Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan

Through organizing, EJAM raises awareness about the damaging effects concentrated wealth and power have on communities. Currently, it is engaged in campaigns for earned paid sick time and one fair wage. Despite signs of recovery, the divide between those with adequate financial resources and those without is growing in Michigan. What this means is that more families are living in poverty even though many of these households consist of two workers, holding down full-time employment. Many low-wage employees are facing dire economic circumstances. Without concerted effort to bring the challenges experienced by families with low income to the attention of voters and policymakers, Michigan’s economy will stall, and people will continue to struggle to meet their most basic needs.

EJAM focuses on one fair wage (OFW) and earned paid sick time (EPST). In 2018, nearly 400,000 voters signed petitions to place both issues on the ballot. If approved, they would have increased the minimum wage, raised the subminimum rate for tipped workers, and required employers to offer paid time off. The legislature adopted the proposals before the November election, making it easier to amend them. Both EPST and OFW were gutted during the legislative lame-duck session. The stripped-down versions of the laws were in-acted in March 2019. Since then, EJAM, its members, and allies filed 14 amicus briefs declaring the body’s adopt and amend ploy as unconstitutional and in opposition to voters’ will. The Michigan Supreme Court held a hearing on this issue in July 2019.

Another issue for EJAM is leadership development. EJAM’s signature program is its Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan fellowship, which cultivates grassroots leaders who advocate for their communities on issues of wage insecurity. Designed for low- and minimum-wage earners, this intensive training teaches those who are interested in making an impact by helping workers gain more respect and compensation at work. It instills participants with valuable community organizing skills that can help them advocate as well as secure meaningful and higher-paying employment. Fellows learn how to be leaders in Michigan’s economic justice movement by developing a broader understanding of the political landscape and strengthening core leadership skills to engage more fully in issue campaigns.

EJAM leverages the content expertise and relationships of its members to bring attention to economic inequity, racial bias, and barriers to democracy. It provides collective space and time, additional skills and resources, and helps to coordinate overlapping work. By strategically focusing its joint attention, EJAM partners can make a more significant impact on public discourse and the policy landscape than they would individually. As the current environment is politically hostile, has little progressive infrastructure, and few power-wielding economic justice organizations, this is especially important. Collectivizing campaigns and developing leaders while remaining independent organizations allow EJAM partners to be agile, but also have a louder voice on issues relevant to their constituents.

In its brief existence, EJAM has graduated more than 200 people from its Michigan Economic Justice Fellowship, matching some with full-time jobs in social change organizations. It also achieved an incremental increase in the minimum wage in 2014. Most recently, EJAM catalyzed a collaborative statewide effort resulting in Michigan becoming the 11th state to win earned paid sick time.

EJAM needs to build momentum among low-wage earners, voters, small business owners, and like-minded organizations. EJAM’s focus is on educating and engaging these populations as well as those who feel disenfranchised because political systems are unwilling to prioritize their needs and interests, thus marginalizing their voices. In addition to the organization’s central staff, EJAM will turn to those who have participated in its programs and possess the leadership and analytical skills necessary to surface relevant economic justice concerns with policymakers. Organizations and individuals involved with EJAM will become drivers of other statewide economic justice campaigns and will bring increased and meaningful focus to economic justice in Michigan, shifting public consciousness to embrace and further pro-worker public policy.