From the Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis:
Supporting the Del Posto Workers’ Campaign for Justice & Respect!
A Fair Food Potluck will take place in front of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s Del Posto Restaurant in support of the more than restaurant 40 workers at who are fighting to improve their workplace. They demand that managers be trained to stop discrimanation, racism, sexual harassment, and verbal and physical abuse on the job! The workers are also demanding an end to wage theft and the misappropriation of their tips by the company.
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY) is a non-profit organization that seeks improved working conditions for restaurant workers citywide. ROC-NY assists restaurant workers seeking legal redress against employers who violate their employment rights. ROC-NY seeks to provide customers and the public with information about the litigation in this restaurant through these handbills, not to interfere with current workers or with deliveries.
Last Chance to Register for IWJ’s June 19-21 National Conference!
Share strategies for building labor-religion partnerships, fighting wage theft and strengthening worker centers by attending IWJ’s National Conference in Chicago June 19-21! Click here to register!
Special plenary and workshop sessions have been added on the Public Sector Worker Fights in response to the vicious attacks on public sector workers. Come learn, strategize, and collaborate as we take a stand against these unprecedented attacks. As people of faith, we are called to step forth and condemn these outrageous attacks on teachers, police officers, fire fighters, public health workers, and other public employees who provide vital services to our communities. An attack on public sector workers is an attack on all workers.
A pre-conference Interfaith Theological Symposium for Worker Justice will also take place. The interfaith symposium is a gathering of theologians, students, religious activists and labor leaders to connect with and be supported by the theological groundings offered within different faith traditions. The interactive symposium will highlight presentations from Muslim, Jewish and Christian experts in the field of economic justice.
If you can’t make the whole conference, join in on Monday June 20 for IWJ’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, which will include tasty appetizers, fine wines, inspiring union songs and gospel music, and 400 religious and labor activists. Reconnect with former staff, leaders, summer interns, and seminarians. Meet the new leaders of the worker center movement. Buy your tickets today or donate $100 so that one of IWJ’s senior citizen volunteers can enjoy the party!
United Brotherhood of Carpenters website on Employer Payroll Fraud: It’s time to play by the rules:
Learn about Worker Misclassification, Workers Comp Fraud, Untaxed Cash Pay, Money Laundering, and Racketeering and how these employer payroll frauds steal from taxpayers, the government, and insurers. It violates workers’ rights and costs jobs for law-abiding companies and their employees. Learn more about these multi-billion-dollar crimes and growing state and federal efforts to fight back.
Florida’s video: Cheat to Compete:
From Florida’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fraud (BWCF), Division of Insurance Fraud. The video shows fraud schemes seen in the construction industry. Think what you are building is safe and above board? Always ask if your contractor’s workers are employees or independent contractors. If they are “independent contractors” choose someone else. When push comes to shove, the company you contract with will take no responsibility for the work of its alleged “independent contractors” who may also be uninsured.
From IWJ: How Your Congregation Can Support Unemployed Workers
Is your congregation helping unemployed workers? IWJ’s new Faith Advocates for Jobs campaign plans to organize 1,000 local congregation-based or interfaith support committees to assist the unemployed and their families in communities across the country. Want to get your congregation or group involved? Contact Rev. Paul Sherry, the campaign’s coordinator, at 202-525-3055.
The US Department of Labor is reporting that competition for jobs, while improving, remains intense. At the end of September, there were five people looking for work for every job opening, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLT) Survey released by the U.S. Department of Labor. This number has been gradually decreasing since the end of the recession. Competition for jobs has eased slightly since the end of last year, when there were more than six unemployed people for every job opening. When the recession ended there were 5.8 people searching for jobs for every job opening. However, when the recession began in 2007, there were only 1.8 job-seekers for every job opening.
The Economic Policy Institute, commenting on the JOLT survey, reports that:
The total number of job openings in September was 2.9 million, while the total number of unemployed workers was 14.8 million … This means that the ratio of unemployed workers to job openings was 5.0-to-1 in September, an increase from the revised August ratio of 4.8-to-1. The job-seekers ratio is displaying a similar trend to other labor market data – substantial improvements from late 2009 to the spring of 2010, and then stalling out what are still crisis levels. September’s value, at 5-to-1, is over three times as high as the first half of 2007, when the ratio averaged 1.5-to-1.
It is important to note that the job-seekers ratio does not measure the number of applicants for each job. There may be throngs of applicants for every job posting, since job seekers apply for multiple jobs. Instead, the 5-to-1 ratio means that for every five unemployed workers, there is only one job available — or for every four out of five unemployed workers, there simply are no jobs. Furthermore, when calculating the ratio of job seekers to job openings, if we were to include not just the 14.8 million unemployed workers, but also the 9.5 million “involuntarily part-time” workers (part-time workers who want and are available for a full-time job, and are therefore likely job searching), the ratio would be 8.3-to-1.
