Central Indiana Jobs with Justice educates the community about current social issues and organizes people to TAKE ACTION.  See the opportunities below to get informed and take action:

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 Friday, March 29th at 7:00 pm &
Saturday, March 30th at 7:00 pm



Buy Tickets at the door or online at here.

Monday, January 14th

10:45 am

Southeast Corner of Capitol Street & Washington Street, Indianapolis

Mike Pence Inauguration



Friday, January 18th

Noon - 1:00 pm

Federal Courthouse

46 E. Ohio Street, Indianapolis

Come protest the 3rd anniversary of the passing of Citizens United, a move that gives corporations the rights as people.



Wednesday, December 19th

5:30 pm

City County Council Building

200 E. Washington Street

City County Council Public Safety Committee will be discussing security guard issues. Join SEIU for this meeting.

Thursday, December 20th

11:30 am

Gold Building

Delaware Street  & Ohio Street

Come out for a Christmas action with the Gold Property Managers around the rights of security guards to organize in Indianapolis!

Saturday, December 22nd

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

E. Washington Walmart Store

10617 E. Washington Street

Join Central Indiana Jobs with Justice and members of the community as we honor the lives of the workers lost in the tragic Bangladeshi fire last month.

On Saturday, November 24, 112 Bangladeshi garment workers lost their lives in a factory sewing Walmart clothing. Walmart bears the responsibility for the horrific deathtrap at the Tazreen factory where workers choked by smoke found locked exit doors, blocked stairwells, and fire extinguishers that didn't work. Victims were trapped or jumped to their deaths from the nine-story building, which had no emergency exits.

Efforts by Walmart to distance itself from this tragedy by claiming that the factory was supplying Walmart through subcontractors without its permission or knowledge are unacceptable. As the most significant customer of these factories, Walmart has the market power to set safety standards.

Walmart’s culture of disrespect for workers here in the US reached its tragic conclusion in Bangladesh. The Walmart business model employs hundreds of thousands of workers through contractors and subcontractors who are forced by Walmart to shave pennies to operate in hazardous conditions. Workers and consumers here in the US reject Walmart’s business model that recreates the worst abuses of the past to exploit the most vulnerable workers both in Bangladesh and here in the US.




Saturday, December 8th

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Costco Wholesale Store

6110 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis 46250

&

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Costco Wholesale Store

9010 Michigan Road

Indianapolis 46268

Tired of dangerous working conditions, low wages and lack of respect from management, Palermo’s Pizza Workers went on strike in June in demanding that their employer recognize their decision to form a union. Palermo's responded by questioning the workers’ immigration status after years of service, then firing union leaders and supporters. Now Palermo’s Pizza workers need our help!
Costco is the largest seller of Palermo's Pizza in the nation, selling it under the Kirkland Brand. As a company, Costco has committed to supporting middle class jobs and responsible suppliers. For this reason, community and labor organizations across the nation are uniting to urge Costco to stop selling Palermo’s Pizza and to support Palermo’s workers’ rights!

Monday, December 10th

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Andre Carson's Congressional Office

300 E. Fall Creek Parkway

Indianapolis

In a post-election “lame-duck” session, Congress is taking on high-stakes decisions with major consequences for working people and the economy. Join us Monday, Dec. 10—International Human Rights Day—to send Congress a message: NO tax breaks for the richest 2% and NO Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid Cuts!

Friday, December 14th

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Indiana State Capitol, House Chambers

In The Shadows: Campaign Finance Regulation and Disclosure after Citizens United, et. al.

What’s the future of campaign finance regulation and disclosure after recent court decisions giving unlimited and anonymous campaign spending the green light? Join the discussion with an FEC Commissioner and top national advocates in Indianapolis.
Sponsored by Common Cause/Indiana
Co-Sponsored by AARP Indiana
League of Women Voters of Indiana



November 19th, 2012

Monday

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

3838 N. Rural Ave.

Join SEIU at a rally at the Health and Hospital Building to continue supporting the security guards right to a living wage, health insurance and training.  

Saturday, October 27th

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Teamsters 135 Hall

1233 Shelby Street, Indianapolis

The Central Indiana Labor Council invites everyone to come and ROCK THE VOTE!!!

Join us for music, food, raffles, a Halloween costume contest for kids 12 and under and lots of Solidarity!

Tuesday, October 30th

1:30 pm

IUPUI Democracy Plaza

Join Jobs with Justice & NOW as we host a Speak Out around gender and sexual identity harrassment.  Come and share your experiences with the topic as we empower each other to take action against oppressive patricarchy in our society.

Friday, November 2nd

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Indy Fringe Theater

719 E. St. Claire Street, Indianapolis

Please join American Friends Service Committee for three special screenings of the national youth film festival, "If I Had A Trillion Dollars" at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm.

The IHTD Film Festival is a special collection of 3 minute films made by youth across the country exploring what they would do with $1 trillion for their communities, rather than spending it on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

$5 suggested donation, no one turned away due to lack of funds.

For more info on the IHTD Film Festival, visit www.ihtd.org.



Thursday, September 20th

5:30 pm

City County Council Building

Join Security workers, Library workers and IndyGo as budgets are presented to the Municipal Corporations Committee of the City County Council.

Thursday, September 20th

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Marquatte Manor, 8140 Township Line Road

Candidate Forum for Indiana State Legislature hosted by League of Women Voters. This forum features House Districts 86,87,88,88,95 and Senate District 30.

Sunday, September 23rd

3:30 - 5:30 pm

Sinking Ship Bar

4923 N. College Avenue

Stewart Alexander, Socialist Candidate for President, will be appearing, speaking and taking questions, along with John Strinka and Ron Haldeman, Socialist candidates for Indiana State Representatives. Come enjoy food, drink, and progressive politics.

Thursday, September 27th

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

3838 Rural Avenue

Join SEIU  and Jobs with Justice as we keep the pressure up on Wishard to drop irresponsible subcontracting company Securatex by rallying at the Health and Hospital Offices.

Monday, August 13th

6:30 pm

In front of the City Market

222 Market Street

Join us for a rally in support of the domestic partnerships proposal in the City County Council. After the rally, we will attend the Council meeting at 7:00 pm for their vote on the proposal. The proposal would recognize domestic partnership status for public employees which allows health benefits is making its way to the full council for a vote. This could be a very important marker for our city, a sign that we can fight for equality and what benefits the people. The opposition to this bill make their case based on hateful ideology. We can out number them though and show the Mayor this is important to Indianapolis! 

Thursday, August 16th

4:00 pm

Monument Circle in front of Chase Bank

Join SEIU and community allies in support of the Indianapolos janitors who are renegotiating their contracts in a Right to Work state for the first time. We are also standing in solidarity with the striking janitors in Houston.



