Faith WORKS Newsletter of Interfaith Worker Justice Fall 2012

Report Exposes Celebrating Wage Theft Wins

Dirt in Car Wash orkers, worker advo- limit wage deductions an employer phis workers. If passed the ordinance cates and community can make and it would also require will make it easier for wage theft vic- Industry groups are making employers to pay all employees by tims to reclaim lost or stolen wages. headway in the often the next regular payday following For more information and updates on IWJ and the affiliated worker center Wslow but steady uphill battle against termination or departure. the Memphis ordinance visit network congratulate ARISE Chicago wage theft. This year, affiliates helped The Northwest Arkansas Worker www.workersinterfaithnetwork.org. for the release of the first ever compre- pass at least three new anti-wage Justice Center is leading the cam- hensive study of working conditions in theft ordinances, and build up sev- paign against wage theft in Arkansas, GRAND RAPIDS Chicago’s car wash industry. eral other campaigns in communities and helped craft the language for The Grand Rapids City Commission The report, Clean Cars, Dirty Work: across the country. statewide wage theft prevention law. recently passed a wage theft propos- Worker Rights Violations in Chicago al put forward by workers and faith Car Washes, reveals how employers BROWARD COUNTY HOUSTON and community leaders led by IWJ across the industry violate minimum Taking its cue from neighboring The Down With Wage Theft Cam- ally, the Micah Center. The new reg- wage and overtime laws. The report Miami-Dade, Broward County paign, led by IWJ affiliate, Fe y ulations tie anti-wage theft measures also exposes an industry fraught with recently passed the Wage Recovery Justicia Worker Center, continues to to city contracts and set up standards health and safety violations. Ordinance, which creates a resource gain momentum and support from to make sure city contractors do not ARISE Chicago tied the report’s for thousands of wage theft victims groups around the city. The cam- steal wages. With the regulations in release to the launch of a large-scale who previously had nowhere to turn. paign, launched in March this year, place, businesses engaging in wage campaign to organize car wash work- Broward is the second county in is pushing the passage of a Wage theft will be disqualified from city ers across the city with the United Florida to implement a wage recov- Theft Ordinance that provides for contracts, and contractors found to Steel Workers. To download the report ery program despite strong opposi- an administrative hearing process of commit wage theft will not receive and for more information about the tion from business groups. Workers wage theft cases through Houston’s payment until workers are properly campaign visit www.arisechicago.org. and worker advocates led by the Office of Business Opportunities. It compensated. Find more information Florida Wage Theft Task Force, which would also ban companies found at www.themicahcenter.org. includes IWJ affiliate, South Florida guilty of wage theft from securing Interfaith Worker Justice, were instru- city contracts, business licenses and Other cities, states and municipali- mental in getting the Broward Coun- permits needed to continue operating ties considering similar wage theft ty ordinance passed. in the city. For more information visit campaigns are: Palm Beach County, www.downwithwagetheft.org. Fla., Denver, Iowa, New Jersey, ARKANSAS Phoenix, Portland, Maine, and San Members of the Arkansas legislature MEMPHIS Diego. Visit www.iwj.org for updates are expected to introduce a state- The Workers Interfaith Network is on local and national wage theft wide wage theft prevention bill in leading efforts to get a wage theft campaigns. the spring. If passed, the law would ordinance in place to protect Mem-

ARISE Chicago released the compre- hensive report on Chicago’s car wash A Growing Network industry to a full house of workers, worker advocates and allies. he IWJ Worker Center Network wel- Trained & Inspired comes two new centers in Dallas T rganizers from around the country gathered in Chicago in and Nashville. October for IWJ’s Organizing for Worker Justice training. The The new Dallas office is the first O weeklong program was designed to help develop participants’ /interfaithworkerjustice satellite office of the Workers Defense organizing skills and provide practical communication, fundraising Project (WDP). WDP has been serv- and administrative tools. It also provided a venue for organizers ing low wage workers in Austin for 10 to exchange @iwjnational years, and has recovered nearly $1 ideas and million in unpaid wages. WDP plans share best to work with construction workers in /iwjnational practices. Dallas. For more Since its inception in 2009, newly- information affiliated Workers Dignity Project about IWJ Interfaith (WDP) in Nashville has racked up an training impressive record of victories, includ- programs, ing winning more than $60,000 in back visit wages and compensation for low wage www.iwj.org. workers. Worker Justice The Network continues to receive 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl. requests for assistance in