In the current environment it is essentially important that we shore up the support for those ready, willing, and able to work. This is the exact support that the workers in the United States need. If Congress fails to continue the extensions in the unemployment programs, 2 million people will be left with no income in December alone, just in time for Christmas. Over the following four months there will be up to 6 million people without job opportunities and without income. They will not be paying rent, taxes, or shopping in local businesses. They will become a drain on already overtaxed state welfare systems, and more people will loose jobs because of the ripple effect this loss of income will have — up to 700,000 more people losing their jobs!
Contact Congress today and urge continuation and further extension of benefits for the very people who want a job, not a hand-out.
National Day of Action Against Wage Theft on Thursday, November 18th
- 60 percent of nursing homes steal workers’ wages.
- 78 percent of restaurants in New Orleans steal workers’ wages.
- 100 percent of poultry plants steal workers’ wages.
- Wage theft is too big a crime to solve?
Except for the last one, the numbers are all true. Imagine being robbed at the street corner when you have just enough money to get you through the day. Now, picture that happening to you day in and day out.
Unfortunately for too many workers, especially those in low-wage jobs, being robbed is a reality they face every day — at their own work place.
Billions of dollars are stolen from millions of workers each year, often forcing them to choose between paying the rent or putting food on the table.
Wage theft affects not only the workers and their families, but also robs from the government’s tax coffers, resulting in cutbacks of vital services. Wage theft also puts ethical employers at a competitive disadvantage and can destroy community businesses, as working families cannot spend wages they haven’t received. Wage theft hurts everyone!
On November 18, individuals and groups in more than 50 cities across the country will take action against wage theft. Please join in calling attention to this epidemic and mobilizing support for the various efforts to combat it, from new national legislation to creative local initiatives.
Wage theft is a crime we can solve. In the past year, there have been local victories that have impacted the lives of workers. A couple of months ago, two new pieces of legislation were introduced, one to curtail worker misclassification and one to strengthen community anti-wage theft programs. The time to join in and take action is now. Lend your voice and speak up for justice.
What Can You do on the National Day of Action?
Take Action Against a Wage Theft Perpetrator:
- Conduct a bus tour of unethical businesses that steal wages
- Organize a group to confront an employer to pay his workers; flyer the business’ customers
- Hold a prayer vigil
- Plan an action at a non-union contractor or employer that is stealing wages and undercutting union companies.
Host a “Know Your Rights” Educational Workshop with Workers
Highlight Local Ordinance or State Law Campaigns/Victories
- Organize press events with legislation sponsors
- Lead an educational forum
Highlight the Need for National Anti-Wage Theft Legislation
- Lead a delegation of workers and faith leaders to your Representative
- Hold a press conference with your elected leaders
Announce a New Initiative Against Wage Theft
- Attorneys can file a new lawsuit
- Politicians can announce new initiatives
Academics can report on new wage theft survey results
…and Sign this Peition. Help stop Wage Theft- Workers should get the pay they’ve earned.
From Working America: AFL-CIO Releases Database That Tracks Outsourcing, Safety Violations, Discrimination
The AFL-CIO and Working America released Oct. 7 a searchable database detailing outsourcing numbers, safety violations, and discrimination cases for more than 400,000 corporations and subsidiaries.
The groups’ Job Tracker searches for information by zip code, company name, and industry.
“Because of Job Tracker, corporations who have taken advantage of lax trade policies in America and abroad will no longer be able to hide behind the veils of bureaucracy,” said Karen Nussbaum, executive director of Working America. “Every night on our neighborhood canvasses, we hear from people who want to know which companies are profiting off the loss of their jobs. Corporations have created a global race to the bottom and working people won’t stand for it.”
The interactive database uses data from dozens of public sources to allow visitors to find out which companies have exported jobs overseas, violated health and safety codes or engaged in discriminatory or other illegal practices, Nussbaum said.
On a conference call to release the database, speakers noted that both experts and the general public now will be able to easily search through a huge compilation of data on corporate outsourcing.Drawn From Several Sources
Detailed results are drawn from sources including the Labor Department’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) records, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices, Occupational Safety and Health Administration records, and other agencies.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka noted the impact of trade and tax policies that make it even easier for corporations to outsource jobs. Trumka pointed to the benefits of the tool for workers as they rebuild the economy.
“We must demand that our leaders show that they stand with working families—fighting to create jobs, rejecting unfair trade deals and putting us on a path to make things in America again,” Trumka said. “For the first time, working people have one place to see the real impact of the failed policies of the past that gave corporations the ability to ship American jobs overseas. With this new data as a benchmark, working people will have the ability to separate the economic patriots from the corporate traitors at the ballot box.”
Trumka said it has “been excruciating” to find information about what companies are outsourcing and to what extent. “This allows anyone to see who is a bad actor in their community,” he said.
Nussbaum said that six researchers spent three months developing the database…
From IWJ: It’s been a particularly challenging year for workers. Hundreds of thousands are still without jobs; the rights of immigrant workers are constantly threatened by proposed anti-immigrant legislation; and millions of working families still live below the poverty line.
