Celebrate Labor Day by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act

by: Arieh Lebowitz

Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 14:15:36 PM EDT

By Sybil Sanchez

Aug 29, 2009: NEW YORK (JTA) -- This Labor Day, take a moment to remember people like Lupe Hernandez.

When she toured a Jewish family's apartment in the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, she felt connected to our history as immigrants struggling to make better lives for ourselves and our families. Hernandez is one of the immigrant workers on strike in the 2007 film "Made in LA" struggling to receive a fair wage and stop sweatshop abuse by organizing.

Labor Day might seem like a quaint throwback, but the struggle for workers' rights is still being fought today in our own backyards.

Our community's relationship to labor is very different today than in yesteryear, but the Jewish obligation to remember our history remains relevant. As Jews, we must respect and support workers' rights, whether it's those of our ancestors or today's immigrants.

While most headlines are focused on health care reform, labor law reform should stay on our agenda -- specifically, the Employee Free Choice Act. This much-needed legislation has three important principles: Workers would more easily be able to join or form a union; employers who break the law in efforts to stop union organizing would face more stringent penalties and workers who have chosen to form a union would have a clear path to an initial collective bargaining agreement with their employer.

Today, 44 percent of newly formed unions are unable to reach initial agreements, a serious problem the current law fails to address.

The majority sign-up route to union recognition provided by the Employee Free Choice Act has a long history and is in widespread use today in the United States and many other countries. But there's a catch: Under current law, workers can form a union via majority sign-up only if their employer agrees to it - which most employers refuse to do, even when worker support for the union is overwhelming.

Supporting this legislation is a no-brainer if one supports workers' right to collectively negotiate for decent wages and working conditions.

The Jewish Labor Committee has been a longtime supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act. We're not alone. A number of other Jewish organizations also have endorsed it, including the Progressive Jewish Alliance in Los Angeles, Chicago's Jewish Council for Urban Affairs, Philadelphia's Jewish Social Policy Action Network, Washington's Jews United for Justice and New York's Uri L'Tzedek. A visit to Rabbisforworkerschoice.org reveals the support of dozens of rabbis.

Ofer Eini, chairman of Israel's federation of labor, the Histadrut, also has weighed in on the issue, conveying his support In a recent letter to John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.

"The Employee Free Choice Act will bring U.S. law for union recognition into conformity with Israeli law and international human rights standards on the freedom of association in the workplace," Eini wrote. "We believe that U.S. workers, and all workers, should have the same rights as Israeli workers, to organize unions free from employer interrogation, intimidation and harassment.

"In Israel, when workers seek to bargain collectively, they just join together into a union, in the same manner that they join any other organization," he added. "When a sufficient number of workers have joined a union, they can demand recognition from their employer. If the employer refuses, the Labour Courts of Israel can investigate, and when it has determined that the required number of the workers are union members, that they have joined freely and without coercion, the court can require the employer to recognize the union."

According to Eini, the Employee Free Choice Act will "reform U.S. labor law so that the U.S. National Labor Relations Board is, like the National Labour Court of Israel, empowered to protect freedom of association, instead of thwarting it, as it is currently compelled to do by U.S. labor law."

"Unlike the National Labour Court of Israel, the National Labor Relations Board [NLRB] of the United States has no power to require the employer to recognize the workers' union except by first imposing an NLRB election," he said. "But NLRB elections are a cruel violation of the fundamental principles of free and fair and secret elections. In practice, they effectively prevent workers from exercising their right to freedom of association.

"Paid supervisors are trained by anti-union consultants to act as spies in the workplace. Thousands of workers are harassed, intimidated or fired each year by employers who do everything in their power to rob workers of their right to join unions and bargain collectively.

"So long as the employer-employee relationship remains one of power imbalance there is no way to reform an NLRB election to make it approach the standard of a free, fair and secret election.

"But as the experience of Israel teaches us, there is no reason to force workers through such a process. The National Labor Relations Board of the United States, like the National Labour Court of Israel, is fully capable of assessing the validity of union membership and verifying that membership was achieved without intimidation and coercion. It can do so without being required to impose an undemocratic and workers-rights-violating NLRB election. But it can do so only if the Employee Free Choice Act will pass as written."

The Histadrut leader concluded by calling on "all who desire that our countries' laws reflect our shared ideals of workplace social justice to support Employee Free Choice."

In this respect, Israeli law is pointing the way to a society that treats its workers with justice and dignity. Can we do any less?

Social justice leadership training for DC folks

by: Rabbi Jill Jacobs

Wed Aug 05, 2009 at 11:15:24 AM EDT

Jews United for Justice is proud to partner with the Progressive Jewish Alliance to bring an exciting new social justice training program to DC!

The Jeremiah Fellowship educates and trains a select cohort of young adults (ages 25-35) to become the next generation of Jewish social justice change makers.

* Empower yourself through in-depth training in professional and leadership skills .
* Expand your knowledge of what Jewish text, tradition, and history have to say about putting ethics into action.
* Acquire tangible organizing and activism skills within a Jewish context.
* Explore pressing social, political, and economic issues facing our region.
* Become a member of a lasting community of vibrant and engaged leaders.
* Access a dynamic network of organizers, advocates, rabbis, artists, and renowned scholars.

Apply Now for the Jeremiah Fellowship in Los Angeles!

by: Jaime Rapaport

Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 14:44:17 PM EDT

Touched by a stranger…

by: Sheila Webb-Halpern

Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 17:34:04 PM EDT

No, not in the good way.

I consider myself a feminist. A proud and public one. Most who know me would emphatically agree. I also consider myself good at confrontation. It feels awkward to use the word “good,” but it’s the right one. While I don’t revel in them, typically, I manage difficult conversations very well.

