Rent strike gains traction locally

Jobs With Justice and partners are calling for a national rent strike on May 1st unless big banks and corporate landlords cancel the rent. “We are asking people to sign the pledge and call out corporate landlords like Equity Residential’s Sam Nell,” says JWJ organizer Sam Nelson. Locally, residents at the Southern Towers residential complex in Alexandria – many of them service workers and members of Unite Here Local 23 -- have been organizing. Tenants and other supporters rallied last week outside of Southern Towers in cars making slow circles through the parking lot with signs and chants of “No pay! No Rent!” and “No job! No Rent!” “NoVA Labor is supporting the Southern Towers rent strikers by participating in car rallies, by demanding that the governor impose a rent moratorium, by donating food, and by providing unemployment insurance assistance,” said NoVA Labor president Virginia Diamond. “There has never been a more important moment for workers to rise up together.” The JWJ national pledge and demands can be found here. If your organization wants to support the strike you can email [email protected] for the toolkit.
photo: SEIU 32bj organizer Guillermo Zamora

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