On February 2, 2010 when you go to the polls for local elections Special Interests from out-of-state will be asking you to support two new attacks on Missouri workers:

The Save our Secret Ballot Initiative attempts to limit the ways workers are allowed to form a union - forcing us into a broken federal bureaucracy at the National Labor Relations Board.

Earning Tax repeal is an attack on the whole economy of the state by seeking to cripple two of the vital economic centers - The cities of St. Louis and Kansas City.

Before you go to the polls and are asked to sign these petition GET THE FACTS about these initiatives!

Visit www.freeandfairmo.com to find out about the misleading "Save our Secret Ballot" Initiative and Visit www.mojwj.org/earningstax to find out about the petition to repeal the Earning’s Tax. 

These attacks on Missouri’s workers and economy won’t end on election day. Petitioners will continue to be out in your neighborhoods.

Here are two ways you can help us keep track of these petitioners and educate voters:

Report What You See 

If you see a petitioner with the Save our Secret Ballot Petition at other locations please call 1-877-644-0466 or go to http://freeandfairmo.com/ 

To report a petitioner with the initiative to repeal the Earnings Tax go to www.mojwj.org/ContactUs

Be a Voter Educator

If you would like to sign up to volunteer to educate voters about these misleading petitions between now and May 2 sign up at www.mojwj.org/ContactUS

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

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

The statewide organization is hiring an Operations Coordinator. 

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

Then get ready to push in Conference Committee!

This year’s Champion is Steve Robins, President of G.S. Robins in St. Louis. Campaigning in full force were G.S. Robin’s workers, members of Teamsters 688 who are currently on strike. Their stories of how G.S. Robins is putting profits before people and endangering public safety with  inexperienced replacement workers with little or no training, were heard loud and clear by the party attendees.  The nomination was made by JwJ member organization Teamsters 688.

Learn more about why Steve Robins is Scrooge of the Year

Campaigning at the Scrooge party reached a fever pitch and before the night was through and thanks to all of you that participated, 2,994 votes were cast, raising $2,994 for JwJ’s organizing against the attacks on our community represented by of ALL this year’s nominees.

Let’s not forget the other incredible campaigns run on behalf of all of this years nominees, including two write in candidates.

To learn more about this year’s candidates CLICK HERE.

Special thanks to Teamsters Local 688 for graciously hosting this year’s party.

On Tuesday October, 20 - Tell Congress it’s time to DELIVER!

Today, Oct. 20 is a National Day of Action timed to deliver a big surge of support.  Throughout the state and Nation, activists are taking action in support of health care, and by 9 am we’ve already made the news!  Fox news.  Post-Dispatch.   Your earlier calls to Congress contributed to this historic opportunity.  Now we need you to call and tell Congress It’s Time to DELIVER!

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 Amy Smoucha amy@mojwj.org

To understand FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM: WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR WORKING PEOPLE click HERE.

Buy your tickets today!

Thursday, November 5, 2009
at 6PM

at IBEW Local 1, 5850 Elizabeth, 63110

Keynote Speaker State Treasurer and Teamster Clint Zweifel

Join St. Louis Jobs with Justice as we celebrate 10 years of key victories for economic justice and workers rights.

Tickets available now! $25 each, Table of 8 for $200. Available online or call 314.644.0466.

Click HERE to view the 10th Anniversary invitation and the list of Host Committee members.

Ticket price includes dinner featuring the Missouri Rural Crisis Center’s Patchwork Family Farms Pork (vegetarian and non-pork meat options also available) and cash bar. 

All attendees will receive a 2010 St. Louis JwJ 10th Anniversary Wall Calendar and an ad book. If you are interested in being included in the ad book please contact Jessica Pace, info@stl-jwj.org.

Can’t join us? Please consider sending a contribution in honor of the work JwJ’s leaders and activists accomplished over the last 10 years.

Donations can be mailed to 2725 Clifton, 63139 or ONLINE 

All 10th Anniversary donors will be recognized in the event’s program.

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.

 On Tues., Oct. 6, We told Big Insurance 
"It’s A Crime to Deny Healthcare"

Jobs with Justice joined Health Care for America Now (HCAN), GRO - Grass Roots Organizing, ACORN, and Missouri ProVote outside of the offices of Wellpoint Anthem in downtown St. Louis to expose the abuses of big insurance companies.

Activist staged a crime scene representing the 10 Missourians who die each week because they don’t have health insurance.

To understand FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM: WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR WORKING PEOPLE click HERE.

For more information about health reform myths and facts, check out Missouri Health Care for All HERE.