference
Committee. Stay
updated on the health care reform fight by checking JwJ
updates here or
at Missouri
Health Care for All.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson wins KC’s 1st “Scrooge of the Year”
Kansas City Jobs with Justice organized a powerful and spirited first "Scrooge of the Year" Party the evening of Thursday, December 7 at the Firefighters Local 42 hall. JwJ "Scrooge of the Year" parties are fundraisers – one dollar, one vote. Coalition member organizations nominate candidates that educate the public about forces attacking working people in our community.
THE RESULTS ARE IN AND THE SCROOGE HAT GOES TO...
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson with 2504 Votes!
|
But the election was close: Sen. John Loudon 10 votes Rep. Allen Icet 368 votes Lou Dobbs 375 votes Rush Limbaugh 379 votes James Kanatzar 2368 votes |
Missed your chance to vote? You can still support these campaigns for working people by becoming a sustaining donor of Jobs with Justice today.
10/20/2009-National Day of Action on Health Care Reform
Posted October 20, 2009
It's Time to Deliver on Health Care Reform!
Dozens of organizations and hundreds of people in Kansas City will be demonstrating in support of health care reform during rush hour on Tuesday, October 20 to tell Congress, the media, and our neighbors that It’s Time to Deliver on Health Care Reform!
Throughout the State and Kansas City area, activists will engage the public in support of health care reform at busy intersection during morning and evening rush hours.
Activists Needed! Kansas City Area Jobs with Justice and the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO will BE THERE at 31st and SW Trafficway from 4 to 6 pm. To RSVP ontact Jennifer Gormley at jennifer@kcjwj.org Include the times you can be there.
For more information about other sites and how you and your organization can be involved CLICK HERE.
Call your Senators and Congressperson TODAY. Tell them: IT'S TIME TO DELIVER quality, affordable health care. And Congress must include a public health insurance option.Sen. McCaskill, (202) 224-6154
Sen. Bond, (202) 224-5721
or call toll-free at 1-800-828-0498
Look up your US Representative Here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
After you have made your calls, tell us about it by contactng Jennifer Gormley jennifer@kcjwj.org
To understand FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM: WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR WORKING PEOPLE CLICK HERE.
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.
Read the full report here.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."
Kansas City JwJ celebrates Labor Day by focusing on Health Care.
Posted September 10, 2009
On Monday, September 7 Jobs with Justice Leaders and Staff participated in the annual Kansas City Labor Day Parade .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, organizing a health care reform “yard sign-making” table for other participants in the parade.
CLICK 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
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
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)
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
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.
Go HERE to learn more about leaders that gave key support to this campaign.Save Our Tips Pub-Crawl
Posted April 23, 2009
On Wednesday April 22, 2009 - We went to where HB258 Hurts the Most!
A six member team of JwJ leaders and activists held a JwJ Organizing Committee Save Our Tips Pub-Crawl last Tuesday. The team visited 6 locations including 3 establishments with management that supports the bill. Members worked to educate servers and allies on HB258, the bill that would freeze minimum wage for servers at $3.52, as well as sign them up to Take Action.
Register Today for 2009 Building JwJ Leadership Program
Posted January 26, 2009 at 3:00 pm
2007 Building JwJ Leadership Program Participants during an excercise in "power analysis" from left, Nancy Cross, SEIU; Manny Abarca, MIRA; Matt Heiman and Tony Harris from APWU.
There will be three sessions this year.
Spring session will be Friday, March 13 at 10 am through Sunday, March 15 at 1 pm in St. Louis.
The summer session will be June 12-14, in Kansas City, and the fall session will be October 23-25 in Jefferson City.
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 13, 2009. Registration forms can be found 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. All questions should be directed to Jennifer Rafanan, 314-644-0466, ext 15.
Jan 7th Launch for Jobs and Economic Recovery Now
Posted January 26, 2008 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
Find out more about this campaign This campaign launched with St. Louis JwJ on January 6Kansas 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 Missouri
Jobs with Justice site.