building new Chicago, IL 60660 worker centers across the country. (773) 728-8400 • www.iwj.org IWJ Board Poverty Wages Hurt; Time to Raise the Wage President: The Rev. Darren Cushman Wood Vice-President: Ms. Ros Pelles By the Rev. Michael Livingston in a system that places all power in The system is unethical by design. Finance Chair: Mr. John Howard the hands of the employer. CEO’s of Interfaith Worker Justice and Fundraising Chair: Mr. Jules Bernstein “What does the Lord require of us the companies employing the most allies around the country are advo- Public Policy Chair: Dr. Edith Rasell but to do justice and to love mercy low wage workers in the nation cating for a raise in the federal mini- Board Development Chair: Ms. Kathy Saile and to walk humbly with our God.” make an average of 9.4 million dol- mum wage. IWJ, through its affiliates, Dr. Charles Amjad-Ali (Micah 6:8) lars a year – that’s 450 times more supports statewide minimum wage Mr. Hussam Ayloush than a worker making ten dollars an campaigns in New York, Illinois, Ms. Arlene Holt Baker ith 12.1 million people hour. Maine, California, Missouri, Mas- Imam Naeem Baig unemployed and one in six Mr. Steven Birnbaum The federal poverty level is sachusetts, and Maryland. Although Americans living in pover- Rabbi Laurie Coskey W $22,000 for a family of four. Income much of the local work has slowed Mr. Tom Costanza ty, we should all agree that we need at twice that level is hardly enough down with the elections, IWJ is Mr. Phil Cubeta more good paying jobs that allow to sustain a family. Minimum wage committed to keeping the minimum The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel workers to support their families. at $7.25 an hour is 40 percent below wage issue on the national radar. Imam Taha Hassane Raising the minimum wage is the federal poverty level. In other Join the movement to raise the Mr. John Hill essential to our economic recovery. words, if you make the legislated minimum wage – in your state and The Rev. Daryl Ingram These days, far too many workers minimum wage, and even up to 40 in the nation. Visit www.iwj.org to The Rev. Troy Jackson have become expendable and under- percent above it – we guarantee you learn more. Rabbi Jill Jacobs valued, easily replaced and exploited The Rev. Chris Johnson will live in poverty. This is immoral. The Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston Ms. Susan Leslie The Rev. Dr. Leonard Lovett I’ve Seen How Hyatt Hurts Dr. Joseph A. McCartin The Rev. Aaron McEmrys By Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow Mr. Todd O’Malley Sr. Mary Priniski, OP couple of months ago I spent time with some The Rev. Frank Raines III Hyatt employees on the job. I was already Ms. Elena Segura Afamiliar with the campaign after having helped The Rev. Jim Sessions organize a big day of rallies at various Hyatt hotels The Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry in downtown Chicago in 2011. I understood why the The Rev. Bill Somplatsky-Jarman campaign was so important to the worker movement The Rev. Bennie Whiten Jr. and our fight against corporate greed. But actually The Rev. David Wildman spending time with Hyatt employees made the hor- Special Advisors rors of their daily work lives even more real to me. Bishop Jesse DeWitt* During my short visit, I noticed that most of the The Rev. Jim Lawson housekeepers had bandages wrapped around swol- The Rev. Joseph Echols Lowery len wrists. It turns out many of them suffer from Rabbi Robert Marx* carpal tunnel syndrome; some have even undergone * Former Board President surgery. They told me it was from lifting the heavy

mattresses. I also noticed some women wearing back Labor Advisory Board braces. You’d think they worked in warehouses moving People of faith gather outside a Hyatt hotel in Chicago in support of Tim Beaty, Teamsters hotel workers demanding better wages and treatment on the job. Tom Chabolla, SEIU heavy boxes – well, they might as well be with mat- Alan Freeman, IBEW tresses weighing anywhere from 80 to 100 lbs. our consumer power to leverage for Hyatt workers. Can James Gibbs, UMWA Hyatt housekeepers clean as many as 30 rooms per we all work together to ensure that our respective reli- The Rev. Clete Kiley, UNITE HERE day, almost double the number of rooms union-hotel gious organizations don’t support worker abuse at Hyatt Charles Lester, ATU workers have to clean. Esther Lopez, UFCW hotels? For more information about the campaign you We in the religious community have the capacity to can visit: www.hyatthurts.org If you want more informa- Donna McDaniel, LIUNA positively impact the lives of Hyatt workers. We love to Rosalyn Pelles, AFL-CIO tion on how to ensure fair labor practices in your hotel conference, and sometimes our conferences are at Hyatt Fred Redmond, United Steelworkers contracts, please visit our website: www.iwj.org for Foster Stringer, AFT hotels. We all need to take responsibility, research and more information. Kenneth Zinn, National Nurses United engage in conversations with our organizations and use

