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Economic Justice Links


Americans for a Fair Estate Tax - a broad-based non-partisan coalition that advocates reform instead of repeal of the estate tax.

Center for Economic and Policy Research - CEPR was established to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people?s lives. We work to ensure that the citizenry has the information and analysis that allows it to act effectively in the public interest.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - CBPP is a nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and programs, with an emphasis on those affecting low- and moderate-income people.

The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation (CHPP) - CHPP’s goal is to ensure that heirs' receive and exercise the full rights associated with property ownership.

Children's Defense Fund - The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind® and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

Citizens for Tax Justice - A nonpartisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated to fair taxation at the federal, state, and local levels.

Economic Policy Institute - The Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy.

Global Exchange

Industrial Workers of the World - A union for all people.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy - The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) is a non-profit, non-partisan research and education organization that works on government taxation and spending policy issues.

Left Business Observer - Left Business Observer is an 8-page more-or-less monthly newsletter on economics and politics in the U.S. and the world at large.

National Bureau Of Economic Research - a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works.

National Center on Poverty Law - A legal and policy research, communications, and advocacy organization that provides national leadership in identifying, developing, and supporting creative and collaborative approaches to achieve social and economic justice for low-income people.

National Coalition for the Homeless - Our mission is to end homelessness. We focus our work in the following 4 areas: housing justice, economic justice, health care justice, and civil rights.

National Committee on Pay Equity - A national membership coalition of over 80 organizations working to eliminate sex- and race-based wage discrimination and to achieve pay equity.

National Economic Development and Law Center - A multi-disciplinary legal and planning resource center whose mission is to contribute to the abilities of low-income persons and communities to realize their full potential.

National Low Income Housing Coalition LIHIS - NLIHC provides up-to-date information, formulates policy, and educates the public on housing needs and the strategies for solutions.

National People's Action - NPA is the tool for neighborhood people to take on corporate America and fat cat Washington Politicians.

National Urban League - The mission of the Urban League movement is to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights.

OMB Watch - OMB Watch was formed in 1983 to lift the veil of secrecy shrouding the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Palmetto Legal Services - Providing free legal services in civil matters to qualified low income residents of South Carolina Midlands.

Responsible Wealth - Responsible Wealth is a national network of businesspeople, investors and affluent Americans who are concerned about deepening economic inequality and are working for widespread prosperity.

United for a Fair Economy - United for a Fair Economy was founded as a "movement support" organization to provide media capacity, face-to-face economic literacy education, and training resources to organizations and individuals who work to address the widening income and asset gap in our country.

 

Charleston's Dirty Little Secret

(The following is from the Charleston sanitation workers organizing brochure)

 

Why visit a historic plantation when you can visit a working one?


Charleston's Dirty Little Secret


While thousands of tourists pour into our city every day to admire the historic mansions, shop at King Street boutiques, and dine at world class restaurants, 120 sanitation workers keep visitors and residents clean and safe in the face of constant abuse from supervisors and dangerous conditions.


Dozens of sanitation workers have been injured on the job as they labor under intense pressure to cover expanding routes with shrinking crews and outdated equipment.


A driver knocked unconscious by a tree branch that fell on her cab was rushed to MUSC and then hurried back to work a few days later by supervisors who ignored doctors' orders to keep her off the truck until she had healed.


Sick and injured workers are forced back to work before they are healthy.


A confusing wage and seniority structure leaves workers unsure of their pay and promotion rights. This leads to all sorts of abuses of the system.


Some workers are even forced to compete for promotions by engaging in cut-throat challenges straight out of reality TV programs. Others are forced to work overtime and paid at their regular rate.


But sanitation workers' issues ARE NOT PRIMARILY ECONOMIC. They are issues of fairness, human dignity, and often, survival. And, they are an embarrassment to our good city.


Your right to join a union!


The vast majority of the sanitation workers have joined Local 1199, a labor union that can make sure employees are treated fairly and with respect.


Many government workers in the South, however, think that they are prohibited from joining unions. THIS IS FALSE!


State law prohibits public sector workers from formally negotiating labor contracts, but the courts have consistently protected workers' rights to "meet and confer" with government officials to make sure that their concerns are addressed and that they are treated fairly.


Common questions about unions:


What can a union do in a right-to-work state?


Employers make changes when they are forced to make changes. As long as the City believes they can fix problems by getting rid of a few "troublemakers," sanitation workers will continue to work under dangerous conditions.


Why do sanitation workers need a union?


Every group of employees has representative bodies that advocate on their behalf. Firefighters, lawyers, doctors, and teachers all have organizations and associations to advocate for them. Public sector workers, including sanitation workers, are no different.


Many people forget that when Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered in Memphis, he was protesting for the rights of sanitation workers to join a labor union - the same national union Charleston workers have joined today!


What is Local 1199?


This union has a 40-year history in Charleston dating to the 1969 hospital workers strike when 500 women at MUSC and the County hospital carried out a successful 4-month strike for pay raises and union recognition.


Why would the City agree to work with 1199?


The City Council was asked in 2003 to recognize a union for sanitation workers. They buried the proposal in their legal department. But City officials now understand that we cannot afford another Sofa Superstore tragedy. That failure was rooted in the City's refusal to listen to the firefighters' longstanding grievances.


In the words of 1199 members:


"I've got children and grandchildren who will come up behind me. They don't need to face what I've had to face. I could not do that to them."


"My raise and my life can't be based on the mood of my supervisor. We need a structure that only a union can provide."


"Confusion in the sanitation department helps no one - not the workers, the customers, or the City."


JOIN LOCAL 1199 AND THE CHARLESTON SANITATION WORKERS' MOVEMENT


IT'S ABOUT DIGNITY!


To join Local 1199 or for more information, please contact 843-805-9697 or visit our office at 1109 King Street (the Chronicle Building).


The Charleston Sanitation Workers' Movement

AFSCME Local 1199

 

If you live in Charleston, sign the petition. 

 

Read Sanitation Workers Campaign Building Momentum .

 

 

 
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