Most of what we eat, drink, wear, drive, and watch is the product of companies that are global in their operations. Their power over our lives, our planet, and our democratic institutions has never been greater, and with Congress’ current attempt to ram through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal by way of Fast-Track legislation, corporate-led pursuits of globalization are more imminent than ever before.

Fast-Track would diminish the ability of Congress to amend harmful trade agreements, like TPP, and would enhance the ability of coporations to move their products, money, and factories around the globe more quickly and with less regulations. Again and again we have been promised that these trade agreements “create jobs” and grow the economy, but history tells us otherwise:

Since the 1994 signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):

• NAFTA was said to increase high-quality U.S. jobs through expanding exports. The opposite occured: Imports from NAFTA partners grew faster than U.S. exports and some 700,000 U.S. jobs were lost as production moved to Mexico
• Heavily subsidized U.S. corn, and other staples, that poured into Mexico displaced an estimated two million small farmers

TPP is like NAFTA on steroids!

We cannot allow another job-killing trade deal to pass! JOIN US on April 1st at 4:30pm at Congressman Zeldin’s district office (31 Oak Street, Patchogue) as we rally against the TPP and Fast-Track and say NO to coporate profits and YES to protecting working people!

Friends,

Today is a big day for Walmart workers! Walmart, the largest employer in the world, made an announcement that they plan to raise the baseline wage for current employees to $10/hour. This wage increase will impact nearly 40% of Walmart workers in the US, or an estimated 500,000 Walmart workers!

This is not only a HUGE victory for Walmart workers and their allies, but also for the retail industry and the labor movement as a whole. Today, we celebrate the effectiveness of our organizing and lift up the strength and energy of all Walmart Associates who risked their jobs by striking and demonstrating.

This is what worker power looks like!

The fight must go on though. This announcement still falls short of what US workers need to support their families, and we will continue to call for $15 an hour and respect on the job! Will you join us in this fight?

In Solidarity!

Register today for our 5th Annual Working But Still Poor Conference, being held on Friday, March 13th. This year’s theme is “Protecting Families from Economic Injustice on Long Island”. Workshops will reflect on the structural injustices impacting working families across Long Island and present opportunities for advocacy and movement building. Visit https://longislandjwj.org/conference/ for a full list of workshop descriptions and presenters!

FEATURED SPEAKERS

We are honored to have Rev. Jim Wallis as our closing keynote speaker. He is the president and founder of Sojourners, a national Christian organization committed to faith in action for social justice. Rev. Wallis recently served on the White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and was former vice chair of and currently serves on the Global Agenda Council on Values of the World Economic Forum. Rev. Jim Wallis’ most recent books include: On God’s Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn’t Learned About Serving the Common Good; Rediscovering Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery; The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-Religious Right America; God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. 

We are also very excited to have Lisa Sharon Harper, Sojourners’ senior director of mobilizing, lead a two-part workshop for clergy and congregational leaders on how to preach about social justice. Lisa was the founding executive director of New York Faith & Justice—an organization at the hub of a new ecumenical movement to end poverty in New York City. She has written extensively on tax reform, comprehensive immigration reform, health-care reform, poverty, racial justice, and transformational civic engagement.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS

How To Preach About Social Justice … And Hold On to Your Congregation
(Two-part Sojourners’ workshop for clergy and faith leaders led by Lisa Sharon Harper from Sojourners)

Income Inequality and Gender Inequality: Trends in the Suburban Family

Long Island’s Segregated Schools: Tracking Some Children Into Economic Insecurity

Messaging Workshop: How To Talk About Immigration Policies that Break Up Families and Deny Dreams

Mass Incarceration of Minorities and Poor People: Locking Some People into Economic Insecurity

Putting Families Last: Low Wage Jobs and the Lack of Public Transportation on Long Island

Quality Child Care: An Economic Necessity for All; Available Only for Affluent Families

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

If you have any difficulties with or questions about registering, please contact Kimberly at 631-348-1170 ext. 317.

Sponsorships are available! If you would like to learn more about how to become a conference sponsor please contact Anita at 631-348-1170 ext. 304 or ahalasz.lijwj@gmail.com

We look forward to your participation!