Thursday, July 26th

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Outside the Hyatt Hotel

Corner of Capitol and Washington

On Monday night, the Indy City Council voted 16-12 to approve hotel workers' freedom to work in any hotel and end hotel corporations' use of blacklisting. Out-of-town hotels like the Hyatt continue to hire more fulltime workers through temporary agencies to work for years at poverty wages without access to benefits. Now it's time for us to take our voices to the streets!

Saturday, July 28th

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Military Park

Corner of New York & West Street

Come for a day of solidarity, music, family, food trucks and taking back our state! AFL-CIO and their partner organizations are sponsoring this event to send the united message to corporate interests and anti-worker interests that Hoosiers are standing up and fighting back!

Saturday, August 4th

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

All Souls Unitarian Church

56th & Arsenal

What is a Peaceful Society?

Veterans for Peace Chapter 49 is sponsoring this event with keynote speaker Fran Quigley, professor at the IU McKinney School of Law, to answer this question.

Monday, July 23rd

4:00 pm

Monument Circle

Join the janitors the day before they go back to the table for contract negotiations for a rally on Monument Circle. As they continue to push contractors for a fair work load and a voice for the workers, these 1% companies continue to make the same excuses. Don't let them take away good jobs in Indianapolis!

Monday, July 16th

6:00 pm

City County Council Building

Come support Indy hotel workers as the council votes on the Freedom to Work Act, which would eliminate blacklisting of subcontracted hotel workers. Wear red!

Tuesday, July 17th

6:30 pm

Wishard Main Entrance

1004 Wishard Blvd

Indianapolis security guards are fighting for a living wage, health insurance and training for their job. We are asking Wishard to support these efforts by hiring a responsible security guard contractor instead of their current contractor, Securatex.

Friday, June 15th

3:30 pm

Monumnet Circle

120 Monument Circle

Stand with Houston Janitors Local 1 who are currently striking. These janitors live in poverty even with a full time job. They work for many of the same contractors as janitors in Indianapolis do. Join us in a solidarity rally with our brothers and sisters in Houston.

Tuesday, June 10

1:00 pm

Support local Security Guards as they testify at the Wishard Hospital Board Meeting. Contact Jobs with Justice at 317-917-0723 ex. 33 for more details.

Saturday, June 23rd

10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Nora Public Library

8625 Guilford Avenue, Indianapolis

Join Common Cause Indiana in a training on how to Draw Your Own District to make the redistricting process in Marion County more transparent and inclusive of citizens.

www.drawmarioncounty.org

Tuesday, July 10th

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Southport Public Library

2630 E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis

Join Common Cause Indiana in a training on how to Draw Your Own District to make the redistricting process in Marion County more transparent and inclusive of citizens.

www.drawmationcounty.org

Tuesday, April 17^th 3:3 0 4:30 pm

SEIU Bring Back the Middle Class Rally

Rolls Royce Building

510 S. Meridian Street

Stand with our union brothers and sisters as we ask Rolls Royce to provide their workers with livable wages and affordable health care. Call Jennifer Disla for more information at 317-835-1097

Tuesday, April 17^th 4:30 - 6:00 pm

Tax Day Action

Downtown Post Office at 125 W. South Street

Join Jobs with Justice, American Friends Service Committee and Veterans for Peace and others as we mark tax day with a visual of 60% of federal tax dollars fund American wars.

Thursday, April 19^th 6:30 pm 8:30 pm

Hoosier Woman Against Mike Pence Fundraiser

Radio Radio 1119 Prospect St.

Help keep Mike Pence out of the Governor's office! Join Hoosier Women Against Mike Pence for a fun-filled night. Senator Vi Simpson will be speaking and the band Neon Love Life will be rocking the stage.

Tuesday, April 24^th 5:00 pm 7:00 pm

Protest of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell

at the Republican Spring State Dinner

Outside the Ritz Charles Hotel

12156 N. Meridian Street, Carmel, IN 46032

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is being CELEBRATED by Indiana Republicans at their annual Spring State Dinner for his work in working for transvaginal exams for all women obtaining an abortion. Let them know that Hoosiers don't stand for these outrageous restrictions to reproductive rights. Join us!

Saturday, April 28^th 10:00 am - Noon

We are Women Rally

Indiana Statehouse South Lawn

Part of a national movement, the We are Women Rally

is a protest against the legislative assault on women

that has been happening not only in Indiana

but around the country, as well.

August 15, 2011
7:00 p.m.
City Council Meeting
Join 400 other activists at this meeting as we stand in solidarity with hotel workers who earn less than $25,000 per year while the City of Indianapolis gives millions of dollars in tax payer money to downtown hotels and the tourism industry. The Mayor will be introducing the budget at this meeting.

August 5-7, 2011
Jobs with Justice National Conf.
Join the Indiana Delegation to Washington, DC for the national conference. Scholarships are available. Email Allison or call (317) 917-0723 x33

July 26, 2011
9:00 a.m.
Right to Work Committee Hearing
In March of the 2011 Legislative Session, so-called "Right to Work" bill was sent to a summer study committee. You may have heard "We Won!" or "RTW is Dead!", but it was really just delayed. We like to call it "Right to Work for Less" because that is exactly what we will all do, union or not. We will do the same work for less money. This is an assault on Hoosiers by corporate interests from outside Indiana. Our legislators need to know this is not what we want, and not good for Indiana. We need a good jobs bill that creates jobs, NOT reduces wages. We need our paychecks to grow so we can take care of our families and invest in our communities.

Who:

• Chair: Senator Boots (R)
  

• Senator Walker (R-Columbus)
  

• Senator Yoder (R-Elkhart)
  

• Representative Torr (R-Carmel)
  

• Representative Ellsperman (R-Ferdinand)
  

• Senator Arnold (D-LaPorte)
  

• Senator Tallian (D-Michigan City)
  

• Representative Battles (D-Vincennes)
  

• Representative Niezgodski (D-South Bend)
  

• Notes: Representative Torr and Senator Yoder have authored RTW legislation. Senator Walker authored an anti-PLA bill. Representative Ellsperman voted to move RTW out of the House committee in the 2011 session.

(meeting notice)
(Can't attend? Watch on-line)

Formore information leading up to the hearing, visit the facebook page: Stand Up for Hoosiers

July 13, 2011
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Steering Committee Meeting
Attend this meeting if you are interested in joining the movement as an individual or organization.

June 30, 2011
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
State House Rally Reunion
On July 1st the legislation attacking women, unions, immigrants, gay marriage, teachers, public education, the minimum wage and much more goes into effect. We will stand together in opposition to this legislation and show that Hoosiers won't just stand by and let elected officials destroy our families and economy without a fight in 2012. The people united will never be defeated!
English Flyer
Spanish Flyer

Friday, March 25, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
JwJ House Party
Email for more details...