For detailed Board and Staff information visit: www.iwj.org/about/board or Health and Safety Training: Three Times a Charm www.iwj.org/about/staff WJ is excited to announce another year of health and safety trainings, thanks to Faith Works is produced by IWJ’s funding from the Occupational Safety Communications Department. For I and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Susan questions, corrections and story sug- Harwood Training Grant Program. gestions contact Communications Over the last two years, IWJ and its Director, Cathy Junia, at 773-728-8400 affiliates trained more than 2,000 trainers x 40 or email [email protected]. and workers in health and safety mea- Stay Updated. Scan the code below or sures in the following sectors: construc- sign up here http://bit.ly/iwjupdates tion, cleaning, poultry and meat packing, restaurants, landscaping, and home care. Of those sectors, construction has the highest mortalities; meatpacking has the most injuries. IWJ recently developed a “Training the Trainers” program that pro- vides workers in those sectors the tools and resources necessary to train their co- workers on their workplace rights. IWJ Health and Safety Organizer Maria Gutierrez leads train-the-trainer sessions More on IWJ’s health and safety train- for affiliates and other worker advocates. Funding from OSHA will allow IWJ to ings at: www.iwj.org. develop more training modules on worker safety. Black Friday Prayers and My Summer Organizing Clergy Actions for Walmart Workers By Kyra Brown lthough I have been a com- from a Birmingham Jail”, written or the first munity organizer since high on April 16, 1963, to clergy. King time in the school, I spent this summer writes: “we who engage in nonvio- history of A F organizing a group that I had not lent direct action are not the cre- organizing at given much thought to “organiz- ators of tension. We merely bring Walmart, store ing” before: clergy. Having just to the surface the hidden tension associates are completed my first year of semi- that is already alive.” walking out nary, I was ecstatic to be offered At that moment, I realized that of the job to an internship with Interfaith Work- I must be on the right path. By the demand decent er Justice. same token, we (community orga- pay, basic I was tasked to plan a prayer nizer and leaders) still have work benefits and breakfast, which would provide at to do! respect. Ware- least thirty leaders across faith tra- I submit that while economic house workers ditions the opportunity to network justice issues can be “divisive” and others in with one another and learn about that is not the goal of those raising the Walmart

Photo credit: OURWalmart Photo credit: the workplace injustices facing awareness around such matters. As supply chain OURWalmart members risk their livelihood to create food service and hotel workers in a society, we must get to a place are also holding real change at the nation’s largest retail employer. the Baltimore area. While I learned where we are as critical of the the retail giant account- that I have a passion for organiz- systems which perpetuate oppres- able for poor conditions their local Walmart stores. For more ing clergy, I also became painfully sion as we are of the prophets who at their sites. With growing support information contact IWJ National aware that not all clergy might bring to light such oppression. from faith and community groups Organizer Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow choose to support these kinds of The Biblical mandate to pro- and other allies, workers at Walmart at [email protected]. Resources efforts. For instance, one religious mote justice should outweigh any stores and associated warehouses are available at www.iwj.org. leader said that while he com- potential political dispute. IWJ is might see the change for which mended our efforts to work with following the mandate of Isaiah they’ve been fighting. Chaplaincy Program the church in improving economic 1:17: “Learn to do good; seek jus- IWJ is mobilizing religious This year, IWJ also launched a conditions in America, he found tice, reprove the ruthless, defend and community support for Walmart chaplaincy program, which our methods and goals divisive. the orphan, plead for the widow.” workers who are making change nurtures and trains store workers – His response was a little dis- Visit www.iwj.org for more at Walmart. On Black Friday, the who identify themselves as people of heartening, at first. But his logic information on IWJ’s summer day after Thanksgiving, people of faith – to serve as internal workplace seemed all too familiar. In Dr. internship programs and for Kyra’s faith will join thousands of store chaplains who can support and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter full reflection. associates, warehouse workers encourage the leadership and courage and other supporters in calling for of their co-workers. The program was change at Walmart. Work stoppages, piloted in Seattle and has since been prayer vigils, flash mobs and expanded to some Los Angeles and delegations to store managers are Dallas stores. For more information planned. Everyone is encouraged to on the program, email [email protected]. participate in or organize actions at

Why Call for Jubilee at Walmart? Excerpts from the Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann

