TODAY: 4pm, 440 Broad: Fight to save our public schools!

Protest at the School Reform Commission, Philadelphia School District headquarters, 440 N. Broad St 4:00 pm.

 Join the Philadelphia School District's unions and community partners in the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools for a rally at School District Headquarters as the SRC votes on next year's budget.  Let's stop the SRC's bare-bones budget and five-year plan to close, charter, and privatize schools and to outsource jobs.  Please note that the rally will start at 4:00, 30 minutes earlier than originally planned.

Protect our children--fight for schools

Tomorrow night is our Solidarity Awards Reception, and I hope you'll join us then.

In the meantime, however, I want to call on you to join us in putting our belief in solidarity into action around one of the most urgent crises our working communities face right now.

Our schools are under attack. Under Tom Knudsen, the School District of Philadelphia is threatening to:

• Close 64 public schools;
• Force 40% of students into private charters;
• Turn all our schools over to outside operators;
• Lay off twenty-seven hundred education workers unionized by SEIU 32BJ.

We can't stand for this. We ask you to join us tonight at Bright Hope Baptist Church at 6:30 (12th and Cecil B. Moore Ave.) for an emergency education community meeting hosted by our allies at Action United. Chief Recovery Officer Tom Knudsen and Mayor Michael Nutter have both been invited.


Tomorrow, we stand with 32BJ members and working families, fighting for the jobs of 2,700 bus drivers, janitors, bus attendants, engineers, and maintenance workers. These critical education workers have already received layoff notices from the School District, and we will be rallying with them in solidarity starting at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at MSB Plaza (15th & JFK), then joining them in marching at noon sharp.

Let's stand up for our children.

Let's stand in solidarity with the workers who serve our schools.

Let's stand up for education.

Daily Kos: Judge orders new union election at Target store, citing illegal intimidation

Unionbusting at Target:

Store management prevented workers from wearing pro-union buttons, threatened union supporters with firing, and said the store would close if workers voted for a union. In fact, the Long Island store in question is currently closed for renovation, a closure that Target claims had been long-planned and isn't related to the union effort, but which is the first time a Target has closed for renovation in several years.

Daily Kos: Judge orders new union election at Target store, citing illegal intimidation

Open bar, good food, awesome people: Next Wednesday is our annual solidarity awards event, 5:30 pm at 1319 Locust Street!

Don't forget--a week from today, on 5/23 at 5:30 pm we celebrate our annual awards event! With an open bar, great awardees, and good food, it's an event you don't want to miss.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 23rd, 5:30 pm
WHERE: AFSCME 1199c Union Hall, 1319 Locust Street

We've heard from a lot of folks that price is a concern, and I want to make sure everyone knows: while we ask all who can to pay $75 a ticket, tickets are sliding scale for seniors, low-income, students, and the unemployed. While we ask everyone to give something, we do not want financial hardship to keep folks from the event.

Ticket payments can be made at the door, or mailed to: Philly JwJ, 1315 Spruce Street Ste 331, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

It'll be a great evening, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the ways that the labor movement, Philly JwJ, Occupy Philadelphia, and other groups worked together last year to advocate for social and economic justice--and to celebrate the continuation of that work through projects like this month's crucial efforts to save our city school system.

As usual, we have a stellar slate of award recipients:

Henry Nicholas, President, AFSCME 1199c and strong Occupy supporter

Jody Dodd, Occupy Philadelphia Legal Collective organizer

Jim Savage, President, USW 10-1 and Occupy Philadelphia eviction night arrestee

Amanda Geraci, Occupy Philadelphia Safety Working Group and key Occupy organizer

Occupy Philadelphia, for its outstanding work in changing the local and national discourse

Come join us as we celebrate the hard work and audacity of these local activists. It should be a night to remember.

Rally Tonght: Change Walmart Now!

On April 22, the New York Times reported that Walmex, Walmart's largest foreign operation, had passed more than $24 million in bribes to politicians to grease the wheels of its expansion in Mexico. The article described how, after discovering the corruption, the retail giant's U.S. management moved to cover up the scandal. A call for the resignation of the company’s top executives is mounting nationally.

What: UFCW Rally: Change Walmart Now!

When: May 9, 2012-- 5 to 7 pm

Where: Walmart Store #5891
2200 Wheatsheaf Lane (off Aramingo Ave.)
Philadelphia, PA 19137

May 23rd: Philly JwJ's 2012 Solidarity Awards!

It's been an amazing year of solidarity, reciprocity, and direct action. It's time to celebrate with an OPEN BAR, refreshments, and some fantastic honorees!


When: May 23rd, 2012, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where: AFSCME 1199c Union Hall, 1319 Locust Street, Philadelphia

Join Philadelphia Jobs with Justice in recognizing the amazing organizing work of:

President Henry Nicholas (AFSCME 1199c; Occupy supporter)
Jody Dodd (Occupy Philly Legal Collective)
President Jim Savage (USW 10-1 and Occupy eviction night arrestee)
Amanda Geraci (Occupy Philly organizer)
Occupy Philadelphia

Individual tickets $75 ($10-30 sliding scale for low-income, fixed income, students, and unemployed). Mail checks to Philly JwJ, 1315 Spruce St, Philadelphia PA, 19107--or donate at door!

Celebrate May Day! Fight corporate greed!