Vote Now for your favorite greedy, most cold-hearted...Scrooge!

National Jobs with Justice annual Scrooge award!

Each year, national Jobs with Justice gives an “award” to the greediest, most cold-hearted company or person of the year. Nominations for the 2010 Scrooge of the Year are in, and it's time to vote. Please read about the candidates below and then VOTE for your favorite greedy Scrooge! We'll announce the winner on December 20th.

This year's nominees are....

Stop the Lies

You can help Stop the Lies. Go to http://www.afscme.org/stopthelies

Public service workers are under attack -- but the real cause of our country's economic troubles are greedy Wall Street CEOs, their friends in Washington who turn a blind eye, and the right-wing talking heads who spin the lies. Add your name to stop the lies: http://www.afscme.org/StopTheLies

Denver supporters of Philadelphia Longshoremen and City Council members send message on Nov. 22:

"Del Monte is undermining the fundamental pillars of the work force in America!"

-November 23, 2010

On Monday evening, in a show of support and solidarity for 200 longshoremen from the Port of Philadelphia, community, clergy and labor advocates in Colorado met as a delegation in front of the Denver City and County Building to pressure City Council to take a stand against global giant Del Monte’s decision to cut over 200 good paying, quality jobs.

“When you have corporate aggression of this type that strips out a families abilities to provide for their children, not only do we have the immediate destabilization of families, but this has long term ripple effects in our communities,” stated Denver School Board Director Andrea Merida. “When we do not set up our children to be successful then we are weakening our democracy.”

Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez met the delegation outside in 28-degree weather and stated, “It’s a cold day and a cold night but this is an action of solidarity. We are here because what Del Monte is doing is undermining the fundamental pillars of the work force in America. They are taking us back to the 1920s.”

Councilman Lopez continued, “I personally will boycott Del Monte products until this issue is resolved and in a few moments we will be getting signatures from Denver City Council on a letter to the head of Del Monte.”

The delegation was part of a Nov. 22 National Day of Action called by the Friends and Families of International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local 1291 in response to the Del Monte Fresh Produce cut of over 200 union jobs at the Port of Philadelphia. The corporation did this after demanding and getting over $5 million dollars in wage and other benefit concessions from the local union.

“In Philadelphia this morning, hundreds came out in the streets and blocked traffic including the 3-year old daughter of one of the longshoremen that lost his job. She was wearing a sign that read, “Del Monte ruined my Christmas,” said Russell Bannan with the American Federation of Teachers in Colorado. "The reality is Del Monte also ruined her college education and her father’s ability to provide a future for his family."

US Social Forum - Some Raw Footage pt.1

While we work to put together video we shot while in Detroit at the US Social Forum last month, we thought we would share some raw footage. More soon.

Falcon Creek Middle School Teacher on the David Sirota Show - NO ON SB 191

Tom Rosh, 8th grade teacher at Falcon Creek Middle School, talks to David Sirota about the real cost of SB 191. Please contact your representative in the Colorado State House and urge them to VOTE NO on SB 191.

High priority targets:

Rep. Jeanne Labuda 303-866-2966
Rep. Mark Ferrandino 303-866-2911
Rep. Lois Court 303-866-2967
Rep. Beth McCann 303-866-2959

For more info, visit www.STOP191.com.

ACTION ALERT - Stop SB 191 in Appropriations

Today, Senate Bill 191 (the so called Teacher Tenure Bill) will be heard in the House Appropriations Committee. Last week, this bill made it out of the House Education Committee on a 7-6 vote after midnight - following hours of testimony. Many feel this bill is a juggernaut headed for passage. The problem - It is an unfunded mandate that will strap districts with the cost of implementation - projected to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Colorado deserves an audit of what this legislation will truly cost. More details at www.STOP191.com.

CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE NOW AND TELL THEM TO SLOW DOWN ON SB 191!

Chair: Rep. Pommer – jack.pommer.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2780
Vice-Chair: Rep. Ferrandino – mferrandino@yahoo.com - 303-866-2911
Ranking Repulbican: Rep. Lambert – kent.lambert.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2937
Rep. Fischer – randy.fischer.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2917
Rep. Gardner – bob.gardner.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2191
Rep. Hullinghorst – dickey.hullinghorst.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2915
Rep. Judd – joel.judd.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2925
Rep. Kefalas – john.kefalas.house@state.co.us - 303-866-4569
Rep. Kerr – jim.kerr.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2939
Rep. Pace – sal.pace.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2968
Rep. Riesberg – jim.riesburg.house@state.co.us - 303-866-2929
Rep. Sonnenberg – jerry.sonnenberg.house@state.co.us - 303-866-3706

Phone message:

"Hello, my name is _______. I live in _____ (optional: and my children attend ______________.)

SB 191 is an irresponsible, unfunded mandate. We want a fair and credible evaluation system for teachers, not a punitive waste of money.

As you already know, the Colorado K-12 funding situation is appalling. We are among the lowest in the nation for per-pupil funding! But this bill would require more from districts even after the recent funding cuts.

I do not want to see money wasted on a bill that would require even more testing and unfairly punish teachers.

Please reject Senate Bill 191.

Thank you."

Association of Flight Attendants v. United Airlines

On April 6, 2010, Colorado Jobs with Justice supported the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) at an informational picket at the Denver International Airport in order to educate the flying public about their labor dispute with United Airlines. The action was international and marked the one year anniversary of the start of face to face bargaining of a new contract. Click above to hear local AFA president Ken Kyle on the David Sirota Show talking about the issue.