Thursday, February 17, 2011
Community Forum: Right to Work and the other attacks on Indiana working families. 7:00 p.m.
Marian College, 3200 Cold Spring Rd.
Marian Hall Room #305
Click here for flyer


Wednesday, February 16, 2011
5:30 p.m.
Economic Dev Cmte - TAKE TWO
PUBLIC COMMENT NEEDED: Last Friday after the snow storm, the Econ Dev Cmte set a meeting with very short notice and violated public access laws. SO - the North of South project is back on the table. This is good for the community because there are a lot of unanswered questions.

Unanswered Questions:
1. What will the wages be for the 2400 jobs?
2. Is there a project labor agreement for the construction jobs?
...3. What will the wages be for the hotel jobs created?
4. Will Dolce Hotels outsource the hospitality jobs to HHS or another company that creates low-wage temporary jobs with no benefits?
5. What will be the wages on the light retail jobs created? Will these jobs have benefits?

Find your councilor and contact information here:
http://maps.indy.gov/GovProfile/

Here are the committee members. If your councilor is on the committee, please contact him/her. Also contact Barbara Malone, councilor at-large.

(R) Jeffery Cardwell, Chair
(D) Jose Evans
(R) Barbara Malone
(R) Michael McQuillen
(D) Doris Minton-McNeill
(D) Mary Moriarty Adams
(R) Ryan Vaughn

Wed., Feb. 9, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Scars of the Industry
Join us as we crash the hospitality industry's own "Stars of the Industry" award banquet where they pat themselves on the back for seeing who can keep the wages the lowest and profits the highest!
Contact Allison at (317) 450-4019 or allison@centralindianajwj.org for details.

Wednesday, February 9, 3:30 p.m.
Committee Hearing on Immigration Bill. Senate Chambers, Statehouse

Tuesday, February 8, 5:00 p.m.
Rally to Save Public Education

Wednesday, December 15
5:00 p.m.
Scrooge of the Year Announcement
Monument Circle
Come join us as we congratulate Marsh on winning the Scrooge of the Year award. South side of Monument Circle.

Friday, December 10, 2010
SCROOGE PARTY
6:00 - 8:00
NALC Branch 39
The JwJ annual fundraiser!Get more information and Buy tickets online.


Thursday, November 11, 2010
2:30 p.m.
Security Officers Delegation to Property Owners
The Security Officers are also organizing to form a union in Indianapolis. Locations all over the city use Securitas and Securitex and they deserve a voice in their workplace. Contact Allison for details on the meeting locations.


Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Hotel Workers Boycott Picket
4:30 - 5:30
The hotel has stepped up its intimidation tactics, so we will step up our noise outside the Hyatt on Capital Avenue.

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
2:30 p.m.
Janitors Delegation to Property Owners against
GSF is trying to negotiate BACK the wages and benefits won by the janitors five years ago! We can't let this happen. Please join the delegation. Contact Allison for details on meeting
location.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
2:00 p.m.
Janitors Campaign
Delegation to Property Owners
Contact Allison for details on meeting location.


Monday, October 25
5:30 p.m.
Taking On Ballard's Billionaires
Join us for an action at the City Market right before the City Council meeting.Mayor Ballard has constructed back room deals that give theSimons getting $10 million without input from the community, Metropolitan Development Commission orCity County Council. We will shine a lighton the Mayor's office and bring these deals out from the dark, and ask the City Councillors to show us which sidethey are on... TheSide ofBallard and his Billionaires? Or the Side of the Community and workers. Get a flyer.

7:00 p.m.
City Council Meeting
to hear the CIB Budget giving $10 million to the Simons and an additional $8 million to market downtown when the libraries continue to cut hours and layoff workers. Tell your councilor to vote "NO". It is not too late.

Please contact your Councillors:

You can find your City Councillor email at on the city's website.

Also, there are fiveAt Large City Councillors' to contact:
Angel Rivera Riveraforcouncil@gmail.com
Ed Coleman Edward.Coleman@gmail.com
Barbara Malone Barbara_Malone@sbcglobal.net
Joanne Sanders
Jmsanders@msn.com


Wednesday, October 13
7:00 p.m.
Unemployment Town Hall
UAW Local 1111
430 S Shortridge Rd

Does the Unemployment Crisis have You in Chains? Join Jobs with Justice, UAW, and AFL-CIO for a town hall meeting on the Unemployment and Jobs Crisis! Congressman Carson will be in attendance to discuss the Local Jobs for America Act and ways to take action locally in Indianapolis will also be discussed. Get the Flyer.

Monday, October 11
5:30 p.m.
Put Communities First Action
Marion County tax payers cannot afford theproposed $8 million gift from the Mayor to the Simonsbeing heard at the Municipal Corporations Committee hearing about the Capital Improvement Board budget. The hearing will take place at 5:30 in Room 118. JwJ supporters will meet at the tables outside the City Market at 5:00.

Wednesday, October 6
1:00 p.m.
Put Communities First Action
This is the second action in a line of actions to target the Mayor and elected officials, demanding they Put Communities First. This action will take place at the Metropolitan Development Commission meeting, where they will be hearing a petition to request $600,000 for a project connecting the Circle Centre Mall Arts Garden to the PNC Center/Hyatt Hotel.

This is wasteful spending of tax payer dollars when communities are suffering and cuts are being made to the libraries and public transportation. Supporters should meet at 12:30 at the City Market outside table area to get stickers, signs and talking points for speakers. For more info, contact Allison at (317) 450-4019 or allison@centralindianajwj.org

Saturday, October 2
One Nation March on Washington
Locally, join JwJ, CWA, UAW, SEIU and the NAACP in a march on Washington because we all deserve a just and fair chance to achieve the American Dream. Our national identity is rooted in the ideal that all people regardless of race, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, heritage or ability should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. More info on the movement.

Monday, September 27th
5:00 p.m.
Put Communities First Action
City County Building, Rm 260
Jobs with Justice members and allies will take action at the Municipal Corporations Committee hearing and tell elected officials and Mayor Ballard to Put Communities First over the interests of corporations. The revised Library Budget is up for public discussion and calls for the layoff of 40 library workers. The Mayor can find money for the Pacers and CIB but not the taxpayers of Indianapolis. For more information, contact Allison at (317) 917-0723 x 33 or email.

Tuesday, September 7
4:00 p.m.
Marsh Campaign Committee Mtg
Join the community support for Marsh Workers. The NLRB has scheduled a union election for September 17th, so we have just a few days to rally around the workers. Join us for a strategy session at the JwJ office. RSVP to Allison.

