TAKE ACTION NOW in this issue

Act Now to Protect Jobs at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Healthcare for All Movement  YOU CAN change health in Missouri!  NOW is the time to endorse principles that demand a plan to make sure ALL MISSOURIANS HAVE HEALTH CARE.

SOLIDARITY EVENTS in this issue

MCU Public Meeting, 10/19

Labor Learn Film Series, 10/21

CAPCR Rally, 10/22

MASW Annual Conference, 10/22-23

AFSC Death Penalty Forum, 10/25

Public Sector Collective Bargaining Workshop, 11/13

JOB OPENINGS/ INTERNSHIPS in this issue

Missouri Jobs with Justice Hiring 3 New Organizers

Metropolitan Congregations United seeks full-time community organzier

GRO has summer/fall interships available

TAKE ACTION NOW

Act Now to Protect Jobs at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch!
Contact Publisher Kevin Mowbray as the Post-Dispatch continues to lay off workers and request he bring those people back to work.

Stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers at the Newpaper Guild as they continue to fight layoffs at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The St. Louis Newspaper Guild recently began early contract bargaining for their contract, which expires in June 2009.  Midway through these bargaining negotiations, the company indicated that it intended to lay off a number of Guild members regardless of any success at the bargaining table.  The Newspaper Guild was stunned by this announcement and promptly ended bargaining on September 25, 2008. 

On September 26, the Post-Disptach promptly laid off 20 guild members, making the total number of laid off workers this year an astounding 69 while the company continues to be profitable.  While not all of these jobs were guild employees, much of this work is being outsourced to other locations and out of our community. Take Action NOW!   Contact Publisher Kevin Mowbray at 314-340-8970 or kmowbray@post-dispatch.com and tell him to put post-dispatch workers back on the job!   

Join the Missouri Healthcare for All Movement!  Endorse principles that demand a plan to make sure ALL MISSOURIANS HAVE HEALTH CARE  Missouri Health Care for All is seeking both group and  individual endorsements at this time!

Join a growing group of organizations, faith communities and individuals who believe that all Missourians should have access to affordable, quality healthcare.  This long-tem, state-wide movement will work to ensure that health care proposals move Missouri forward until we all have health care.  Joining this movement will elevate the grassroots voice that demands affordable, quality care for everyone.  Visit www.myspace.com/mohealthcareforall, or click here NOW to sign on as a supporter. Be sure to promote this opportunity to your congregations and community organizations!

SOLIDARITY EVENTS 

Sunday, October 19, 2008 3:30 - 5:30 PM
Metropolitan Congregations United Public Meeting - "A Single Garment of Destiny"
Jobs with Justice is collaborating with Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) on a public meeting with candidates for local and statewide office.  This Meeting will be held at the Busch Student Center at Saint Louis University.  Both gubernatorial candidates are invited, as are candidates for State Representative and State Senator and other elected officials.  This forum will challenge candidates to work with community organizations on economic justice issues and to combat the fear and division, poverty and discrimination in our communities.    Part of MCU's Faith and Democracy Campaign, this public meeting continues a movement to create a common future together for people of faith and justice in our community.  For more information contact  MCU at 4501 Westminster Place, 63108, 314-367-3484 

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:45 PM - Film Showing; 7:30 PM - Labor Council Meeting
Labor Learn Films Series:  "Mother Jones:  America's Most Dangerous Woman"
Come early to the St. Louis Labor Council monthly delegate meeting held the third Tuesday of every month.  Starting in October the St. Louis Labor Council will sponsor labor films and presentations at this time.  The series will begin October 21 at 6:45 PM with a short film about Mother Jones. Each month, the Labor Council will offer a different film on a relevant topic. 

The film showings will be held in the same hall as the Labor Council Meeting at IBEW Local 1, 5850 Elizabeth Ave, 63110.  The St. Louis Labor Council Meeting will follow these showings at 7:30 PM.  These films are open to ALL.  For more information contact Roz Sherman Voellinger at 314-615-7604 or sherman-voellingerr@missouri.edu.

Wednesday October 22, 2008 4:00 PM
CAPCR Rally -  "Towing Local Control Back to St. Louis"
The Coalition Against Police Crimes and REpression will be hosting a rally and march at Poelker Park (at 12th and Market).  This event marks their continuing participation in the national day of protest against police brutality.  This year's rally will focus on the ongoing campaign to return control of the St. Louis City Police Department back to the citizens of the city.  For more information contact John Chaqsnoff at 314-413-0454 or johnchasnoff@cs.com.   

Wednesday October 22-23, 2008
MASW 108th Annual Conference
MASW is proud to annoucne its 108th annual conference to be held October 22-23, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri.  This year's Conference, "Economic Injustice - The Increasing Divide and Rising Economic Insecurities" will explore the complex intersection of economics and policy, and how we might work to even the playing feidl in combating social stratification in America.  Missouri Jobs with Justice director Lara Granich will be participating in a panel concerning labor issues. The Conference will also feature speakers Robert Kuttner, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the American Prospect and Candace Iveson, Founder of Policy Works. 

Special student rates, and scholarship applications are available. For more information call MASW at 1-888-634-2901 or email citizenvoice@masw.org. 

Saturday, October 25, 2008 4 PM to 6:30 PM
Public Forum on the Death Penalty - Voices from Missouri's African American Community
Join members of the St. Louis American Friends Service Committee as they present this death penalty forum as part of their listening project series.  The event will be held at the Missouri History Museum at Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park, and is free and open to the public.   