he Jubilee Year is authorized the 50th anniversary of Walmart is a by Moses in Leviticus 25. It is splendid occasion for a Jubilee Year Tcelebrated in lyrical fashion in among us. Thus it is here proposed Isaiah 61 as “the year of the Lord’s that on its 50th anniversary, Walmart favor” (Isaiah 61:2). It is claimed pauses in its rough and tumble of by Jesus as the shape of his life and economics to give back for the sake destiny of his ministry: of the neighborhood. Such give In Chicago, IWJ interns spent the summer helping organize faith communities in Today this scripture [Isaiah 61:1- back may take many forms: give support of Hyatt and Walmart workers. Photo taken at a Hyatt action. 2] has been fulfilled in your hearing back to the neighborhoods that the (Luke 4:21). stores tend to diminish. Give back The biblical provision for the to the workers who stay locked into jubilee year proposes a pause in poverty by poor wages, give back Labor Day Programs a Success! the rough and tumble of real-life hope to those locked into despair- ore than 400 congregations economics. It knows that through ing economics. It would be an act around the country participated predatory action in the economy, of neighborly generosity that would M in this year’s Labor in the Pulpits/on some gain at the expense of others bring health and well-being to the the Bimah/in the Minbar program. A and some lose because of their vul- neighborhood to the benefit of all signature program of IWJ, LiP/B/M gives nerability, and huge social inequities parties. congregations the opportunity and the result. In order to curb such unsus- The term “jubilee” comes from tools to lift up issues impacting work- tainable economic arrangements, the the Hebrew term ybl, “ram’s horn.” ers, and to get to know the workers, jubilee year provides a regularized The Jubilee Year begins when the worker leaders and advocates within occasion when economic property ram’s horn is blown. We can listen their community. This year, workers and livelihood is given back by for it in Walmart stores all across the IWJ Deputy Director Aina Gutierrez and advocates talked about wage theft, those who have gained to those who nation. When it sounds, the neigh- (left) in the pulpit at St. Mark’s with the right to organize, health and safety, Rector Rev. Debra Bullock on the have lost. borhood will dance and sing! unemployment and underemployment, Sunday before Labor Day Given that the Jubilee in biblical among other things. For sermons and provision occurs every fifty years, Full text available at www.iwj.org sample reflections, and to learn more about the program, visit www.iwj.org. JUST Saying A Message from IWJ Executive Director Kim Bobo 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl. n September, I spent a few days in North Carolina talking with Chicago, IL 60660 folks about wage theft. Having written a book on wage theft, I’ve (773) 728-8400 • www.iwj.org Iheard hundreds of stories about employers stealing wages from their workers. Nonetheless, I was again overwhelmed and shocked at the meanness and brazenness of some employers. I met: • A university employee who was “misclassified” as an independent contractor for more than ten years, denied employer side of payroll taxes, overtime pay, unemployment, workers compensation and the benefits offered to other university employees such as sick days and vacation days. Every time he complained, nothing happened. • A country club employee who served at banquets but never saw the 20 percent service fee the club charged to the banquet parties and instead was only paid minimum wage. • A worker at a golf club who never received her tips. • A young man who (at age 15) worked 78 hours his first week at a Dunkin Donuts and received above minimum wage for 40 hours (but not nearly what minimum wage plus overtime would have been). When he asked about the payment, he was told he should take what he was offered or find another job. • A firefighter who works 168 hours per four-week shift, but is only Let’s Build a Stronger Movement paid for 160 because the city pays in four, forty-hour payments. • A woman who sells products to nail salons and knows that all the for Worker Justice TOGETHER! workers are paid as independent contractors. our support helps provide IWJ with the resources to expand and In addition to the folks I met directly, I heard about: Ystrengthen its network of affiliated worker centers and interfaith groups • Media engineers who aren’t allowed to report all their hours. that provide critical, on-the-ground support to many of our nation’s low • An employer who deducted from his workers’ paychecks the cost wage workers. PLEASE MAKE YOUR YEAR-END CONTRIBUTION TODAY of his birthday party. at http://bit.ly/Faithworks2012. Every time I think I’ve heard it all, I hear a story like the employer Together, we can step up the campaign to end deducting from paychecks for his birthday party. Really? wage theft, push for a living wage and promote safe If you’re not sure about the extent of the crisis of wage theft, and healthy workplaces for all. If you haven’t already, start talking to workers. Talk to young people and you’ll hear about it please donate now, and together we’ll do good work because they work in restaurants and