Saturday, September 4, 2010
9:00 a.m.
2010 Labor Day Parade
Entertainment and Community Booths start at 9:00. Parade steps off at 11:00 at the corner of North & Pennsylvania.
Click here to download a flyer.

Thursday, September 2nd
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Stand with Hyatt hotel workers in the spirit of labor day. Hyatt is taking unfair advantage in this economic downtown and trying to keep all workers in a recession. Click here for a flyer.

Thursday, August 19th
Shop In at Marsh

contact Allison for more details at allison@centralindianajwj.org

Wednesday, August 18th, 10 a.m.
Unemployed Workers Council
Jobs with Justice is forming an unemployed workers council to build power with the unemployed and fight for the Local Jobs for America Act. Location TBD. Click here for a flyer.

Wednesday, August 18th, 4:00 p.m.
Rally for Good Jobs

Hosted by Justice for Janitors, this rally will take place at the corner of Illinois and Market Street.

Tuesday, August 10th, 11:00 a.m. on Monument Circle
Rally against Corruption in Washington & Indianapolis

Tuesday, August 10th, 11:00 a.m. on Monument Circle
Rally against Corruption in Washington & Indianapolis

Tuesday, August 10th, 11:00 a.m. on Monument Circle
Rally against Corruption in Washington & Indianapolis

Join JwJ, MoveOn and Common Cause to rally against corporate greed and corruption. Ask Congressman Carson and Senators Lugar and Bayh to stand against corporate lobbying.

Tuesday, August 10,6:00 p.m.
Put Communities First Campaign Meeting. Stop Subsidizing Corporations and their Billionaire leaders. This group is working to build power in Indiana, so elected officials will put communities first, over the interest of corporations and corporate greed. The current project is educating the public about tax abatements and how tax payer dollars are used to subsidize corporations in exchange for low wages jobs that do not put communities first! We are also educating the community about the property tax referendum on the ballot in November. Vote NO! Come find out why.

Tuesday, June 15, 4:30 p.m.
Janitors Rally - United We Stand
Corner of W Market and Illinois Streets

Tuesday, June 15, 6:00 p.m.
Put Communities First - a campaign to help our elected officials get their priorities in order and put workers and neighborhoods first.
AFSCME Council 62, 1424 N Pennsylvania2/26/2010 - 2:00 p.m. Evansville Rally to Save Jobs at Whirlpool.
Meet up at IUE-CWA Local 808 Union Hall 2333 Bergdolt Rd., Evansville. Click here to download a flyer.

2/22/2010 - 4:00 p.m.
Janitors Rally to Save their Jobs Pan Am Plaza downtown. Janitors won a contract in April 3008 and now janitorial companies and building owners are going back on their word. Stand with the Janitors in Solidarity!

2/18/2010 - 9:00 a.m.
Protest WellPoint Profits
Hoosiers are demanding answers about the WellPoint insurance premium hikes in Indiana. Join us on Monument Circle with Congressman Carson. Click here to download a flyer. Clickhere to see the letter Congressman Carson sent to the Indiana Department of Insurance.

2/10/2010
Lights! Camera! Social Action!

Join us for a gorilla theatre style workshop to take your direct action organizing to the next level! $5 fee to register. Space is limited so register online here.5:30 - 7:30p.m.

2/9/2010

Meet & Greet Indy Hotel Workers

at the Lockerbie United Methodist Church, 227 N East Street, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

1/16/2010 MLK Day of Action at the Earth House

more details to follow

10/6/09 Well-Point Crime Scene Die In. Noon at WellPoint on Monument Circle

Clickhere to download a flyer.

9/7/09 Application Deadline: Art 4 Justice project. Details

9/7/09 Southern Indiana Labor Day Parade, Princeton Indiana

9/5/09 Health Care Rally Kickoff to the Labor Day Parade. The rally starts at 10:00 a.m. and the parade steps off at 11:00 a.m.from North and Pennsylvania Streets.

9/3/09"At the River I stand" Documentary Viewing.

9/1/09 Picket against WellPoint and CEO Angela Braly speaking at the Indiana Convention Center. 11:00 a.m.

8/25/09 March against the Chamber of Commerce. 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. starting at the JwJ office (445 N Penn) and marching to the National City Center under the Arts Garden(corner of Illinois and Washington streets). Dowload a flyer here.

8/1/09 Rally for Health Care reform. on the south lawn of the State House. 9:30 p.m.

7/30/09 Medicare's Birthday Party.

JwJ and its partners will celebrate Medicare's Birthday on Monument Circle at 11:00 a.m. Come sign a birthday card, and help deliver cupcakes to Senator Bayh and Senator Lugar.

7/15/09 Rally for Health Care on Monument Circle. 11:00 a.m.

7/25/09 Rally for Health Care on Monument Circle. 11:00 a.m.

6/25/09 JwJ/HCAN-delegation to D.C.to talk with Senator Bayh about the choice of a public health insurance plan.

6/24/09 Janitors Rally at Noon at 36 S Meridian Street. Another downtown building has cancelled the contract with a union janitorial company and hired a non-union company that downsized the number of employees and is not providing liveable wages and affordable health care.Come show your support!

6/23/09 Health Care Roundtable at 1 p.m. at IBEW Local 481, 1828 N. Meridian St., Suite 205, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

Come voice your opinion and share your story about the need for health care reform.

6/19/09 Bloomington Rally against the Chamber of Commerce

at 400 W 7th Street, Bloomington, IN outside the Chamber of Commerce to protest their attacks on the Employee Free Choice Act

6/18/09 Rally against CVS at 12 noon, 5110 E 38th Street, Indianapolis

Join the effort to cureCVS now. CVS is the nationa's largets retail drugstore chain. But instead of leading the way in providing quality medicine, goods and services,CVS has a questionable record on custome health and safety. Join usfor a rally and petition signing. More info...

6/13/09 JwJ walks with the AFL-CIO and Hotel Workers Rising in the Pride parade. Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the corner of Mass and College.

6/10/09 Student Delegation to Senator Bayh's Indianapolis Office

6/10/09 Student Delegation to Senator Bayh's Indianapolis Office

6/10/09 Student Delegation to Senator Bayh's Indianapolis Office

6/10/09 Student Delegation to Senator Bayh's Indianapolis Office

Any high school or college student interested in talking with Senator Bayh's Regional Director, Andrew Homan, about the Employee Free Choice Act or the public health insurance option is invited to attend. ContactAllison to get on the attendance list or call (317) 917-0723 x33

6/4/09 Info Picket against the Chamber of Commerce

8:30 a.m. to 4:00 under the Arts Garden at the corner of Illinois and Washington Streets. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is holding an anti-Employee Free Choice Act Workshop limited only to business leaders, excluding anyone from a union.In reponse, we will be picketing outside the National City Center and distributing info to the community. RSVP toAllison or call (317) 917-0723 x33

5/28/09 Prayer Vigils for Employee Free Choice Act

Fort Wayne:5:00 PM
Union Baptist Church
2200 Smith St.

