Washingtonians to Chase "Create good jobs!"

Washingtonians are telling Chase Bank to create good jobs in our communities and to stop practices that are hurting working families.  On Saturday, June 25, community members from Auburn, Federal Way, Burien and Seattle said “enough with business as usual” and went to local Chase Banks to make their voices known.

We delivered letters from community members who live near the Chase Bank in Seattle on 23rd and Jackson to the branch manager.  We told them that Chase had not been giving back to the community, even though the community and the community's customers benefit them.  We had dozens of signed letters from neighbors who all live within a mile of the branch. This was the first time that Octavius, a young man from Seattle, had ever taken action to fight for his community.  He saw that the banks were getting bailouts and bonuses and that his community was not getting anything in return.

“We are just asking for the jobs that Chase took away from us,” said Octavius.

Chase laid off 3400 Washingtonians when it took over Washington Mutual.

“I was talking to some people who thought that WaMu made bad decisions,” said Octavius, “Chase is benefiting from those mistakes and none of us are.  That’s why I’m out here.”

CEO pay skyrockets, while ours is grounded

The economy is doing great, if you’re a CEO.  Last year Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon made $20 million dollars in executive pay and bonuses.  That’s 925 times more than the average worker at Chase.  His earnings and many other CEOs pay have risen sharply over the last few years.  Meanwhile the average worker has seen their pay stagnate and their real earning power has actually decreased, but CEOs don’t want you to know that. According to an article in the Seattle Times, CEO’s from 81 major companies are fighting now to stop legislation that would require them to compare their salaries with the salaries of their workers.  They do not want to disclose how much of a gulf there is between those of us fighting to stay in the middle class, and the privileged few.  Some companies pay their executives up to 400 times what the average worker makes.  No wonder they want to keep that a secret.

Every time a CEO cuts himself a bonus check, he’s cutting the paychecks of working families.  When CEO’s increase their bonuses and executive pay by putting us out of work, we have the right to join together to stop them.

Working families don’t expect to get rich or to be famous, but we do expect living wages and good American benefits for the hard work that we do every day.

We know that the middle class is in danger because of the disparity between workers and executive’s pay and for the first time in our nation's history, some of us believe our kids will fewer opportunities than we did.  That’s not right and we won’t stand for it.

We’re fighting back against big banks and CEOs who broke our economy.  We are fighting for a more fair economy where hard work is rewarded and our children have a brighter future.  Join us today at www.workingwa.org to get involved.

We are organizing and we are winning.

Who We Are--Michael Neale

My name is Michael Neale.  I fought for my country, got hurt, disabled and I don’t have health care.  I drifted for a while and I was homeless for about five years before I was able to get back to work as a machine operator.  I’m glad to be working, but this job just doesn't pay a living wage. I’m raising a son on my own and I’m barely able to pay my bills.

I had to claw for anything I ever got but I know that we have to stand together if we want to make the big changes.

I’m part of Working Washington because we have to hold big corporations like Chase Bank accountable for their decisions that make families like mine have to struggle.

If we work together, friends, families and neighbors we can push back.  We have to because hard working families shouldn't have to worry about how they are going to pay their next bill or watch their children go hungry.

It’s time for Congress to listen to us.

Our families are hurting and our communities are suffering. The experts say the recession is over, but finding a good job is harder than it’s been in years -- and for those of us who do have jobs, they are often not enough to make ends meet. Too many of us are finding that even though we worked hard and played by the rules, those who broke the economy didn’t and now we’re all suffering..

Do you have a story about the difficult choices you’ve had to make in this economy? Share it with us.

Does Congress get it? Do they understand that this economy will not recover until people like us can bring home a decent wage, have quality affordable health insurance, and be able to to provide the kind of security for our families that they need?

They won’t unless you tell them. They won’t unless you share your story with them. ProgressiveCongress.org is making this easier by bringing a delegation of Members of Congress to Seattle on Saturday, July 23 -- so we can tell them what we need them to do to fix the economy.

Can you commit to attend?

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Tell Congress We Need Good Jobs

It’s time for the politicians to listen to us and not the other way around. Sign up here to tell progressive Members of Congress your story.

We’re frustrated about the lack of good jobs and the devastating effect it’s having on our families and communities.