So why oh why, is it so ridiculously hard for me to tell a creep on the subway that the way he is invading my space is inappropriate and unacceptable? Bloody hell, it’s next to impossible for me to turn to the person beside me and say, hey you, stopping touching me.

Is it just me? I know it’s not. I’ve had this conversation with friends and co-workers. And I know I’m not the first woman to make the brilliant observation that men often take up more than their fair share of space.

Last night, I’m on my way home. Riding on one of the new trains with the long blue seats. I’m sitting at the far right, next to the handrail. The train isn’t very crowded. After a few stops, a young, thin guy sits down next to me. For no legitimate reason, he could fit a soccer ball between his legs...

Fellowship Opportunity- Jeremiah Fellowship

by: JNikzad

Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 14:49:28 PM EDT

Hey Guys,

 There's an awesome fellowship opportunity coming up in September that the Progressive Jewish Alliance is offering in Los Angeles.

 It's an amazing fellowship that trains and educates the next generation of Jewish social justice leaders.

 Check out www.pjalliance.org for more info on it.

Faith-Based Social Justice on the Web (or Not)

by: Jeffrey Sharlein

Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 09:07:41 AM EDT

After spending a week in Dulac, Louisiana, co-leading the “Jewish group” among several Methodist groups volunteering with a Methodist organization there, I decided to go to the web. I wanted to compare what the Methodist denomination says about itself with what contemporary Judaism’s four main movements say about themselves regarding social justice and social action in the greater world. (Of course, selected establishment websites are only a small fraction of the whole story. See, for example, this recent article from the Forward.)

Grassroots Action for Love and Equality

by: Sheila Webb-Halpern

Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 10:19:54 AM EST

After the crushing blow of Prop 8 passing in California and similar actions from Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas – it was nice to see the front page of the New York Times yesterday morning.  Check out the great photo… 

Equal rights to marriage started in Connecticut on Wednesday.  Last month, the state’s highest court ruled that excluding gay couples from marriage was unconstitutional.  Of course, the California Supreme Court made a similar ruling six months ago, until voters decided otherwise on Nov 4. 

Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, wrote an excellent letter in response to the ballot initiative loses…

“Now is the time to be constructive with our hurt and disappointment. This weekend, thousands in all 50 states will take to the streets with one common goal in mind—full equality for all—let us not forget that our cause is one of civil respect rooted in justice and fairness. Marchers will call not only for justice for LGBT families, but for an end to all the oppressions that hold our nation back and give the false impression that our differences are more profound than what we have in common. To locate a Join the Impact rally near you, visit http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/.”

Read Joe's entire letter here.

Tomorrow – Saturday, November 15 – protests have been organized in every state to promote love and equality.  Read Join The Imact's mission statement here.  NYC’s protest will take place at 1:30pm at City Hall.

A Post-Election Unconference

by: Rabbi Jill Jacobs

Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 09:57:27 AM EST

Worried that you'll never talk politics again after the election? Wondering what the Jewish social justice movement will be like in the next administration? Just like to talk?

Our friends at Zeek are sponsoring a number of "unconferences" on Sunday, Nov. 9 in NY, DC, Boston, and SF. These unconferences, co-sponsored by a number of organizations including Jewish Funds for Justice, are a chance to talk with other folks about politics, social policy, Jewish social justice, or whatever else inspires you:

The election is over, and no matter who won, we have, in a sense, only just begun. On the issues that matter the most to us, how do we work with the new adminsitration to make sure our voices are heard? How can we join forces with others in the Jewish world to create a Jewish Justice Platform for the next four years?

In this non-partisan setting, you decide what you want to discuss. There are no speakers and no pre-determined topics. You set the agenda, you create the workshops, you lead the discussion groups. We provide the space and facilitate.

When:

Sunday, November 9, 1:00-5:00 pm

Where:

DC Moishe House Silver Springs

New York Sixth Street Community Synagogue

Boston Moishe Kavod House Boston

San Francisco Congregation Sha’ar Zahav

LGBT Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and
Sonoma Counties

Hard Work in the Big Easy this December

by: racrj

Fri Oct 17, 2008 at 17:09:33 PM EDT

Things young Jewish adults like: 
-- Traveling
-- Meeting other young Jewish adults
-- Volunteering (tikkun olam!)  
Luckily for all you 20- and 30-somethings out there, the Union for Reform Judaism is sponsoring Tzevet Mitzvot: Adult Mitzvah Corps, a trip that will combine all three – in New Orleans! The program, geared toward Jewish 25-35 year olds, will run Dec. 20-25th, when participants will spend the week volunteering, studying and, of course, having some fun in the Big Easy. And hey, a trip to New Orleans sure beats eating Chinese food and watching Netflix on Christmas, like most other Jews will be doing!

Position Announcement Executive Director Jewish Labor Committee

by: Arieh Lebowitz

Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 13:09:07 PM EDT

The Jewish Labor Committee is seeking an individual to fill the position of Executive Director of a national agency that is the liaison between the labor movement and the organized Jewish community.

The Jewish Labor Committee mobilizes support from the Jewish community for issues of concern to the trade union movement and mobilizes support from the labor movement for issues of concern to the Jewish community. The JLC works to assist labor federations, unions and their locals in diverse campaigns and to maintain the support of the Jewish community for the broad social goals of the labor movement. At the same time, the JLC works to mobilize support from the American labor movement for a secure Israel, Holocaust education, combating anti-Semitism and other issues of Jewish concern.

See more here:
http://www.jewishjobs.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=uvj&job_id=9550