South Bend:@ 9:00 AM
Robert A. Grant Federal Building
204 S. Main St.

Indianapolis:1:00 PM
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
414 West Vermont St.

5/21/09 Noon; Tell CVS: Indianapolis Deserves Better. 105 E Ohio Street

CVS stores in Indianapolis are selling expired products and violating health codes. Join us for a rally and petition signing.

Clickhere for more info.

Click here to see the news coverage from Channel 6.

5/20/09 Rally for Health Care 11:00 a.m. at Monument Circle following the WellPoint Shareholder's Meeting.

5/1/09 May Day Celebration at6:00 p.m. with the Democratic Socialists of America; Rathskellar Restaurant downtown

4/23/09 Health Care Townhall Meeting in Evansville: Fix the Economy? Fix Health Care!!! This event will take place at the Teamsters Local #215, 825 E Walnut, Evansville. Rep. Brad Ellsworth is invited to hear abou the community support for giving Americans the choice of a public health insurance plan. Free and open to the public. Map

4/15/09 5:00 p.m. EST Rally for Health Care in Jeffersonville, IN. Tell Rep. Baron Hill and Senator Bayh to support Health Care Reform NOW!

3/31/09 Tippecanoe Activist Training & Mobilization Event, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

IBEW #668 Hall, 2535 S 30th Street, Lafayette Indiana 47909 Map This event is free and open to the public. Come learn about the Employee Free Choice Act, Health Care for America Now, and get the tools needed to take action in your community.

3/21/09 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Workers Rights' Board Hearing on privatization and outsourcing of workers. How this union busting tactic impacts the workplace and living wages. Location: Promise Land Chrisitan Community Church, 802 Edgemont Ave. Clickhere for more info.

3/4/09 First Wednesday Discussion with the ACLU of Indiana. 12:00 noon at IUPUI Campus Center, Room 305.

Check back here regularly for information on upcoming actions and ways you can get involved and advocate for social justice.

Women's Equality Day : August 26th, 2012

Here is the letter Central Indiana JwJ helped produce with other community groups to recognize the day.

Save the US Postal Service!

Please contact your Congress member and ask them to vote NO on HR 2309. Find your Senator and Representative here. HR 2309 would greatly impact the Post Office:

        H.R. 2309 would needlessly eliminate Saturday delivery, the USPS’ largest competitive advantage, to save a fraction of their annual operating budget. This senseless cut would damage millions of small businesses and result in major volume losses that have not been accounted for.

     H.R. 2309 will eliminate 90 percent of all door-to-door home and business delivery--a cut that is widely unpopular among the 35 million Americans who currently receive it. This change alone would hurt advertising mailers, small business mailings, eBay and Amazon.com deliveries, just to name a few -- not to mention the inconvenience to the business or resident who will now have to leave their residences or places of business to retrieve their mail from a cluster box location.

      H.R. 2309 would downsize the USPS’ invaluable networks by closing thousands of post offices and mail processing plants in a haphazard manner that would result in massive delays in mail processing and simply destroy the current USPS service standards that customers have come to rely on.

      Worst of all, H.R. 2309 does nothing to reduce the crushing annual payments to fund the future retiree health benefit that no other agency or business have to make, despite the fact that the retiree health fund already has nearly $45 billion in it -- enough to cover health care costs for retirees for decades to come. As a matter of fact, the bill actually INCREASES the congressionally mandated payments to the fund, which will all but guarantee a collapse of the Postal Service in the future.

Redistricting in Marion County: Have a Voice!

INDIANAPOLIS-IN:  At a media conference held at the City-County Building, Common Cause/Indiana unveiled a new project and website, www.drawmarioncounty.org that will allow Marion County voters to give direct input into the redistricting process for the City-County Council by drawing their own version of district maps.  Similar projects have been conducted this year in Minneapolis and Philadelphia where they helped make the redistricting process more transparent and better serve the interests of citizens.

Common Cause/Indiana Policy Director Julia Vaughn said, “Over the next several months the City County Council will undertake the historically contentious process of redistricting.  In an effort to make the redistricting process more transparent and to give citizens a meaningful way to participate, Common Cause/Indiana has teamed up with the Midwest Democracy Network to create www.drawmarioncounty.org, a website and open source mapping software that will allow anyone with Web access to draw new Council district maps.”               

Vaughn continued, “When incumbent politicians are in control of the redistricting process it too often revolves around them and their political needs, instead of the desires of citizens.  Where lines are drawn can pull communities together, or it can divide them.  We are excited about the opportunity that Draw Marion County provides for citizens to show the Council exactly where they think the lines should fall.  The website and software give the public an unprecedented opportunity to shape the districts that will impact elections in Marion County for the next ten years so we hope it is widely utilized.” 

Stand with CWA and IBEW members on Strike at Verizon
Central Indiana Jobs with Justice is organizing picket lines outside of select Indianapolis Verizon Wireless Stores.

45,000 Verizon workers went on strike on Sunday, August 7th. The reason? Despite record profits, Verizon is refusing to bargain and is demanding that its workers add to those profits from their own pockets. In the last four years alone, Verizon made more than $19 billion in profits and compensated their top five executives more than a quarter of a billion dollars.

But apparently thats not enough. Starting on June 22 Verizon pushed proposals that would let them outsource more jobs, including sending jobs overseas, slash sick days, eliminate benefits for workers who get hurt on the job and cut the healthcare benefits they promised retirees. And they havent budged.

So on Sunday, 45,000 CWA and IBEW members decided to take a stand to force Verizon to abandon its Wisconsin-style tactics and come to the bargaining table and negotiate.

America has had enough of corporate greed. Now is the time for Verizon to do the right thing and come to the bargaining table in good faith instead of trying to kill the American dream for 45,000 middle-class workers.

Sign the petition now to tell Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam to stop Verizons attack on the middle class and share his companys success with those who made it possible. It's time to let Verizon and other greedy corporations know that enough is enough. We're not just going to "hold the line", we're going to MOVE the line!

We know there is a JOBS CRISIS

and the DATA PROVE IT!

The Institute for Policy Studies had released their annual report on executive compensation, and the details are painful.This report details the top 50 companies laying off workers and the extraordinary CEO wages and compensation packages. 36 of these companies laid off workers in a time of profit. Read More.

The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that Corporate America is sitting on records amount of cash, like $8.4 trillion in March. Read More.

Vote No to Property Tax Caps in the Indiana Constitution: In November, Hoosiers will vote on a property cap tax referendum to add the current laws to the Indiana Constitution. Adding the caps to the constitution will not give us more tax breaks, and will put an unjust burden on many Hoosiers who will not even benefit from the caps. Read this issue brief from Indiana Institute for Working Families.
Dowload a myth/fact handout about the Property Tax Referendum. Check the calendar above for the next meeting dates and activities.

On Thursday, July 22, 2010, Central Indiana Jobs with Justice stood with Indianapolis hospitality workers in civil disobedience action as part of nationwide Hyatt protests
For the first time in Indianapoliss recent history, 43 participants staged a mass civil disobedience in front of the Hyatt Regency downtown. Hospitality workers and community supporters of the hotel workers were there to stand up for the Hyatt workers who have been asking management to stay neutral since November of 2008. Among the 43 were two JwJ staff members, seven steering committee members and many other JwJ pledge signers.

On June 16, reports surfaced that the Hyatt had plans to sell the
HyattRegency in Indianapolis, adding to the uncertainty that Hyatt workers in Indianapolis already face. Over the past decade, taxpayers in Indianapolis have invested $1 billion into the development of the local hospitality industry. The hotel and convention industry in Indianapolis is booming yet at the Hyatt Indianapolis, a non-union hotel, subcontracting of jobs is rampant, hours have been reduced in recent months, and workers earn some of the lowest wages of any Hyatt workers in North America. Housekeepers at the Hyatt Indianapolis, clean up to 30 rooms in an 8-hour shift.

Ive worked at the Hyatt for 29 years and if the Hyatt sells our hotel, Im faced with starting all over again losing benefits that Ive worked hard for, said Jackie White.

Joanne Sanders, minority leader of the City County Council stated; Everytaxpayer in Indianapolisis providingHyatt management with corporate welfare. Every time Hyatt cuts a worker's hours, they are expecting taxpayers to provide some form of assistance in order forHyatt workers to survive. This is why Im standing with the workers today.

Many other JwJ members were among the one hundred bystanders witnessing the civil disobedience. In addition to educating the public about the hotel workers' struggles, Central Indiana Jobs with Justice has also started a community conversation about the billions of tax dollars invested in downtown Indianapolis in exchange for low paying jobs with no benefits, and continued corporate profit.

Sign the petition to tell Attorney General Zoeller that we cannot afford a lawsuit against health care reform.
Click here to sign the petition.

Download a Paper version here.
Fax back to (317) 917-0752

Evansville Rally to KeepJobs
MADE IN AMERICA

The Whirlpool Corp. plans to start closing its refrigeration plant in Evansville, Indiana on March 26. The refrigerators now manufactured at this plant will be produced in Mexico, eliminating 1,100 local jobs. Meanwhile, Whirlpoolthe worlds largest home appliance makerenjoys healthy profits and has received a $19 million economic recovery matching grant that should be creating jobs here in America.

Join AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka for a Demonstration for Jobs in America.

For more information and parking instructions, contact IUE-CWA Local 808 at 812-424-7596.

Click here to download a flyer.Click here to download a petition to circulate.

A new committee of women leaders in Indianapolis has been established to raise up the plight of hotel housekeepers and they pain they endure every day to provide for their families. The Indianapolis Hope for Housekeepers Coalition meets monthly to strategize ways to stand up and fight for justice with Indianapolis housekeepers. For information about the meetings, contact Allison at Allison@CentralIndianaJwJ.org.Get detailed info about the hotel workers' fight for dignity and respect in Indianapolis here.

The effects of taxing our health care benefits on Hoosier Families.

See the Indiana specific report here.

What is wrong with the SenateFinance Committee health care bill? (The Baucus Bill.)

Click here to see what we think is wrong with thebill just released(9-16-09) by the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman Baucus.

WellPoint could face investigation for their actions with employees regarding health care reform.

Click here to seeour press release.

What do I tell my Senator?

Click herefor easy talking points about health care reform. We want the Senate to pass a bill out of the Senate Finance Committee by September 15th.Review these important parts of health care reform andchoose the part most imortant to you.

Call 1-877-264-HCAN and talk to Senator Bayh and
Senator Lugar today!

March on the Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, August 25th
8:00 a.m.
Dowload a flyer.

A Co-op is Not a Public Option

A proposal being discussed in the Senate would allow for the creation of health care co-ops instead of establishing a new public health insurance plan option. Many important details about this plan are still up in the air. Experience with co-ops suggests they would have no more ability than a good non-profit health plan to enter most local markets, rein in costs, or compete, other than through mimicking the behavior of profit-driven plans.

A co-op is not a substitute for a public health insurance plan that is:

• Available to everyone nationwide, with the government bearing risk

• Big enough to compete with insurers

• Powerful enough to get good rates from providers but with fair payment that attracts broad participation

• Innovative enough to change care delivery and put the right incentives in the system

• Transparent and accountable

• Playing on a level playing field with other plans in the exchange

• Able to remedy disparities in access to care for underserved communities

Co-ops Cant Compete to Lower Costs

• State-based or regional co-ops, run by their members, would be too weak to stand up against the insurance industry conglomerates, unlike a single public health insurance plan, available nationwide.

• Today, 94% of insurance markets in America are highly concentrated and controlled by a handful of powerful companies.

• Co-ops would be too small to attract provider participation or to strike bargains with providers, unlike insurers with established networks strengthened by backroom deals with providers.[1] In fact, according to one Wall Street analyst, providers would have very little reason to deal with them, since the co-ops have no volume or leverage.[2]

• According to Saint Louis University law professor Thomas Greaney, it is hard to envision numerous regional co-ops gathering the necessary data, experience and reputation to serve as a benchmark or counterweight to dominant hospitals and provider groups across the country.

Co-ops Wont be Ready for Prime Time

• Forming 50 state co-ops would take an enormous investment of time and federal capital: filing to become a co-op, applying for and winning federal seed money, establishing boards of directors, recruiting enrollees, forming provider networks, designing plans that comply with 50 state and new federal laws, setting up all plan administration and so on.

• In an environment where one person goes bankrupt due to medical costs every 30 seconds, even if all barriers to their success could be overcome, we cannot afford to wait for co-ops to spring up in every state across the country. We need a solution thats available everywhere on day one.

