On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 5:30 pm Jonathan Hiatt, the General Council for the AFL-CIO will address a small group of labor lawyers, unionists and law students about this critical election and what comes after November 4. Mr Hiatt will discuss topics such as the Employee Free Choice Act, the election, immigration and the Wall Street credit problems.

This event is a great place to mingle with leaders in the field of law, politics and labor. The event which is hosted by Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez will be in the City Hall Caucus Room, Room #400. Snacks and refreshments will be served. Tickets are $50 but call for low-income and student tickets that as affordable as $20. Space is extremely limited so be sure to reserve your ticket today by calling Fabricio at Jobs with Justice at 215-670-5855. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to support Jobs with Justice.

When officials began a news conference yesterday celebrating the planned move of the Foxwoods Casino to Center City, the audience already was sprinkled with protest signs held by community opponents, many from nearby Chinatown....

Nutter and Rendell said that they hope that the project will revive the Gallery, which was built in the 1970s and '80s with government assistance, and they believe that it will trigger further development on Market Street East.

POWR Update!

Approximately 70 people attended the Philadelphia Officers and Workers Rising (POWR) campaign rally and "Blessing of the Hands" Ceremony on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Within hours of our arrival, the museum announced that they were considering starting a new sick-leave policy (up to three days per year for full time workers who have been at the property for three years).

Though this benefit is far from what we have demanded, we are glad to know that the museum is headed in the right direction. We still need your support to make sure that the museum does not stop short of family sustaining wages, affordable health care and a real paid sick-leave policy. You can sign our online petition here

Here is a slide show of some of the speakers...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Activists Hope For Progress Soon

Philadelphia, PA, September 8, 2008- On Sunday, September 7, hundreds of art lovers browsed the galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They came to see the art and also to make a statement. The message that they wanted to deliver to the museum managers and security guards was printed on stickers that they wore, “My Security Guard Deserves Paid Sick Days.”

“I am sure Gerry Lenfest has heard our demands. More than 2,000 supporters in the last two weeks have stood up for living wages, paid-sick leave and affordable health care for the guards by signing petitions and visiting the museum,” states Fabricio Rodriguez, Executive Director of Jobs with Justice the community organization that is coordinating the effort. Lenfest is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and millionaire philanthropist.

Support these workers by visiting the Museum of Art tomorrow. Grab a support sticker from one of our activists. Thanks!

A faith-based movement to win paid sick-leave is growing in Philadelphia and is now pushing for changes at one of Philadelphia’s most iconic institutions.

A week long celebration of workers, which began in twenty churches in Philadelphia on Labor Day Weekend, will culminate with a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Sunday, September 7.

Contact: Fabricio Rodriguez, Executive Director, Philadelphia Jobs with Justice, 215-670-5855, Fabricio@phillyjwj.org

For Immediate Release: September 3, 2008

“Blessing of the Hands” Ceremony for Museum Security Guards with Bishop Dwayne Royster

Religious Event will call on Museum to Provide Sub-Contracted Workers with Paid Sick-Leave

From this weeks Philadelphia City Paper

Donald Lindsey can't afford to get sick. His pay as a security guard at the Philadelphia Museum of Art — a little over $10 an hour — is hardly enough for him to provide for his four kids. And he gets no sick leave.

A Special Message from Bishop Dwayne Royster, Chairman of the Interfaith Committee of Jobs with Justice

Dear Friend in Faith,

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/PMALaborDay

20 CONGREGATIONS PRAY FOR SICK-PAY AT PMA- Labor Faithful Press Museum From The Pews

Philadelphia, PA, August 31, 2008- 130 security guards have the important job of taking care of the visitors and collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Activists and thousands of supporters this weekend will pray that these guards will soon be treated as well as other city subcontracted workers under the Living Wage Ordinance.

The Living Wage Ordinance which was signed by Mayor Michael Nutter in April 2008 states that city-supported businesses and sub-contractors must pay employees $10.67 per hour and benefits. The security officers at the Philadelphia Museum are paid $10.16 per hour. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, though it receives $2.5 million from the City of Philadelphia, roughly two-thirds of what the museum spends on security, the resources are considered a general contribution.

Philadelphian's have expressed their moral values for the way that we expect workers to be treated when City Council passed the Living Wage Ordinance. The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) has taken more than $10 million in tax payer money and many millions more in donated facilities. Despite the museums reliance on the support of Philadelphians, the PMA leaders scoff at the moral values expressed by the Living Wage Ordinance. The PMA is using your tax money to harm workers. This Labor Day, stand up to the PMA with the POWR campaign.

For more information contact Fabricio at Jobs with Justice via www. phillyjwj.org or the Lava Space.

Download poster and petitions here...

John McCain is coming to town tomorrow. Supporters of peace, womens rights and a fair economy must raise our voices against his retrograde politics and the Third-Bush-Presidency

For more info contact Fabricio at fabriciomrodriguez@yahoo.com or 215-732-8318

When: 9:15-9:30 AM on Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Where: National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch St , Philadelphia , PA 19106
Location: Arch Street Sidewalk (between 5th or 6th)
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=National+Constitution+Center,+525+Ar...

Pabst and politics at the Tritone. The proceeds go to Jobs with Justice and the fund to buy Eduardo a new liver.

JUDGE FINDS MOPAC WORKERS UNJUSTLY FIRED – Meat Processing Workers Find Justice Long Over Due

Philadelphia, PA, May 27, 2008- Judge George Aleman finds that five workers who lead a work stoppage after not receiving the expected Christmas bonus were acting within their rights.

On December 15, 2006, workers at the Moyer Rendering Plant in Souderton, PA were angered to find out that their employer was not going to give out the traditional Christmas bonuses.

“Every year they gave us bonuses. We really looked forward to it to get through the holidays and maybe have something extra under the tree for the kids, “ says Maria Garcia, one of the five workers that was involved in the work stoppage that was fired.

“We did not refuse to go back to work to get bonuses. The workers united to get some answers.” States Maximo Franklin another worker dismissed shortly after the brief strike.