Labor issues

Labor Issues

Interfaith Worker Justice urges:

Waste Management workers deserve the right to organize!
[8-29-08]

Forty years after Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood with workers in their historic strike in Memphis, sanitation workers in the solid waste industry are still fighting for decent wages, safe working conditions and respect.

Waste Management workers across the country are seeking to improve their working condition and wages by organizing with the Teamsters union. Workers are facing Waste Management's fierce anti-union tactics, including captive audience meetings, letters and firings.

Sanitation workers at Waste Management deserve the right to organize in an environment free from intimidation and threats of job loss. A huge proportion of sanitation workers are Latino and African American, just as in Dr. King’s day.

As people of faith, we stand in support of these workers and encourage Waste Management to immediately stop these practices. Our religious teachings say that we are to treat others as we wish to be treated, and that laborers deserve their just reward.

Interfaith Worker Justice urges: Please add your name to the list of religious leaders and people of faith who stand with workers at Waste Management by signing the petition. Click here and scroll down a bit.

Labor notes:
[2-9-07]

Interfaith Worker Justice 2007 National Conference

Sunday, June 17 - Tuesday, June 19
Chicago, IL

This event is planned for "clergy, labor activists, seminarians and faculty."

Cost, registration and lodging information will be available on-line at www.iwj.org by late February 2007.

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New film visits Chinese sweatshops

The Feb. 12, 2007 issue of The Nation has a review by Stuart Klawans of a film, "China Blue," based on a visit to a Chinese sweatshop where garments are sewn for high-class American labels. It shows the reality of sweatshop life, and also gives the perspective of the factory owner, who feels that he is constantly being squeezed by the garment retailers.

Note: This article is posted on The Nation's website, but may be available only to subscribers.

Now's the time to act:

Overtime pay vote expected any day.

From Working Families e-Activist Network
September 2, 2003 [posted here on 9-3-03]

The Senate debate on President Bush's overtime pay cuts will begin this week with a vote expected any day. This is the most important chance we've had to block the overtime pay cuts before they go into effect. We know you may have acted before, but PLEASE ACT AGAIN TODAY by clicking on the link below and sending a message to your U.S. senators asking them to support the Harkin Amendment that would block the Bush overtime pay cuts. It will only take a minute and will make a big difference. http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/septovertime/s5xszl5wjb

The overtime pay cuts proposed by the Bush administration could take away overtime pay from at least 8 million workers. Overtime pay protections are the heart of the 40-hour workweek--and even the weekend. Without them, employers would have no reason to treat workers fairly--they could require longer and longer days without paying workers extra for their overtime hours. Click below to take action, or keep reading. http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/septovertime/s5xszl5wjb

The Bush overtime pay take-away would save employers billions--right from workers' paychecks. They would allow employers to do almost anything they want by blurring the rules for overtime eligibility. One congressional study of the Bush overtime changes said they would allow employers to do almost anything.

The Bush administration changes could make large numbers of workers who have job-related training ineligible for overtime, for example. Health care, technical, computer, law enforcement, firefighting and skilled trades training could cost workers their right to overtime pay. This is completely outrageous and we need to stop it.

Send your fax: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/septovertime/s5xszl5wjb

Tell your friends, family and co-workers: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/septovertime/forward/s5xszl5wjb

The overtime pay takeaway won't just hit workers in the pocket. According to the Economic Policy Institute, "The millions of employees who will see their pay reduced will, in all likelihood, see their hours of work increase at the same time. Once employers are not required to pay for overtime work, they will schedule more of it."

Tens of millions of working families depend on overtime pay. Please act today.

Labor advocates urge "Leave no jobless worker behind"

Original message from: "Working Families e-Activist Network" <peoplepower@aflcio.org>

[1-4-03]

Next week, on Jan. 7, when Congress returns to work, our representatives must vote immediately to help jobless workers such as the more than 800,000 who lost their unemployment benefits when they were CUT OFF three days after Christmas. House Republican leaders like Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) sent Congress home in November without voting on a bipartisan Senate-approved measure to extend benefits. The president stood by in silence until three weeks AFTER Congress adjourned.

Because of public outcry, media attention and your work on this issue, members of Congress and President Bush have realized they must do something and began speaking out for extending and restoring jobless benefits. We must make sure they do something REAL.

The current Republican proposal would mean that hundreds of thousands of families would continue to go without the already meager weekly unemployment check they need to survive. In addition, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING would be done for an ADDITIONAL 1 MILLION jobless workers whose benefits already expired before they found work.

No jobless worker should be left behind. You can help by doing three things.

	First, send a fax to Rep. Tom DeLay with a copy to President Bush and your representative by clicking on the link below. Tell them to extend and restore unemployment benefits and leave no jobless worker behind. http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/extendUI/s5xsz07b8j
	Second, jobless families across the nation really need your help by spreading this message to as many people as possible. Please take one minute right now to tell your friends, family and co-workers about this issue by clicking on the link below. http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/extendUI/forward/s5xsz07b8j
	Finally, if you know somebody who is unemployed, tell him or her about AFL-CIO resources to help survive unemployment. You can visit a special website with unemployment help by clicking on the link below. http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/L1aC1S91A1zl/

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You can sign up for Working Families e-Activist Network at:

http://www.unionvoice.org/wfean/join.html?raC1S91LdzjE

Charleston five go to trial

Race seems one element in longshoremen's protest in South Carolina

[10-31-01]

Five members of two predominantly African-American locals of the Longshoremen in Charleston, SC, go on trial Nov. 13 for protests in Jan. 2000 against a Danish ship's use of non-union labor, charged with "incite to riot" -- a charge which seems wholly unfounded. A statement by religious leaders is being prepared, and you may want to join in on it.

In January of 2000, members of two predominantly African-American locals of the Longshoremen in Charleston, SC, protested a Danish ship's use of non-union labor to do work historically done by union members. The ILA members had earlier used peaceful picket lines on two different occasions, without incident. This time the 150 pickets were met by 600 riot-equipped South Carolina highway patrol officers and other police. Five union members were slapped with felony "incite to riot" charges, punishable by up to five years in prison, by the state.

When a local magistrate dropped the charges, the office of the Attorney General of South Carolina intervened and obtained indictments from a grand jury. For nearly two years they have remained under house arrest. When attorneys for the dock workers asked that Attorney General Condon be disqualified for gross misconduct, he withdrew and the case was transferred to a prosecutor in a nearby county. On October 15 a judge released them from house arrest. The trial begins on November 13.

It is implausible that these unarmed union members planned to riot against heavily armed state police. Some of the longshoremen were wounded by the police with rubber bullets, and Local 1422 President Ken Riley was clubbed on the head when he attempted to restore order.

Solidarity actions are scheduled for November 14. A web site has been established at <http://www.charlestonfivedefense.org/>.

A statement by religious leaders (not on the web site) has been prepared by Michael Szpak, (202) 637-5284, fax (202) 639-6210; the deadline is November 7.