An influential big labor pressure group in Indiana is looking for someone that "strikes fear in the hearts of capitalists."
AR Squared unearthed a job posting from Central Indiana Jobs with Justice that outlines its hostility to free markets. The organization is hiring a phone tree captain, who will be tasked with recruiting protestors and driving turnout for events.
"Nothing feels more powerful than a huge gathering of people united for a single purpose. In order to create the type of turnout that strikes fear in the hearts of capitalists and shakes the resolve of conservative politicians, we need to be able to turn out a large amount of people in a short amount of time," the job posting says.
The organization has the financial backing of about a dozen Indiana unions, including the Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, National Association of Letter Carriers, United Auto Workers, as well as the Grocers and Steelworkers unions. The pressure group also receives support from radical liberal groups, such as the National Organization for Women.
"Central Indiana Jobs with Justice is building a strong, progressive labor movement that works in coalition with community, faith, and student organizations to build a broader global movement for economic and social justice," the group’s mission statement says. "We believe in organizing and direct action. Organizing and mobilizing working people and their allies is key to building power." (Emphasis in original.)
The group has been active in supporting the SEIU’s Fight for 15 movement, which is pushing to mandate $15 hourly wages for fast food workers—more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25. In May, it bused Indiana members to McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., for a series of protests.
"On May 20, Central Indiana Jobs with Justice will take our voices to the steps of McDonald’s corporate HQ during their shareholder meeting because Indianapolis can't wait for higher wages," the group says in an event announcement.
The Fight for 15 movement has garnered support from Democrats across the country, including Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley, half the party’s prospective presidential field. In July a wage board created by Gov. Mario Cuomo recommended hiking wages to $15 at fast food franchises across New York State—a move that could shutter hundreds of small businesses.
Natalie Gillam, an AR Squared spokeswoman, called on SEIU to repudiate the rhetoric.
"It’s no surprise the SEIU is allied with a group that wants to put "fear in the hearts of capitalists.’ This sort of literature from a partner of the union is further evidence of the SEIU’s misguided priorities," she said.
Neither SEIU nor Central Indiana Jobs with Justice returned requests for comment.