by DC Jobs with Justice | Oct 3, 2009 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
Day laborers in DC scored another big victory on October 2nd: recovering over $10,000 in stolen wages for eight workers. Several members of the Union de Trabajadores de Washington, DC, a day laborer association, had been doing work on a DC public school building over the summer, and were paid less than promised. They reached out to DC Jobs with Justice and the DC Employment Justice Center, who quickly realized this public project entitled the workers to higher, “prevailing wages†for their work. rnrnAfter reaching out to other workers from the project and talking with several building trades unions to confirm the proper rate, DC JwJ and the DC EJC went to the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization to discuss this violation of DC’s contracting laws. The Office collaborated in forcing the contractors to pay back wages, including proper overtime rates. rnrnThis victory not only secures justice for the workers involved, but sends an important message to contractors who believe they can hire immigrant workers and pay them lower rates. Current broken immigration laws invite such exploitation by creating a pool of undocumented workers who employers believe don’t have rights and can’t organize. On Oct. 13th, workers and community members will rally at the Capitol for just and humane immigration...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Sep 2, 2009 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
This year more than 70 area churches, synagogues, and mosques are planning special services to honor workers over Labor Day weekend as part of the annual Labor in the Pulpits, Labor on the Bimah, and Labor on the Minbar program.rnrnPlanned programs include a range of activities, including guest speakers from labor and workers’ rights organizations, special prayers, luncheons, and celebration through song. rnrnMany congregations will host workers to speak about their struggles, including day laborers speaking at Foundry UMC, Tikkum Leil Shabbat, B’nai Shalom of Olney and Shirat Hanefesh; hotel workers speaking at Culmore UMC, and domestic workers speaking at Bethesda UMC. rnrnParticipating Congregations include: rnrn * Adas Israel Congregationrn * Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregationrn* All Souls Memorial Episcopal Churchrn* All Souls Unitarian Church rn * Am Kolel Chavurarn * American University Hillelrn* Berwyn Presbyterian Churchrn * Bet Mishpachahrn * Beth Chai Jewish Humanist Congregationrn * Beth El Hebrew Congregationrn * Bethesda Jewish Congregationrn* Bethesda UMCrn * B’nai Israel Congregationrn * B’nai Shalom of Olneyrn* Church of the Ascensionrn* Church of the Pilgrims Presbyterianrn* Church of the Reformation, Lutheranrn * Congregation Adat Reyimrn * Congregation Bet Chesedrn * Congregation Beth Emethrn * Congregation B’nai Tzedekrn * Congregation Har Shalomrn * Congregation Har-Tzeon-Agudath Achimrn * Congregation Kol Amirn * Congregation Kol Shalomrn * Congregation Oseh Shalomrn * Congregation Sha’are Shalomrn* Culmore United Methodist Churchrn * DC Minyanrn * East Bank Havurahrn * Fabrangenrn* First Trinity Lutheran Churchrn* Florida Avenue Baptist Churchrn* Foundry United Methodist Churchrn * George Washington University Hillelrn* Grace Episcopal Churchrn * Kehila Chadasharn * Kehilat Shalomrn * Machar, The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaismrn* Marvin Memorial...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 14, 2009 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
For the past 8 years, congregations around the DC metropolitan area, and around the country, have been participated in Labor in the Pulpit, Labor on the Bimah, Labor on the Minbar program as a way of remembering God’s call to pursue justice, honoring people’s labor and recalling the religious traditions that dignify and celebrate work. rnrnThis year’s theme, “Justice and Work in Times of Crisis,” will raise up the impact of the economic crisis on workers in out region, with a special focus on victims of stolen wages and on unemployment.rnrnCongregations can participate by inviting a worker or labor leader to speak during or after services, by holding a special discussion program, or simply by offering special prayers to raise up workers in our community. rnrnInterfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington and Jews United for Justice, who co-coordinate the program, provide resource packets that include scripture, denominational statements on worker justice, sample presentations, prayers, and bulletin/newsletter inserts. rnrn Sign-up on-line!rnrnFor more info about the program, contact Jonathan Wiens at jwien(at)dclabor.org or...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Aug 22, 2008 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
During Labor Day weekend and throughout September, more than 50 congregations from diverse Jewish, Christian, and Unitarian traditions will honor workers and call for justice during special services and programs. The Labor in the Pulpits and Labor on the Bimah programs are jointly organized by Interfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington and Jews United for Justice. rnrnProgram highlights this year include a talk by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Rockville; a discussion at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC about the situation of immigrant workers at the nation’s largest kosher meatpacking plant, in Postville, IA; and a fellowship lunch at Foundry UMC featuring theater and film highlighting the congregation’s day labor ministry.rn rnA full schedule of Labor in the Pulpits and Labor on the Bimah programs is available here.rnrnParticipating congregations include:rnAdas Israel Congregation, Adat Reyim Congregation, Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, All Soul’s Unitarian Church, Am Kolel Havurah, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Beth Sholom Temple, Bethesda Jewish Congregation, B’nai Israel Congregation, Christ Lutheran Church, Church of the Pilgrims Presbyterian, Congregation Bet Mishpachah, Congregation Beth Emeth, Congregation B’nai Tzedek, Congregation Etz Hayim, Covenant Baptist Church, DC Minyan, Fabrangen, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Florida Avenue Baptist Church, Foundry UMC, Grace Episcopal Church, Kehillat Shalom, MACHAR: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism, McKendree-Simms Brookland UMC, Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Oseh Shalom, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Second Baptist Church, Shaare Tefila Congregation, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St. David’s Episcopal Parish, St....
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 7, 2008 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
For the past 7 years, congregations around the DC metro area, and around the country, have been using Labor Day as an opportunity to remember God’s call to pursue justice, to honor people’s labor and to recall the religious traditions that dignify and celebrate work. Click here to find out how to participate and sign up...