• What happens when a co-op fizzles? New market entrants face a host of obstacles, according to Greaney, and even established plans can find it impossible to break into a new market. For instance, in Pennsylvania, the dominance of two non-profit insurers in distinct parts of the state has thwarted the entry of other regional and national competitors for years.[3]

• Co-ops have been tried and failed before. Rural health cooperatives started after the Great Depression crumbled in the face of physician resistance (including boycotts), the lack of financial wherewithal of the cooperatives themselves, and the eventual withdrawal of government support.[4]

Co-ops Cant Change Care Delivery

• Democrats and Republicans have agreed that delivery system reform is key to the success of health care reform and the sustainability of our American health care system. A weak co-op structure wont have the weight or the know-how to accomplish these goals.

• As Jacob Hacker noted: Cooperatives might be able to provide some backup in some parts of the nation, but they are not going to have the ability to be a cost-control backstop, much less a benchmark for private plans, because they are not going to have the reach or authority to implement innovative delivery and payment reforms.[5]

• Private health plans, both for-profit and non-profit, consider the data necessary to understand plan coverage, innovations and provider incentives to be business trade secrets making it impossible to understand or improve quality overall.

Co-ops are a Gift to the Insurance Industry

• Because co-ops would start entirely from scratch, they would likely need to outsource most core operations. That means 50 state co-ops handing over their federal seed money in big contracts with insurance companies.

• A co-op model is a handout to the industry in two ways: it deprives Americans a true competitor a strong public health insurance option and allows lucrative new third-party administrator contracts to operate without government oversight.

Non-Profits Have Failed to Act in the Public Good

• Co-ops would be indistinguishable from todays non-profit plans, which generally are compelled to act in ways that do not serve the publics interest in order to compete with for-profit plans. Today, nearly half of privately insured people are enrolled in non-profit health plans and yet costs have sky-rocketed.

• The Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans were originally started as co-ops. Those that retain their non-profit status have done no better than their for-profit counterparts in controlling costs. For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama controls 83 percent of the insurance market but allowed costs to increase 79 percent between 2000 and 2007, with premiums increasing nearly 5 times faster than wages in the state.[6]

• Non-profit status doesnt guarantee good behavior. According to Senator Barbara Mikulski, Marylands Blue Cross Blue Shield plan went from non-profit to profiteering.[7] According to a report in Health Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland and its sister plan in the District of Columbia were poster children of nonprofit corruption and incompetence, squandering their assets on ego-building but money-losing diversification initiatives and on lavish executive lifestyles that devoted more days per year to jetting around the globe than to paying insurance claims back home.[8]

• Held to the same level of scrutiny, non-profit insurers would exhibit the same greed and lack of public accountability Senator Charles Grassley has found in repeated investigations of non-profit hospitals.

Why We NeedHealth Care Reform
A State By State Report

Indiana

Other States

Central Indiana Jobs with Justice calls for public apology from State Representative Jerry Torr.

Click here to readthe letter.

Why Small Businesses need
Health Care Reform Now.

Download a fact sheet.

Send a letter to your Member of Commerce.

Are you a small business owner? Send a Letter to the Editor. Use this sample to getstarted.

Will Congress fix health care or save money for Millionaires?

Call Congress and demand reform.

Call 1-877-264-4226. Here's what to say:

"HR 3200 -- America's Affordable Health Choices Act -- will save taxpayers an average of $2,200 per year and will impact only the highest income earners.

Passing health care reform will save us all money. Not passing it will save millionaires money.

Small business owners all across our country support this bill. You should, too.

Fixing America's health care crisis will fix our economy and get our country back on track. The time is now.

I urge you to vote for HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Care Choices Act."

How will H.R. 3200 affect your community?

Click here to see a district by district report.

Erasing Health Disparities Report

Click here todownloadthe full report

Click here to downloada short summary

Click here to download the national report

The Truth about Health Care Reform

Check out our blog, and dispel the myths about health care reform.

24hr Surge for Health Care Reform

Starting at12:00 a.m. on Wedneday, July 8th, health care reform partnersand activists will be canvassing for 24 hours - encouraging their co-workers, neighbors and fellow citizens to contact their elected officials for health care reform.

Call Your Senators and Member of Congress at 1-888-436-8427. Here's what to say:

I'm calling to ask my Member of Congress to support health care reform that includes a public health insurance option. Hoosiers and Americans deserve the choice of a quality, affordable health insurance option that will be there no matter what, to compete with the private insurance companies.

Volunteer to encourage others to call.Email Allison or call (317) 450-4019 to sign up for a shift anytime from Midnight to Midnight!

12 am - 5 am:Outside Wishard Hospital Emergency Room, 1001 W 10th St, Indianapolis

6 am:UAW 933, 2320 South Tibbs Avenue, Indianapolis

8 am - 12 pm:Farmers Market at the City Market, 222 East Market Street, Indianapolis

11am 2 pm:CWA Local 4900 at AT&T
(union members only)

2 pm: Press Conference, outside 10 West market Street, Indianapolis. Deliver letters and signatures, as well as a report to Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar on how to pay for health care reform.

3 pm 9 pm:Phone Bank, Jobs with Justice office, 445 N. Pennsylvania,3^rd Floor

9 pm 11:59 pm:Outside Wishard Hospital Emergency Room, 1001 W 10th St, Indianapolis

Declaration of Independence

On June 25th, HCAN and their partners mobilized thousands of people in our Capitol to demand quality, affordable health care for all. We told our Senators and Representatives that we can't wait any longer for reform that will lower health care costs, offer the choice of a public health insurance option, and keep the insurance industry honest. See video from the Rally here!

The American public is now declaring its independence from the insurance industry, and we are signing up people across the country to tell Congress that we need an American solution to meet our health care needs. It's time to have a choice when it comes to our health insurance.

We hold these truths to be self-evident; we need health care reform that will provide:

Coverage we can afford;

Comprehensive benefits we can count on;

Choice of a private or public health insurance plan;

Equal access to quality care

Sign the Petition Here

When President Barack Obama spoke at the Westin last month, the downtown hotel's former doorman, William Selm, received a special invitation to attend. The irony wasn't lost on Selm: He'd been invited to hear the president speak about labor unions at a hotel where he'd been fired after discussing forming a labor union. more

JwJAsks AG To Investigate Indiana Health Insurance Market

Request Follows Report Detailing Lack of Competition, Soaring Prices

Click here to see the letter

Click here to see the media advisory

Click here to see the full report

JwJ Asks Indiana Chamber of Commerce President, Kevin Brinegar, to stop the lies and declare neutrality on the Employee Free Choice Act.

Click here to see the letter.

JwJ passes Resolution in support of CWA workers bargaining with AT&T

Click here to see Resolution.

Since April 4, 2009, when the collective bargaining agreements covering union workers at AT&T expired, 125,000 CWA members have been working without a contract. The CWA members have voted to strike when and if CWAs leaders deem it necessary to call a strike.