retail places notorious for wage in 2013. Mail check donations to Interfaith Worker theft. Talk to your neighbors and family members. I suspect, like me, Justice, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 you will be shocked and saddened. A list of IWJ’s 2011 supporters is available at We need to do more as a society, which is why I’m so pleased www.iwj.org. with the terrific local wage theft campaigns many IWJ affiliates are leading across the nation. These campaigns strengthen enforcement Interfaith Worker Justice Southern Maine – and they broaden awareness of the issue and expand the advocates for IWJ Affiliates Portland, ME worker justice. Massachusetts Interfaith Committee for Worker Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- Justice – Boston, MA Check out http://bit.ly/wagetheft_iwj to learn tice – Little Rock, AR Interfaith Worker Justice—Metro Detroit – more about local wage theft campaigns. Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice Oak Park, MI If you want to raise awareness about wage (CLUE)—California – Oakland, CA Workers Interfaith Network – Minneapolis, MN CLUE—LA – Los Angeles, CA Interfaith Worker Justice—Greater Kansas City – theft in your community, offer a workshop using East Bay Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- Kansas City, MO the IWJ Wage Theft PowerPoint. Download a FREE tice – Oakland, CA Interfaith Worker Justice of Nebraska – copy from www.iwj.org. Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice in San Omaha, NE Diego – San Diego, CA Interfaith Worker Justice—New Mexico – Wage theft is all around us, but is a crime we Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice – Santa Fe, NM can stop with our work together. San Jose, CA Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition – Sonoma Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- New York, NY tice – Santa Rosa , CA Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition – IWJ-Colorado/FRESC for Good Jobs and Strong Albany, NY Murfreesboro, TN MassCOSH – Dorchester, MA Communities – Denver, CO Central New York Labor-Religion Coalition – Workers Interfaith Network – Memphis, TN Michigan Organizing Project (Kalamazoo) – Connecticut Center for a New Economy-New East Syracuse, NY O.U.R. Vanderbilt – Nashville, TN Kalamazoo, MI Haven – New Haven, CT Labor-Religion Coalition – Latham, NY Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy – Centro de Trabajadores Unidoes en la Lucha – Connecticut Center for a New Economy-Hart- Beloved Community Center – Greensboro, NC Richmond, VA Minneapolis, MN ford – Hartford, CT Cincinnati Interfaith Committee on Worker Jus- Faith Community for Worker Justice – New Labor – New Brunswick, NJ D.C. Jobs with Justice—Interfaith Worker Justice tice – Cincinnati, OH Milwaukee, WI Tompkins County Workers’ Center – Ithaca, NY of Greater Washington – Washington, DC Greater Columbus Jobs with Justice – Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Damayan Migrant Workers Center – Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida – Columbus, OH Central Wisconsin – Madison, WI New York, NY Immokalee, FL Toledo Area Jobs with Justice – Toledo, OH Restaurant Opportunity Center (ROC) of New South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice – Central Oklahoma Community Forum – Worker Centers York – New York, NY Miami, FL Oklahoma City, OK Arizona Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice – Workers’ Center of Central New York – Georgia Poultry Alliance – Atlanta, GA Eastern Oklahoma Labor Religion Council – Phoenix, AZ Syracuse, NY Interfaith Worker Justice, Atlanta – Atlanta, GA Tulsa, OK Southside Workers Center – Tucson, AZ Western North Carolina Workers’ Center – DuPage Interfaith Worker Justice – Naperville, IL Religious Outreach Committee/Portland Jobs Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center – Morganton, NC Arise Chicago – Chicago, IL with Justice – Portland, OR Springdale, AR Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center – Community, Faith and Labor Coalition – Springfield Solidarity Network/Jobs with Justice Pilipino Workers Center – Los Angeles, CA Cincinnati, OH Indianapolis, IN – Eugene, OR Young Workers United – San Francisco, CA Workers’ Interfaith Network – Memphis, TN Interfaith Committee on Work & Community – Labor-Religion Coalition of Western Pennsylva- South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice – Workers’ Dignity Project – Nashville, TN Bloomington, IN nia – Pittsburgh, PA Miami, FL Workers’ Defense Project/Proyecta Defensa Calumet Project – Hammond, IN Philadelphia Area Jobs with Justice – Economic Justice Coalition – Athens, GA Laboral – Austin, TX St. Joseph Valley Project – South Bend, IN Philadelphia, PA ARISE Chicago – Chicago, IL Fe Y Justicia (formerly Houston Interfaith Worker Interfaith Worker Justice of Kansas – Wichita, KS Interfaith Worker Justice of East Tennessee – Easter Maine Workers’ Center/Food AND Medi- Justice Center) – Houston, TX Interfaith Worker Justice—NOLA – Knoxville, TN cine – Brewer, ME Madison Workers’ Right Center – Madison, WI New Orleans, LA Middle Tennessee Jobs with Justice – Southern Maine Worker Center – Portland, ME Voces de la Frontera – Milwaukee, WI