Jobs with Justice (JWJ) is a national coalition of worker centers and left-wing advocacy groups formed in 1987 by Larry Cohen, who would later serve as president of the Communications Workers of America labor union.¹ The group operates a number of local chapters under the Jobs with Justice and other independent brands like Alliance for a Greater New York. JWJ has been involved in supporting Fight for $15 campaigns.²

Criticism of Trump Administration

Jobs with Justice signed a letter condemning the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and urging American CEOs not to employ anyone involved with the policy. It accused these officials of being directly guilty for physical abuse, sexual assault, and even the death of illegal immigrant children. The letter was titled “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs” and was dated April 6, 2019. ³

Funding

The group and its subsidiaries have received substantial funding from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and also from left-wing foundations, most prominently the Ford Foundation. From 2013 through 2016, JWJ and its affiliates received nearly $4 million from the Ford Foundation; the groups also received funding from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, among others.⁴

1. Manheim, Jarol. “The Emerging Role of Worker Centers in Union Organizing: An Update and Supplement.” Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America. 2017. Accessed April 5, 2018. https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/uscc_wfi_workercenterreport_2017.pdf.
2. “WE FOUGHT FOR $15 AND WON!” Long Island Jobs with Justice. September 28, 2016. Accessed April 06, 2018. https://longislandjwj.org/2015/07/23/we-fought-for-15-and-won/.
3. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” Restore Public Trust. April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf
4. Manheim, Jarol. “The Emerging Role of Worker Centers in Union Organizing: An Update and Supplement.” Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America. 2017. Accessed April 06, 2018. https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/uscc_wfi_workercenterreport_2017.pdf.