Committee Chair – Margaret

JOBS PROJECT

Goals

Employment at a living wage for the people of Oakland regardless of age, race, gender or ex offender status

Strengthen the power of working people, and in particular organized labor, in the City Of Oakland

Objectives for the Period

Work with the Building Trades Unions and the West Oakland Jobs center so that 65% of the jobs at the Army Base and other major developments in Oakland go to Oakland residents

Refer 200 people to the West Oakland Jobs Center who actually get jobs

Follow-up on the Foothill Square Project including unionization of Food Co

Develop a plan for expanding this effort to supporting employment and labor rights in other areas such as food workers, day laborers, and workers in light manufacturing.

Connect youth to job search skill learning opportunities

Immediate Action  Plan

Canvassing in West Oakland promoting the West Oakland Jobs Center and Block By Block-Kick it off with a rally/press event to announce the campaign

Presentations and informational tabling at religious services, starting first in West Oakland, laying out the opportunity for Jobs and promoting Block by Block

Paid tabling and recruiting at Merritt and Laney Colleges, First Fridays and other key spots where young people gather to refer them to the West Oakland Jobs Center and other employment services and to promote Block by Block

Gather a sign-up sheet at each of the above and do calling to follow-up and give a quick pitch for people to get involved in Block by Block

Work with Food Co and John Jay to get youth Jobs at Foothill Square

Work with the UFCW to Unionize Food Co making sure the efforts of Block by Block are recognized

Follow-through

Assure that data on racial/ethnic/gender of job applicants and those selected is gathered and analyzed.

How it will build the Block by Block

Build the reputation of Block by Block in the community as a pro labor organization that does real things for real people

Expand D-3 and D-7 committees

Incorporation of more young people

How will it aid in the formation of a progressive coalition in Oakland

Expand the alliance with unions and jobs service agencies

Bring the religious community into the push for Jobs and a living wage in alliance with Block by Block