No Activism or Labor Activity Slow Down So Far
No Activism Slow Down So Far
One thing that the election of President Trump jas not slowed down in any way is labor activism. This text was on my phone this morning. 
I wrote last week about how the use of technology platforms by unions continues to evolve. I mentioned an app called Workit, which is a tool the OURWalmart labor organization is pushing out to Walmart associates on Android phones to help them get answers to questions if they feel their rights have been violated. For the union, it’s just a way to collect the personal information of a few disgruntled employees.
Today I’ve heard of at least three more activist tools or campaigns that are gaining some media attention or trying to.
The first is a consumer driven anti-Trump Boycott that is gaining some media attention under the hashtag #GrabYourWallet on Twitter. There is a list with a large number of companies that done business with Trump or whose CEO supported the Trump campign in some way.
New app helps workers fight employer abuses, wage theft
Earlier this morning, another new app was released that allegedly helps workers fight employer abuses, and wage theft.
Here’s the text of the news release, jointly presented by the AFL-CIO, NDLON, and the Worker Institute at Cornell, of the School of Industrial Labor Relations.
WHAT: Launch of Jornaler@ App – a new app that allows users to safely share their experiences and report abusive and neglectful employers, simplifying the process of documenting wage theft and other violations
Day laborers face the constant threat of not getting paid for their work, being paid less than the minimum wage, or being subjected to workplace dangers outside of their control. Initiatives that support low wage and immigrant workers have become critically important for preventing a surge in violations of labor and human rights of these vulnerable workers.
To address these challenges, New York day labor centers in collaboration with The Worker Institute at Cornell ILR, have developed a new tool, a mobile phone application to prevent wage theft and other violations of worker rights.
The Jornaler@ Wage Theft App (jornalera meaning laborer) allows users to safely share their experiences and report abusive and neglectful employers, effectively inserting transparency and simplifying the job of record keeping, allowing laborers to:
Engage by keeping track of hours and earnings Report wage theft to a workers center Alert other workers about bad employers The launch event will include a brief demonstration of Jornaler@ given by day laborers that were closely involved with the design process, and remarks will be made by:
Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO Kenneth E. Rigmaiden, General President of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON) Manuel Castro, Executive Director of New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) Jeff Grabelsky, Associate Director of The Worker Institute at Cornell James Rogers, Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Task
And lastly, the fight for $15 announced via text message and other media sources including Politico Pro that they will be holding nationwide protests on November 29 to call for a $15 minimum wage and the right to organize.
Terrence Wise, a fast-food worker and Fight for $15 leader, said today on a press call that the protests and strike would be the “most disruptive” in the movement’s history. He added that workers would not tolerate any attempt by President-elect Donald Trump or Congress to block a minimum wage increase and to deport immigrants.
The protests will take place at nearly 20 airports, including Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International and Newark International, and outside McDonald’s and other restaurants in more than 340 cities. Workers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will walk off the job to call for a union.
Among the protesters who will participate are baggage handlers, fast-food cooks, home care workers, child care teachers, and graduate