​As a part of our work, Warehouse Workers for Justice (WWJ) collaborates with Westside Justice Center to support tenants in organizing, learning their rights, and keeping their homes. We’re proud to announce two major victories we won in the month of June.

​For weeks, Linda got harassing text messages from her landlord demanding she move out. When he told her he planned to enter her home with police, she left nothing to chance. 

With support from WWJ and Westside Justice Center she made it clear to the landlord and police she knew her rights and wouldn't be intimidated into leaving. Police followed the law and the incident ended peacefully. We'll continue to defend Linda's home with her, each step of the way. Solidarity forever! 

​To get updates on events like these and more, join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Like the weather, the activity at Warehouse Workers for Justice has been heating up throughout June. In addition to our usual work and most recent action — Our Prime Day Order: Justice From Amazon! Community Rally — we’ve continued to expand our work in organizing workers and community members, developing community programs, and strengthening connections with other organizations.

Will County Community Meeting
On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Warehouse Workers for Justice met with Joliet community members to discuss tenant rights, worker’s rights, available community resources, and collective solutions for issues that community members have been facing.

Workers Can’t Wait! June 15th National Day of Action
For over a year, essential workers have been waiting for the government to issue protections that would keep them safe in the face of the pandemic. Workers and advocates around the country organized a National Day of Action on Tuesday, June 15th to demand that President Biden issue a strong Emergency Temporary Standard that covers ALL workers NOW! Warehouse Workers for Justice joined the HEAL Food Alliance — as well as other workers, organizers, and advocates —  in speaking out.

Youth Day
Warehouse Workers joined several other community-based organizations in supporting and celebrating Cook County Department of Public Health’s Youth Day. On Saturday, June 19, 2021, the community celebrated summer with a cookout and a free Six Flags Great America amusement park ticket to anyone who got vaccinated. The event featured music and community.

​To get updates on events like these and more, join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, Warehouse Workers for Justice (WWJ) and allies rallied at Nowell Park Recreation Center to stand in solidarity with our warehouse workers on Amazon Prime Day. Watch the video of the action on our Facebook page here.

The event started with music performances, led by WWJ Organizer Nick Domberg, to charge the atmosphere and set the mood.

​WWJ Executive Director Roberto Clack followed, took the mic, and led chants—highlighting the negative impacts Amazon and other warehousing companies create in local communities across the country. At the same time, Clack galvanized the audience by reminding them that workers have the power to make change by organizing.

Afterward, Rayshonda Brown, a former Amazon worker and WWJ member, shared her experience working at Amazon. Brown is a mother to multiple children and also recently had a baby last November.  She worked during the busy Christmas season to make sure she could buy presents for her children.

“Amazon needs to start treating their workers like human beings instead of robots,” Brown demanded. “Without their warehouse workers, there wouldn't even be an Amazon.” 

She further explained how Amazon failed to respond to the crisis occurring inside warehouses amid the pandemic—sick workers and family members, loss of jobs, loss of benefits, and even loss of housing. 

“It’s time for Amazon to step up and do better,” said Brown. “It’s also time for Amazon workers to come together and demand change.” 

Angela Ortiz, another former Amazon worker and WWJ member, also shared her testimony and stood in solidarity with Amazon workers. Ortiz witnessed horrific events while working. 

One was witnessing a female worker carrying an unborn child for six months that led to a miscarriage, after management denied her request to transfer to a different department.

“I experienced depression and anxiety working under these brutal conditions,” explained Ortiz. “I was isolated from my peers and forced to meet [the] production rate with little to no human interaction. As a picker, numbers were prioritized over mental health. Management used me as a pawn to monitor my peers, even when they were meeting expectations”

Ortiz explained the normalization of the suffering of workers—heat flashes, asthma attacks, other physical injuries, ambulances and wheelchairs lined up at the facility on a daily basis, paramedics on call to carry workers out on stretchers, dehydration, heart attacks—and death.

“Amazon not only exploits their workers, but also our community,” Ortiz said in her closing remarks. “We deserve to be heard! We are not only metrics for the man! We need to unionize as a [means] for protection, better working conditions, and a safer, cleaner environment!

Jose Acosta, from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, took the mic after. He explained the importance of building bridges and connections between local communities on shared issues. Acosta then shared a spoken word poem addressing Jeff Bezos (watch it here at 23:39).

Ericka Gonzalez Guzman, representing the JJC Sustainability Union, joined the other speakers in demanding justice from Amazon and explained the negative impacts pollution has in Joliet and other communities. “It’s a health crisis, and we should take it seriously,” said Guzman.

The event ended with more music and a community art piece. The collaborative art piece echoed the theme of the action, “Our Prime Day Order.” Community members added their demands (orders) from Amazon on a large poster with an illustration of a shopping cart on it.

This action reflects WWJ’s commitment to organize warehouse workers and community members to fight for better jobs, for a better environment, and for a better future—for all. Together we will envision our community with good jobs, clean air, and the opportunities we deserve.

​To get updates on events like these and more, join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Join Warehouse Workers for Justice on Prime Day to stand in solidarity with our warehouse workers fighting for good jobs and dignity at work. The community rally will take place at Nowell Park Recreation Center (199 Mills Road, Joliet, IL 60433) on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 6:00PM CT.

There will be food, music, and a possible community art piece. We will livestream the event and encourage allies to tweet and post on social media on the day of the event to build momentum and get the movement trending. We've compiled a handy social media kit, which includes key event information, graphics, and a live tweeting guide, for allies to use.

​Will County’s workers and residents are placing their Prime Day order, and the only thing in the shopping cart is justice from Amazon. Together we will envision our community with good jobs, clean air, and the opportunities we deserve.