This forum will include guest speaker Joe Amrine, who was recently exonerated for his crime based on DNA evidence, for which he spent 17 years on death row.  In addition, a short film will be shown and legislative updates on the moratorium bill will be given.  Poetry, music, and light refreshments will be provided.  To RSVP or for more information contact the AFSC - St. Louis Office at 314-862-5773 x 10 or 11. 

Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; Lunch Provided
Public Sector Collective Bargaining in Missouri Workshop
Presented by the MU Labor Education Program, this class will provide and overview of public sector labor relations policy in the state of Missouri.  Primary attention will be focused on discussion of national trends in the regulation of labor-management relations in public service, with a comparative look at how these issues are address in Missouri.  Many issues concerning scope, coverage, and strategy will also be covered. 

Cost is $45.  The workshop will be held at IAFF Local 2665, 115 McMenamy Rd., St. Peters, MO  63376.  For more information contact the Labor Education Program - MU Extention at 573-888-8358 or at Labored@missouri.edu.  Registrations are due by NOVEMBER 5TH

JOB OPENINGS/INTERNSHIPS

Missouri Jobs with Justice Hiring Three New Organizers
Throughout Missouri, grassroots community, faith and labor leaders have come together to form a powerful statwide organization - Missouri Jobs with Justice.  The new statewide organization  is in need of 3 new organizers to ensure we enter 2009 more power full, and ready to work for justice for Missouri's workers.  The Positions are as follows:

Kansas City Organizer - The Kansas City Organizer will work closely with the Kansas City Leadership Team, Kansas City Organizing Committee, and with the member organizations, funders, and national JwJ staff to provide organizing and administrative support to the local development and implementation of the JwJ campaigns and programs.  This position will be based in Kansas City, but will include travel in and around the state for mobilizations and meetings with the broader JwJ leaders.  Click Here for a full job description.

"Public Good" Organizer - This organizer, with the leadership of the director, will be organizing a long-term project to rebuild Missouri's commitment to invest in its future through services, infrastructure, and a quality workforce.  The organizer will work closely with a statewide steering committee, with rank-and-file public workers and citizens, and JwJ leaders and staff to provide organizing and administrative support for the implementation of this project.  The Organizer will need to develop a detailed understanding of state budget, policy issues, labor law as well as the legislative and collective bargaining process.  This position may be based anywhere in Missouri. However, a significant amount of time will be spent in Jefferson City.  Click Here for a full job description. 

Data and Communications Organizer - The Data and Communications organizer will work closely with the staff and leaders throughout the state to manage our organization's broad-based mobilization and communications.  We are looking for an individual that is familar with connecting technology and activism.  It is important that applicants bring some experience and skills related to those listed in the full job description.  However, Missouri Jobs with Justice is willing to invest in considerable training for a candidate with independent drive, passion for social justice, and a commitment to build quality technology to support economic justice campaigns.  Click Here for the full job description. 

To be considered for any of these positions, Please send a resume, writing sample and at least two references by 5 PM on Friday, November 14, 2008. 

Send Materials To:  
Personnel Committee, Missouri Jobs with Justice 
Via Fax:  314-647-9910
Via Email:  lara@stl-jwj.org
Via USPS:  2725 Clifton Ave, St. Louis, MO  63139 

Metropolitan Congregations United Seeks Full-Time Community Organizer
MCU seeks a full time community organizer.  MCU is a regional grassroots organization of 50 congregations, rooted in faith values.  Its mission is to win concrete improvements in the lives of families, congregations, and others in the St. Louis Metro region by developing leaders and organizing around winnable issues.  MCU enables people to realize their own power and gives them the skills and allies necessary to build the power for change.  The organization has a successful 15-year tract  record and is connected national to the Gamaliel Foundation.  Visit our website at www.mcustl.org for more information, or submit resume and cover letter to the director at: 

Metropolitan Congregations United
Attn: Katie Jansen Larson
4501 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63108
kjansen@mcustl.org

GrassRoots Organizing Annouces Internship Opportunities for the Summer and Fall - 3-4 Positions
GRO- Grass Roots Organizing announces that educational internships are available for the GRO THE VOTE non-partisan community voting project and grassroots leadership development programs. 

If you or someone you know is interested in exciting, hands on, people powered learning experiences, wants to develop valuable skills and be part of a successful that bulids community organization, this opportunity is for you.  GRO will provide intern/practicum student with materials needed to complete internship.  A small stipend based on the number of intern hours completed and intensiveness of the overall learning experience is provided at the mid-term and upon successful completion of internship and overall performance evaluation.

For more information, or to apply send resume and cover letter to Robin Acree, Executive Director at:

GRO - Grass Roots Organizing
304 E. Breckenridge
Mexico, MO  65265
(573) 581-9595
(573) 581-1255 - FAX
robin@gromo.org

The Jobs with Justice Solidarity News and Events keeps you informed about NEWS, ACTIONS, EVENTS and other opportunities to work for economic justice.

Member organizations can submit event info to amys@stl-jwj.org.  The calendar will publish information every Monday. Information is due in by the Friday before the Monday publishing date.

Jobs with Justice is a coalition of progressive labor unions, community, student, and religious organizations committed to fighting together for economic justice.

Thousands of members of these organizations, as well as individuals from the community-at-large have taken the Jobs with Justice Pledge to "Be there five times a year for someone else's fight as well as my own". 

To support this important work financially, visit our secure online donation site.

To find out more about Jobs with Justice including a list of our 90 member organizations, visit www.stl-jwj.org.