Warehouse Workers Justice Center Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

WWJ has supported workers organizing for safer workplaces, higher pay, an end to sexual harassment, and respect on the job. WWJC held ongoing beginning and advanced training programs on: Health and Safety Organizing to enforce Workplace Rights Your Legal Rights in the Workplace Stopping Sexual Harrassment Criminal Background Checks: Know Your Rights Communicating our Story to the Public Understanding the Global Supply Chain Since 2009 WWJ has won: Over $2 million in recovered stolen wages Warehouse employers and temp agencies use a range of schemes to cheat workers out of their pay. WWJ takes action to fight abuses such as missing hours, short checks, illegal paycheck deductions and fees, unpaid showup pay, payroll card abuses, unpaid overtime, payroll card abuses and more. Over $10 million in wage increases When WWJ opened its doors, warehouse wages averaged $9/hour. Through protests, strikes, petitions, community delegations, public outcry and organizing, WWJ has successfully raised wages in key facilities in the Chicago distribution hub. While some wage rates are still below the $15/h workers deserve, these improvements show that when workers organize, things get better. Paid sick days for temp workers. When warehouse workers get sick or need to care for an ill loved one, they are often punished. For temp workers, paid time off is unheard of. But with support from WWJ, temp workers in the import supply chain of a major retailer united their coworkers and forced their employer to offer paid sick days. An end to the piece rate system in large retail distribution centersWhen WWJ began operation in 2009, warehouse operators commonly paid workers using a piecerate system. This scheme, often called production pay, involved paying a team of two workers a set amount for unloading a shipping container. Over time, this rate was lowered to the point where a workers pay was often less than minimum wage. In addition, workers were not paid time between unloading containers. Through legal tactics and organizing, WWJ successfully eliminated this practice in the largest warehouses in the Chicago distribution hub. Reinstatement of dozens of workers unjustly fired Most warehouse workers have little job security. But WWJ has worked to win reinstatement for workers who are unfairly fired. We have successfully won jobs back for workers fired for retaliation for speaking up about sexual harassment or safety abuses, as well as workers fired discriminatorily or in retaliation for exercising their right to organize. WWJ assists workers in asserting their legal rights to seek justice when fired unjustly.? Safety improvements in large retail distribution centers Workers shouldnt have to risk death or serious injury so that retailers can continue to make money. Unfortunately, warehouse work is still among the most dangerous jobs in the US. WWJ has won many safety improvements in Chicago area warehouses, including replaces storage racks, new dock plates, heating and cooling systems, better safety equipment, enhanced training and more. In addition, WWJ works closely with OSHA officials to ensure legal compliance in area warehouses.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 69%; rating input score 69
• Program expense ratio: 70.5%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $23.62 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.1%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.22; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.7; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.8%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 19% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17.1% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings