JOBS CAMPAIGNS
IN THESE D. C. NEIGHBORHOODS
UNEMPLOYMENT IS
150 %
OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
Despite DC’ s apparent economic boom and DC’ s recovery from the recession, studies show that Black unemployment in DC remains stubbornly high at 19.5 %.( A Vision for an Equitable DC Report, Urban Institute, 2016. http:// www. urban. org / features / vision-equitable-dc) In high unemployment zones of the District, like many neighborhoods east of the river and among youth and returning citizens, the rates can be even higher. In addition to high unemployment, the wages of DC’ s lowest income workers have been stagnant or falling. WIN and Metro IAF organizers in DC are aggressively organizing to make unemployment and wages a central issue in the District over the coming years.
THE DC WATER JOBS CAMPAIGN
At the end of 2016 the first round of DC residents were trained for a national Green Infrastructure certification and ready to be employed by DC Water contractors. Also, the DC Water Works program was expanded to ensure contractors are held accountable to going through DC Water to ensure that DC residents get first priority all for new hires. These programs are the result of long-term organizing by WIN that began in 2013. It was in 2013 that DC Water announced a major project costing DC residents $ 2.7 Billion intended to clean up stormwater runoff to comply with an EPA consent decree. WIN leaders sprung into action. WIN’ s research found that DC Water’ s employment of local residents was extremely low. WIN leaders organized hundreds of unemployed and underemployed people and allies and demanded that the project produce jobs for returning citizens and DC residents living in high unemployment neighborhoods. Finally, in 2016 DC Water committed to a goal that 51 % of new hires at DC Water would be local DC residents, to contribute $ 1.25 Million to open job training programs in DC, and to start a national certification for Green Infrastructure work.
INCREASING CIRCULATOR DRIVER WAGES
Since the DC Circulator’ s inception ten years ago, DDOT has contracted out its daily operations to First Transit, a private multinational company. For ten years First Transit workers have faced substandard pay and benefits. Making around $ 8.22 per hour less than MetroBus operators for doing comparable work. As a result, it was extremely difficult for them to afford to live in the District where they were employed. In addition, an audit revealed that First Transit had blatantly ignored
2017 MIDYEAR REPORT 4