On Tuesday, August 3rd, Missourians voted and passed Proposition C by a 71% of the vote. This anti-health reform initiative was confusing for a lot of people. It was put on the ballot by politicians and lobbyists to protect insurance companies and to influence elections.  Proposition C posed a very narrow question in a low turnout election.  In addition, the measure has no real effect on our lives or our health insurance status.

We’re focused on moving forward with implementation of the new health reform law that will guarantee that we can get health insurance even if we get sick or lose our jobs.  When fully in place in 2014, health insurance companies will not be able to cap our benefits if we need medical care and  there will be limits on what they can charge us in premiums and deductibles. And this year more than 79,000 Missouri small businesses and non profits are eligible for tax credits to help pay for insurance premiums for workers! 

We’re glad to have the election behind us so we can focus on the real work of educating the community. It’s important for all of us to keep talking about what’s really in the Affordable Care Act.

Looking forward!
We will be celebrating the important reforms that will go into effect next month:

•  Insurance companies will not be allowed to turn children down because they have a pre-existing condition and they must cover the medical care relating to those conditions (this will happen for adults, too in 2014).
•  Insurance companies must allow parents to keep young adults on their insurance policy until the age of 26. The young adult does not have to be a dependent of the parent(s), does not have to live with the parent(s), and may be married.
• Insurance companies will not be allowed to cancel policies when people get sick (rescission) except in cases of fraudulent application.
•  New group health plans cannot charge co-pays and deductibles for preventive care and may not discriminate in favor of higher wage employees.
• The law completely bans lifetime limits and tightly restricts new plans use of annual limits.
• A temporary program to help offset the costs of employers who provide health insurance for retirees between the age of 55-64 begins.

Protect this victory:  If you want to learn more about the immediate effects above, or to get more involved in our health care organizing, please contact health care organizer, Amy Smoucha, amy@mojwj.org or 314-608-3917.

On July 12, 2010 Jobs with Justice Activists and Leaders joined the America Postal Workers Union for an informational picket to save Saturday mail delivery. Congress is currently considering whether to eliminate Saturday service and only delivery mail 5 days a week.

Reducing service would weaken the United States Postal Service’s ability to serve every American at an inexpensive, uniform rate, and could eventually lead to privatization. Millions of Americans could no longer rely on Saturday delivery  to receive prescriptions, checks, or other important mail and outside couriers could step in and require anyone that needed something delivered on a Saturday to be charged more.

Tell your Representative to Save Saturday Service.

Read more about the picket HERE and HERE

The President Casino is closing on June 28, 2010 and Pinnacle Entertainment, which operates The President Casino, Lumiere Place Casino, and the new River City Casino, is refusing to keep it’s promises to the Presidents 220 workers. Pinnacle promised priority hiring at the Lumiere Place and River City Casinos and a retention bonus or severance package for workers who remained until closing.

Initially Pinnacle refused to negotiate transfers or priority hiring at their other two locations for 220 employees.It’s time for Pinnacle Entertainment to stand up and be a responsible employer to its workers and the community.

Tell them to keep their promises made to the President Casino workers!

Come rally with UNITE HERE Local 74, St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice, Community leaders, and workers to tell Pinnacle to be responsible to their workers and the community!

 "DO THE RIGHT THING" RALLY

Monday, June 28, 2010

5:00 PM

The President Casino

For more information go to www.ShameOnPinnacle.org

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.

Find out more about these initiatives and what they mean to Missouri.

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 Congressmen Carnahan and Clay at 1-866-922-4970 to tell them 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.

JOIN US for a CELEBRATION tonight, Monday, 3/22 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust Street, downtown St. Louis.

http://www.schlafly.com/map.taproom.html

To RSVP or for more information contact Amy Smoucha amy@mojwj.org

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.