Great work! So excited that an org like Uri L'Tzedek exists! We're going to be working with them on some of our service learning trips to LA this upcoming year. Very exciting.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about this case of Jews being Jerks. Unfortunately, Flaum still has not agreed to pay the money they owe. Fortunately, Uri L'Tzedek has gotten more involved, which is exciting news. They're shown in this short video.
The Brandworkers are a great organization, who have been helping the workers organize. They're having a big dinner comig up! Worth supporting for sure! I'll be doing coat check :)
The Forward just ran an article about Flaum Appetizing, a kosher food producer based in Brooklyn, who owes an estimated $230,000 in overtime pay to their workers. There have even been hearings at the National Labor Relations Board, who sided with the workers. Flaum has yet to pay! It's a total shanda!
The immigrant employees at Flaum worked hard for years to ensure the company's success and growth. Yet when they asserted their fundamental right to be paid in accordance with the law for their hard work, the workers were fired en masse. The crime is all the more objectionable because their status as immigrants is being used against them to perpetuate their exploitation.
I, for one, am glad that the workers have started to humiliate (if it's possible) Moshe Grunhut, owner of Flaum Appetizing, in front of his own home in his deeply religious community, with weekly protests. Obviously, the power of subtle suggestion is not what this guy needs.
(consider adding your names! - promoted by Mik Moore)
Shalom from Uri L'Tzedek!
We are honored to be posting here among this community of tzaddikim, scholars and activists.
As you have all probably heard, the crisis in Postville, IA rages on. A few days ago, a company hired to provide temporary labor Agriprocessors pulled out approximately 150 workers due to safety concerns at the plant. Hundreds of children of detained workers are still separated from their mothers and fathers. The Rubashkin empire continues to claim it has done absolutely nothing wrong and that every single allegation of worker abuse, witholding of wages, and child labor is a lie.
A writer for Kosher Today and consultant for Agriprocessors recently told us how to think about the ethics of our food. "The main issue is not 'Am I buying an ethical product. They don't care if the owner of a company does this or that. As long as it's safe and good, they'll buy."
Let's show them how wrong they are.
Take action in demanding that the Rubashkin family show they are commited to protecting the health and safety, fair wages, and rights to organize of their workers by creating a department of compliance accountable to a 3rd party by June 15. If not, we stop buying their products. 1000 people and organizations have signed on already, including Jewish Funds for Justice, Hazon, Ruth Messinger, Rabbi Avi Weiss, and Rabbi Sholom Riskin. Join us. Sign the petitionhere.