This Labor Day, we take time to remember and draw strength from the stuggles and victories of workers who came before us. And as we celebrate the past, let us also honor and lift up those individuals whose labor continue to impact our lives today.
For the month of September, I join IWJ, and also invite you, to honor at least one special worker. By honoring a worker today, we not only recognize and thank one or a handful of people in our lives, we are also supporting their efforts to improve wages, benefits and conditions for all workers.
Also, on Labor Day weekend, congregations across the country will be hosting workers and labor leaders to reflect on faith, work, justice, and the meaning of Labor Day. I encourage you to attend! Click to find a service/event near you, and visit IWJ for information on organizing an event in your congregation.
Here is a really nice reflection on Philemon 1:1-21 in Philemon: Lessons for Labor Day
The short book of Philemon is one of the lectionary readings for Labor Day weekend 2010. Only 25 verses long, commentators aren’t clear exactly what is going on in the passage. It is clearly a letter from Paul and Timothy to a man named Philemon.
Let’s identify the main characters. There’s Paul, who’s in jail, and Timothy, his younger colleague and cohort. The letter is written to Philemon, who’s described as a “dear brother and fellow worker,” Apphia, called “our sister,” Archippus, who is a solider, and to the whole Church that meets in Philemon’s home. This makes us think that Philemon is fairly well to do, otherwise the Church probably couldn’t meet in his home. Plus, he clearly has at least one slave – Onesimus.
Paul gives thanks for Philemon’s love of people and prays that he will be active in sharing his faith and recognizing “every good thing we have in Christ.”
Then the crux of the letter begins. Paul is pleading on Onesimus’ behalf. Paul acknowledges that previously Onesimus was “useless” to Philemon. We don’t know why he was useless. Perhaps he was young and foolish. Perhaps he didn’t work hard. Perhaps he was actually a very good worker but Philemon took a dislike to him. We just don’t know.
Paul says, “I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.” So somehow, it appears that Philemon wasn’t being fair to Onesimus. Philemon is resisting doing what he ought to do, so Paul is appealing out of love.
Onesimus has served Paul well while he was in prison. He has become to him like a son, which is where we get the sense that Onesimus is young. Again, we’re not quite sure how Onesimus happened to get to prison with Paul. Perhaps Philemon had gotten mad and sent him to prison. Perhaps he had sent him with the mission of helping Paul.
Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him, but he didn’t want to do so without Philemon’s consent, because the text says “so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.” Paul wants Onesimus to stay with him, but doesn’t want Philemon to feel like he must continue allowing him there. Interesting.
Paul speculates about the real purpose behind why Onesimus was separated. He says, “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.” He goes on to say, “He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother to the Lord.”
You know how we often see God’s hand in situation in the long run, but not in the short run. We view things one way at the time, but another in retrospect. What would explain Paul’s comments? Perhaps Onesimus ran away. Perhaps he bought his way out of being a slave. Perhaps Onesimus stole money or did something so bad that Philemon sent him off to jail. We don’t know. But, we do know that Paul is urging Philemon to see God’s hand in all this. Paul is urging him to see his coming back as a good thing. He is coming back as a brother and not as a slave.
Paul then goes on to say that if Philemon views Paul as a partner, then Philemon should welcome Onesimus “as you would welcome me.” Obviously, Philemon was not going to welcome him back nicely, otherwise Paul would not have had to beg him like this. Somehow or other Philemon is mad at Onesimus. Further, Paul says, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.” Paul assures him that “I, Paul, am writing with my own hand.” Paul reiterates, “I will pay it back.”
Then Paul reminds Philemon that “you owe me your very self.” I assume this is referring to the fact that Paul evangelized Philemon. Paul is reminding him of his values and the debts that Philemon owes. Onesimus is not the only one with debts.
Finally, Paul appeals one last time to his good nature: “I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”
Then Paul asks for a room and sends various greetings.
I can’t help, on this Labor Day weekend, reading this story as one about a rich and kind of spiteful, unforgiving, boss. Paul says Onesimus is a good guy. He is a dear brother. Paul is begging Philemon to welcome him back and treat him well. And, Paul is offering to pay any debt he may have. I don’t know about you, but Philemon seems the difficult one in this passage. Paul is treating him with kid gloves, appealing to love, calling in a debt, putting the situation in a favorable light.
So, what are the lessons for us here this Labor Day weekend? Frankly, the lessons depend in part on who we see ourselves as in the story. But frankly, I think most of the lessons are for bosses and those with influence. Let me suggest four key lessons:
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Philemon may be a short book, but it is crammed full of lessons for us this Labor Day. None of us is perfect. Err on the side of forgiving mistakes by our co-workers, employees or even our bosses. When you see injustice and unfairness in the workplace, intervene. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone and speak up for your colleagues. And finally, approach those to whom you are appealing in a respectful manner. Pray for them and appeal to their best nature. These are good lessons this Labor Day weekend. Lessons for the workplace. Lessons for our families. And lessons for the Church.