POST-NSLWOA SLActivist news

Highlights from the National Student Labor Week of Action

While the National Student Labor week of Action may have come to a close, our work and those of the thousands that participated throughout the week continues. We want to thank all of the organizations, allies, and friends that worked so hard on making the week of action such a huge success! There were over 200 actions in more than 30 states and 130 cities across the country, and more stories are still coming in!

Here are some of the successes, highlights, updates, and exciting pieces of work that took place during the National Student Labor Week of Action!

Different organizations, networks, and people came together and made connections between their work as part of the same movement for social and economic justice.

Seattle, WA – UW SLAP and MEChA rally at local BK in support of the “campaign for fair food”

Philadelphia, PA – Workers, Clergy, Community, + youth & students marched through Philly’s streets in their campaign to improve working conditions for Philly’s security officers with the POWR campaign.

We took it to decision makers and kept the pressure on them through various actions in different cities.

Sacramento, CA – MEChistas, workers, labor, and community members did a sit-in to call attention at the effort of Blue Diamond Workers trying to organize with the ILWU during their Cesar Chavez March.

Long Island, NY - Grad students and allies target a trustee at a local financial institution protesting the wage disparities they view as a slap in the face after working and investing in Stony Brook University for years.

College Park , MD -University of Maryland students made a delegation to urge their administration to sign onto the Designated Suppliers Program.

Brought the issue of worker’s rights and social and economic justice to over one hundred campuses and communities!

Wichita, KS – Young Democratic Socialists set up a table gathering petitions in support of the CIW and to raise awareness on modern-day slavery in the fields of FLA.

Miami, FL – FIU USAS set up shop in a busy section of campus to garner support and signatures for the petition to end modern-day slavery.

Brownsville, TX – As part of Farmworker Awareness Week, hundreds of events like this one in Brownsville Texas lifted up issues of farmworkers, pesticides, trade and migration, and a call for a national Cesar Chavez Holiday across the country.

We are, and are helping build, the labor movement! Next time you hear that young people “don’t care”, take a moment to share with them all the excitement and energy that took place through the week of action!

Sacramento, CA – At National MEChA conference, hundreds march in support of workers forming a union.

Philly, PA – Youth and Students kick off week of action with “voices of rebels” event

Madison, WI – Students rally at capitol and lift up Cesar Chavez and farmworker justice.

Did you hear affirmative action proponent Ward Connerly already lost in Oklahoma? There’s a growing campaign with JwJ and students in MO, lets keep the list of states where we pushed back and won growing on this fight!

There were so many more exciting, successful, and uplifting stories from the week of action, we’ll put out more as soon as we can!

Reports, stories, and video are still coming in! If you haven’t sent in your stories and pics, please do so by emailing it to nslwoa@jwj.org

Once again, thanks to all participants including the Student/Farmworker Alliance, United Students Against Sweatshops, Young Democratic Socialists, Student Action with Farmworkers, United States Student Association, Young Communist League, SLAP chapters across the country, National MEChA, and all those who participated and helped make this one of the most successful weeks of action to date!

Job Opportunities

We’re looking for the next SLAP coordinator!

Graduating this year? Interested in continuing working on worker’s rights, access to education, and supporting the emerging student movement for social and economic justice?

Jobs with Justice and the US Student Association are seeking the next Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) Coordinator!!!

SLAP , a joint project of the US Student Association and Jobs with Justice is designed to assist youth and student activists organize campaigns and build power to defend and expand workers’ rights and economic justice.

Objective: SLAP is seeking a full-time Coordinator to provide technical assistance for student activists through conducting trainings, developing materials, coordinating national days of action and networking as well as learning opportunities.

Contact Treston@jwj.org for more information  

UNITE HERE

UNITE HERE union is leading a long-term, statewide campaign to organize tens of thousands of casino workers in California, whose living and working conditions sometimes bear more resemblance to those in the Deep South or the Third World than to the "California Dream."

The casinos are extraordinarily profitable and are among the worst exploiters both of immigrant workers (housekeepers, dishwashers, etc) and of women (especially cocktail servers). These campaigns are part of a larger national effort that has built strong, vibrant unions and raised the standard of living for tens of thousands of workers in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Mississippi and elsewhere. The casino industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, and these campaigns are on the cutting edge of building power for working people in regions where poverty is rampant and workers (especially immigrant workers and other people of color) have traditionally had very little power.

We are looking for student activists, community activists, and others who are passionate about building a movement for social justice and want to learn the practical skills of union organizing. You will work directly alongside workers who are struggling for a better life, and you will be part of a comprehensive training and leadership development program led by experienced union organizers. We are serious about training the social-movement leaders of the future.

The only requirement is a dedication to social justice and a willingness to learn. You will struggle and grow, and challenge others to do the same. And you'll have fun doing it.

If this sounds like your idea of a good time, please send a resume and a short description of your interest in the movement to Ty Hudson at thudson@unitehere.org