Growing Economic Justice in South Florida!

 

I. FIGHTING TO STAYING HOME
Last week, thanks to the fearless and tireless efforts of mobile home residents, Miami-Dade County's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to 1) extend the moratorium on the redevelopment of mobile home parks for 5 months and 2) draft a mobile home park zoning district to preserve exisiting affordable housing.


Standing vigilant for mobile home park preservation


Keeping County Commissioners honest about mobile homes and development greed

 
10 Mobile Homeowner Associations descend upon Government Center to protect affordable housing for 60,000 people in Dade County

 
Young and fired up!  Council leader Yvrose celebrates her birthday and we give thanks for her leadership

 

 

 

 

II. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS...

We had a beautiful afternoon at JwJ Board member Marcus Braswell's newly appointed abode.  Friends from the civil rights, housing, legal, lg/b/t/q, social service and union communities were on hand to support JwJ and meet new partners in the struggle for economic justice in South Florida. Marcus and fellow board members Herminia and Judith Nasser and John Gaige were the party 'stewards'.  Many thanks to the festive party goers who had a great time and support great work!

 

 

 

 

 III. WORKERS' RIGHTS AT HOME AND ABROAD
The billion dollar flower industry is headquartered in Miami.  But the source of America's flowers is Colombia.  Numerous plantations in Colombia grow and cut and deliver flowers to Miami where they are distributed and sent all over North America.  It takes nearly 7,000 workers in Miami to recieve, pack and deliver these flowers to their destinations in the U.S. and Canada.  Why do we care?  Because workers in Colombia and Miami report inhumane working conditions. 

 

That is why SFJwJ has supported flower worker organizing in Colombia for the past three years.  And why we anchored the third national Flower Worker Tour, featuring Colombian trade union leader Amanda Camacho and Miami worker activist Rosana Araujo--because the fate of flower workers in Colombia and Miami are linked!


 Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen welcome Amanda Camacho, President of Asopapagayo flower worker union
JwJ Board member introduces Amanda  and Miami-based flower activist Rosana Araujo
Sisters unite!  JwJ's women leaders support Rosana and Amanda during the third JwJ Flower Worker Tour.

 


IV. FLORIDA WORKERS WIN BIG IN TALLAHASSEE
This is the biggest David and Goliath fight for workers' rights that you haven't heard about: The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen took on the mega railroad company CSX--and won!  For the second year in a row, CSX put together a deal that destroyed union labor on Florida's railroad, left all liability with the state and had the state renting it's own property--all under the guise of a commuter rail.  Union members worked hard to expose the real deal.

 

V. WORKING WOMEN UNITE!
Find out more about the Working Women's Leadership Training Program at this month's Coalition for Labor Union Women [CLUW] meeting: Thursday, June 18, 6:00 pm at AFSCME Council 79, 99 NW 183rd Street, Suite 224, Miami, FL. FIU professor Laurie Shrage will share a presentation on the state of women and union organizing in the sex industry.  For information, contact South Florida CLUW President Tanaka Charles at soflacluw16@yahoo.com.

 

 

VI. MIAMI EMPLOYEES HAVE NEW RIGHTS
This morning, Miami City Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve an ordinance granting domestic partner healthcare benefits to all city employees.  Commissioner Marc Sarnoff proudly stated that this was the most important piece of legislation he has ever had the honor to sponsor.  Thanks to Equality Florida and SAVE Dade for leading this vital effort to expand workers rights in South Florida!