Jobs with Justice

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The current Jobs With Justice logo, in use since 2014 JWJ color 400.jpg
The current Jobs With Justice logo, in use since 2014

Jobs With Justice (JWJ) is a not-for-profit workers' rights organization in the United States, focused on economic justice efforts. They partner with a variety of community, faith, student, and other labor groups. [1] The organizations was founded in 1987 and is made up of individuals and affiliated organizations. As of 2022, Jobs With Justice coalitions existed in over 30 cities or states in all regions of the country. [2] Jobs With Justice is based in Washington, D.C., and is led by Executive Director Erica Smiley. [3]

Contents

History

Founding

Jobs With Justice was founded in 1987 following efforts by the Communications Workers of America to organize call center workers in Detroit, Michigan. Then CWA president Larry Cohen helped organize what became Jobs With Justice. [4]

Jobs With Justice's first rally was held in Miami, Florida at the Miami Convention Center. Among the notable attendees included Rev. Jesse Jackson, who spoke at the rally." [5]

Merger with American Rights at Work

In 2012, Jobs With Justice merged with fellow labor rights group American Rights at Work forming a single organization under the Jobs With Justice banner. [6]

Projects

STRIKE!: The Game of Worker Rebellion

TESA Collective and Jobs With Justice funded a labor organizing game on Kickstarter. In STRIKE!: The Game of Worker Rebellion, players grow their ranks, mobilize workers, and organize strikes around their city. The campaign for the game ran during a union drive at Kickstarter. [7]

See also

References

  1. "Guide to the Jobs With Justice records, 1980-2019". rmc.library.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  2. admin (2013-11-08). "Our Network". Jobs With Justice. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  3. "Erica Smiley". Boston Review. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  4. "Honoring the Leadership and Determination of President Larry Cohen | Communications Workers of America". cwa-union.org. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  5. "Jesse Jackson urges organized labor worldwide - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  6. McIntosh, Don (2012-08-14). "Jobs with Justice merges with American Rights at Work". NW Labor Press. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  7. "This Board Game About Labor Revolts Is Protesting Kickstarter on Kickstarter". Vice.com. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 2022-01-25. The two groups behind the game, the TESA Collective and Jobs With Justice, have expressed solidarity with Kickstarter's union.