ProgressiveCongress.org is hosting an event to give us the opportunity to talk with a pro-worker delegation that wants to hear the stories of those who have struggled and need more help than what they’re getting from Washington D.C.

This is our chance to tell Congress what we need from them.

RSVP to tell the Progressive Caucus your story and how the economic downturn and lack of meaningful work has affected you and your family.

Progress through Organizing

Working together works. Just ask Meeka and Christina -- they worked together to get the city of Renton to respond to their campaign for good housing and good jobs for their community, Sunset Terrace.While Meeka Gadson wouldn’t consider herself an activist, she is someone who deeply cares for the welfare of her neighbors. So when she learned that her neighbors will soon be forced to leave their homes as part of an area development plan, Ms. Meeka knew she had to act. Together with her friend Christina Fleming and a dozen neighbors, they started organizing the other residents of their complex and worked to get the details of the relocation plan for the residents whose homes would be demolished.

Along with Working Washington, Meeka and Fleming educated residents about what was going to happen and let them know they had options to ensure that those making the decisions would hear their concerns.

They started a petition drive, collecting of signatures of almost 70% of the complex’s residents to show the city council just how worried they were. Their petition called for:

• Clarity about relocation,
• The least disruptive relocation options,
• Meetings with the Housing Authority, and
• First access for the community to jobs from commercial space creation.

“It’s unbelievable that the Mayor’s office even called me personally” said Meeka after she led a group of 19 residents presenting the signatures to City Council.

The presentation went very well. They are now becoming collaborating partners in bringing good jobs to residents and the city of Renton.

“This just shows what organizing can do,” said Christina.

Just 5 minutes to help create good jobs?

Working Washington is conducting a jobs survey in the South Sound region to learn more about the challenges area residents are facing and what types of good jobs people need in their communities.

We know that communities around the Puget Sound are struggling.

There is high unemployment, the jobs that exist are too often low-wage jobs with no benefits, and people are struggling to find work that fits their skills and experience.  We also know that most economic reports don’t get at the emotional toll families must endure as jobs become increasingly scarce.

Meanwhile, mega-banks like Chase make millions of dollars each year by charging its customers tricky fees – money that stays in Chase’s pocket rather than making its way to communities that are still recovering from the Great Recession.

The economy won’t recover until the middle class is able to find meaningful work, which won’t happen until corporations like Chase use their billions to invest in the communities that helped make them successful.

In order to make community reinvestment a priority, we need to hear from community members about the employment and economic situation that families are facing.

Please help us by taking 5 minutes to complete the survey below.

http://action.workingwa.org/page/s/jobssurvey

How Chase Continues to Profit from the WAMU Collapse while Washingtonians continue to suffer

Washington workers struggle with unemployment, hours and benefits reductions and foreclosures while big banks and corporations reap the benefits of bailouts and corporate tax loopholes.  Washington workers bailed out big banks, like Chase, and it’s time for Chase to re-pay its debt to the community. Why Chase?

What Should Chase do?

Invest our money to create good jobs in Washington State!  If Chase invested the $1.4 billion it stands to receive from the Washington Mutual bankruptcy case in job creation, it could create an estimated 20,000 good jobs in Washington State.  Underserved communities in Washington lack access to basic necessities like healthy grocery stores, affordable housing and community health clinics.  Investing in the businesses that will provide these much-needed services helps the community and creates jobs that this community needs to get back on its feet.   Investing in our communities is investing in the health of Washington State.

How can we Fight Back?

Banding together, residents from King and Pierce counties are demanding that Chase invest in our communities.  Our numbers are growing and we need you to stand up with us.  You can get involved in a variety of ways:  from attending a meeting to sign-making –click here to learn how you can make a difference.  In the last month, Working Washington has come together to take action on Chase bank – here are a few examples:

• On June 4^th, over 400 Working Washington members rallied on a Chase bank in South Seattle – click here to watch the Working Washington crew in action!

• Chase bank attempted to persuade Governor Gregoire to veto SB 5921, which, in part, requires that Chase disclose the $.85 ATM fee Chase charges TANF recipients on each ATM receipt.  Members of Working Washington called and emailed Governor Gregoire to urge her to sign SB 5921 and we succeeded – click here to learn more about this victory!