AT&T is one of Americas largest corporations fourth behind Exxon, Wal-Mart and Microsoft with a market capitalization of nearly $150 billion dollars (4/15/2009). In 2008, the company earned $12.9 billion on revenues of $124 billion.

Send a letter to the AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, CEO, encouraging AT&T to play a leadership role in helping to preserve middle class jobs and to promote the need for national health care reform that will help its workers, and the nation. Be sure to email us a copy of your letter.

ReportDetails Need for Competition in the Indiana Health Insurance Market

Media Advisory

Final Report

Press Release

President Obama and Indiana Democratic Party leaders support Hotel Workers

For more than two years, hotel workers have been requesting a fair process to form a union at their hotel. Westin GM, Dale McCarty has given them anythign but a fair process. Clickhere to see the letter sent to Westin GM, Dale McCarty by the Keep Indiana Blue Committee, signed by Andre Carson, Baron Hill, Brad Ellsworth, and Joe Donnelly. You should contact Dale McCarty, too. Click here to send him an email.

NO HOLDS BARRED - The Intensification of Employer Opposition to Organizing.

Released May 20, 2009 by the Economic Policy Institute and American Rights At Work. Click here for the fact sheet.

Watch thenew TV ad airing in Indiana fora public health
insurance option!

Will you "Be There"?

Sign the Jobs with Justice Pledge to "Be There" five times over the next year for someone else's cause.Click here. Help us achieve our goal of 2010 pledge signers by the year 2010!!

Jobs with Justice is the
AFL-CIOAlly of the Week

Jobs with Justice of Indiana are making invaluable contributions to the Employee Free Choice Act campaign. Today two Indiana representatives will be headed to Washington DC ... Read More and Watch the Video

Tell Senator Bayh,
Health Care Reform Can't Wait!

Please contact Senator Bayh right away, to demand support for President Obamas budget because it includes a down payment on fixing health care. Senator Bayh has suggested health care reformmight have towait.

Call for free 1-888-436-8427, just ask for Senator Bayhs office. Ask Senator Bayh to support the President's budget and tell him Health Care Reform cannot wait! We need health care reform in 2009!

Thanks!

Check out the Hotel Workers Video!

JwJ to Host Workers' Rights Board Hearing onthe effects of Privatization in the workplace.

more info

Bring Bill Back! Sign the Petition

A few weeks ago, the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis threw out the Employee of the Year! What did he do, you ask? He voiced his concern for his co-workers who were outsourced in the restaurant. His department had been outsourced a few months before, so he has some experince in this area. Click to learn more and Sign the petition to Bring Bill Back.

Share your justice tidbits on our Blog!!

Central Indiana JwJ has launched a blog! Check it out at www.centralindianajwj.org/blog. Here you will find social justice tid-bits, and more current information about thegoing-ons in our local movement.Share your ideas, concerns, fustrations and successes with the rest of us!!

Double your Donation

Through a generous donation from the JwJ national network, new donations will be matched dollar for dollar through May 31, 2009. Double your impact today by making a tax deductible donation. Click here.

Employee Free Choice Act

Have you signed on to support the Employee Free Choice Act?

Some struggles of the hotel workers and janitors could be eleviated by the passage of The Employee Free Choice Act would basically do three things:

• Establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations - like writing up workers for wearing a union button, or passing out information at break time.
• Provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes - This means that management will have to negotiate with the union; they cannot simply ignore the workers' request.
• Allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation - the secret ballot procedure that currently exists can still be used, but it is not secret and provides management the opportunity to intimidate, harass and violate workers' rights.

Every day, corporations deny employees the freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions to bargain for a better life. They routinely intimidate, harass, coerce and even fire people who try to organize unions, and the current penalties for breaking labor laws are so insignificant that many companies threat them as just another cost of doing business.

The system has to be changed to give all working people the freedom to make their own choice about whether to have a union and bargain for better wages and benefits. Currently, employers are under no obligation to recognize and bargain with the union, even if 100% of workers have signed authorization. People call the current NLRB election system a secret ballot election - but in fat it's not like any democratic election held anywhere else in our sosciety. Management controls when the election happens. While management is allowed to bombard employees with anti-union messages anywhere, anytime in the workplace, workers can only talk about the union while they're on breaks in the break room or before or after work. Union organizers have no right to set foot in the workplace. No employee has free choice after being browbeaten by a supervisor to oppose the union or being told they may lose their job and livelihood if workers vote for the union.

Central Indiana JwJ is organizing Indiana as part of theHealth Care for America Now! campaign.

Clickhere to learn about HCAN in Indiana.

Health Care reform in Indiana should be a top priority. The time is now for an American solution that will secure our families' health and a healthy economy.

The first order of business for the new President and Congress in 2009 should be to pass health care legislation that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all.

We're asking you to tell uswhich side are you on?

In just five years, insurance companies profits rose more than 1,000%.

Learn more about HCAN Indiana.Workers' Rights Board Hearing

Workers share stories about the effects of outsourcing and privatization on their workplace, and being forced to re-apply for their jobs at lower wages.

When: Saturday, March 21, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where: Promise Land Chrisitian Community Church, 803 Edgemont (one block west of Dr. Martin Luther King Street, between 24th and 25th streets). Map

Indianapolis Workers from the Westin Hotel will join workers from other industries on Saturday, March 21, 2009, to provide testimony to an independent panel of community leaders about the effects of outsourcing on their workplace. Frequently viewed as a union-busting tactic, the Westin Hotel has most recently outsourced Shulas restaurant. Many other central Indiana workers have fallen victim to corporate greed in the name of the bottom line, and will be present on Saturday to support their colleagues.

This event follows the swell of community support for hotel worker, William Selm. Selm is a former Westin employee who was part of the bell department outsourced to Towne Park, the national leader of hospitality contract services and parking systems. He was then forced by Westin Management to transfer to another hotel after sharing his concerns about his co-workers being outsourced at Shulas.

The Workers Rights Board (WRB) is a project of Central Indiana Jobs with Justice with the mission of forming a community voice on workers' rights issues. This Board is composed of concerned local leaders who are drawn from a broad spectrum of the community, including representatives from different ethnic and social groups, community organizations, faith-based groups, people with specialized knowledge about the issues confronting workers, and local elected officials.

At Saturdays hearing, WRB panel members include State Representative John Bartlett, IUPUI Professor Tom Marvin and IUPUI Masarachia Scholar Anne Weiss. The hearing will be facilitated by Laura McPhee, News Editor at NUVO.

About the Westin Hotel and Outsourcing in Indianapolis

About William Selm.

Clickhere to RSVP via email. Clickhere to RSVP via FACEBOOK.