by DC Jobs with Justice | Nov 19, 2010 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
“Wage theft is a crime” was the theme of a rally and press event on Thursday, Nov. 18th that brought together workers, faith leaders, and community supporters. Held in front of the DC Metropolitan Police Dept. Headquarters, the rally gave workers a chance to speak out about the silent crime of wage theft and to call on the police and DC government to do more to protect workers. rnrnThe Union de Trabajadores, with DC Jobs with Justice, Interfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington, the DC Employment Justice Center, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and other allies have been working for several years to improve the options open to workers to recover wages. While the DC Wage and Hour office has implemented many of the recommendations from workers, the office still lacks the staff and resources necessary and doesn’t have the authority to levy fines or penalties against employers who refuse to pay. rnrnThe need for police to be involved in fighting wage theft was a major theme of Thursday’s event. Ramon Hernandez and Antonio Lazo, both members of the Union de Trabajadores spoke about experiences calling police to report stolen wages. In some cases, police intervention has resulted in workers being paid what they are owed- without having to wait through a lengthy administrative process at the DC Office of Wage and Hour. However, some workers who have called police have been told that its not a police issue. The Union de Trabajadores has requested and been promised a meeting with MPD to discuss possibilities for collaboration.rnrnThe Nov. 18th event was organized as part of Interfaith Worker...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Sep 3, 2010 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
This Labor Day weekend, 27 local churches will be celebrating workers and labor during their services through the Labor in the Pulpits program. Dozens of local synagogues and temples will also be celebrating workers through the Labor on the Bimah program, organized by Jews United for Justice.rnrnMany participating congregations will raise up worker justice issues during sermons and homilies, while others will offer prayers of blessing for workers or for the unemployed. Some congregations have invited guest speakers or organized special programs after services. rnrnAt McKendree-Simms Brookland UMC in DC, Kimberly Freeman Brown, Executive Director at American Rights at Work, will speak about the movement to expand the organizing rights, while at Woodside UMC in Bethesda, Chris Neif of the United Food and Commercial Workers will speak about efforts to organize Wal-Mart. rnrnAt Foundry United Methodist Church on 16th Street, Rev. Dr. Miguel de la Torre will give a guest sermon on “God, Immigration, and Work.†The special service, which will feature a blessing of day laborers, will be followed by fellowship luncheon with the Union de Trabajadores and, later in the evening, a film showing of the documentary “Igual Que Tu.â€rnrnChurch of the Pilgrim Presbyterian will be turning over their pulpit to the Rev. Phil Tom, who formerly served as the Director of Urban Ministry for the Presbyterian Church (USA), and now serves as Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Department of Labor. rnrnThe local Labor Day weekend activities are part of the national Labor in the Pulpits/Labor on the Bimah programs. For more info, and to see resources for worship, visit the Interfaith Worker Justice...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 12, 2010 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
The Reserve Restaurant at 15th and L NW looks swanky from the outside, but behind the scenes workers claim the owner has been cheating them of their fair wages. rnrnFive former employees came to DC Jobs with Justice after being unable to claim close to $10,000 in back wages. They filed claims at the Office of Wage and Hour, but the owner, Moe Hamdan, ignored a summons to come to an official information gathering session to sort out the case. And he called the police on a group of workers who went to confront him in person. rnrnAfter several failed attempts to meet with Mr. Hamdan to resolve the situation, DC Jobs with Justice and Greater Washington Interfaith Worker just resorted to more dramatic measures, starting with leaf-letting and escalating to a large picket outside the restaurant on Friday. Since the campaign went public, two former managers have come forward and shared their own stories of being owed money. rnrnUntil the matter is settled, DC JwJ is asking the community not to eat at The Reserve, and to call and let the owner know they support businesses who support workers’ rights. rnrnMore coverage of the case:rn“Restauranteur Hamdan Targeted for Failure to Pay Wages”rn“Moe is Less at Local Eatery”rn“Workers Blow Whistle on Moe Hamdan’s Wage...
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...