You vs. Chase’s Lobbyists? You Win.

After our emails and phone calls urging her to do so, Governor Gregoire has signed a bill forcing Chase Bank to disclose the 85 cent ATM fee they charge TANF aid recipients. Thank Govermor Gregoire now by writing an email in support of her decision.

Just one week ago, we called on Governor Gregoire and to stand up to Chase Bank’s corporate lobbyists.

We wanted the governor to sign a provision in SB 5921 that would force Chase to disclose the 85 cent ATM fee they charge TANF aid recipients, but do not reveal on their ATM receipts. Just read what Gina Owens, a Working Washington activist, wrote to supporters about the victory:

BREAKING: Victory!  After our emails and phone calls urging her to do so, Governor Gregoire just signed a bill forcing Chase Bank to disclose the 85 cent ATM fee they charge TANF aid recipients.

Thank Governor Gregoire now by writing an email in support of her decision. http://action.workingwa.org/page/speakout/thanksgov

We united, we called, we emailed, and now we have our first win!

Just one week ago, we called on Governor Gregoire to stand up to Chase Bank’s corporate lobbyists.  We wanted the governor to sign a provision in SB 5921 that would force Chase to disclose the 85 cent ATM fee they charge TANF aid recipients, but do not reveal on their ATM receipts.

We beat the Chase lobbyists, who were reportedly pushing the governor for a line-item veto. They would have been thrilled to see this provision go down without any attention, but we showed that Washingtonians can stand together against big corporations.

Click here to send a message in support of Governor Gregoire standing up to the lobbyists and signing this bill into law. http://action.workingwa.org/page/speakout/thanksgov

Yesterday she signed the bill without removing the provision, meaning, by law, Chase must disclose the fee that we took action to publicize.

It’s a clear victory for all of us.  While many of us are still feeling the painful effects of the recession, banks are continuing to rake in millions each year from such tricky fees-- fees they drain out of our communities without giving back in a meaningful way in the neighborhoods where they are located.

We have a long way to go before Chase and other corporations are really doing their part to bring back good jobs to our communities.

We’ll continue to demand Chase reinvests tax refunds into good jobs, but we should all take a moment to thank Governor Gregoire for doing the right thing.

Just fill out the letter here and click send. http://action.workingwa.org/page/speakout/thanksgov

Thank you and Congratulations! Gina Owens, Working Washington

Stand up to Chase lobbyists: Contact Governor Gregoire Now

While the March on Chase may be over, the work continues to push Chase to create good, meaningful jobs for people in Washington. You've heard how Chase is now expecting a 1.4 billion dollar federal tax windfall as a consequence of their purchase of WaMu, but did you know that Chase is also making money by charging TANF aid recipients a 85 cent ATM fee that does not appear on their receipt? That's money adds up quickly and adversely affects people who are already having a hard time making ends meet.

Gina Owens, an activist with Working Washington, wrote an email recently to supporters telling them that it's time to take action against Chase's unfair practices against TANF aid recipients, urging them to get involved and encourage the Governor to sign a bill into law that would force Chase to disclose these fees on ATM receipts.

My name is Gina Owens and I’ve been raising three kids on TANF since 2007.

Every time I use my state-issued Quest card to access my TANF benefits, Chase charges me an 85 cent fee, which doesn’t show up on the ATM receipt.

The Washington State Legislature recently passed new legislation that would end this dishonest practice and make sure that Chase discloses these fees at the time of transaction.

Instead of doing the right thing, Chase is using lobbyists to try to get Governor Gregoire to veto the new requirement so they can continue to charge these fees without clients like me knowing.

With thousands of people using their card 2 or 3 times a month, these hidden fees add up. This year Chase will make over $1 million from these fees, taking money out of the pockets of some of the poorest people in the State.

State programs are meant to help out people in need, not pad big banks bottom line.

Stand with me and demand Chase own up to its greedy practices.

Email Governor Gregoire now and tell her to stand strong against big bank bullies and ensure that Chase has to tell us everytime they want to charge us fees.

http://action.workingwa.org/page/speakout/noveto

You can also call her office at 360-902-4111.

Thank You,

Gina Owens, Working Washington