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