Immigration Reform Is NOT Optional

Faith WORKS Newsletter of Interfaith Worker Justice Spring 2013 Immigration Reform is NOT Optional

he debate around immigra- immigrant brothers and sisters, we • Start a postcard drive in your con- grant” banner outside your place tion reform can be divisive, have an opportunity to help make gregation: download immigration of worship. Email [email protected] controversial and emotional. comprehensive immigration reform reform postcards at www.iwj.org, for more information. But if we boil it down to the finally happen. collect signatures and mail the • Plan to participate in May Day Tbasics and ask ourselves what we as Over the last few months, IWJ cards to your representatives. rallies and actions on May 1. a nation, gain from: along with the Interfaith Immigration • Educate people in your congrega- • Organize a prayer vigil. Resourc- • uprooting hardworking individu- Coalition, Alliance for Citizenship, tion or community group about es available at www.iwj.org. als from their jobs and commu- United Workers Congress, and other the importance of immigration • Subscribe to IWJ’s action alerts nities, tearing them away from allies, has been working to bring reform. Check out IWJ’s state- and find out when emergency their families? together people of faith in support ment of principles on immigra- actions, events and delegations • a system that forces millions of of immigration reform. IWJ affiliates tion reform. are planned in your area. around the country have been busy • Encourage your congregation to workers into an underground For questions and additional infor- organizing prayer vigils, leading display a “Welcome the Immi- economy, making them vulner- mation, email [email protected]. able to exploitation, wage theft delegations to their representatives and obscene underpayment by and facilitating immigration reform unscrupulous employers? discussions within congregations and • denying millions of workers – community groups. who are consumers and taxpay- It’s going to be a very busy ers – an immigration status that summer. We have a small window could mean higher wages, more of opportunity to let our elected taxes and a greater contribution officials know that passing real and to the economy? humane immigration reform is not optional. It must be done and it must The answer is nothing. We gain noth- be done now. So, if we want to win ing by maintaining the status quo. If fair and humane immigration reform anything, we lose: families are ripped this time around, we must all pitch apart, communities disrupted, work- in to make it happen! Here’s what place standards and wages plummet you can do: Thousands rally for immigration reform. Join us on May 1. for all workers, and we miss out on a potential billion-dollar revenue source. (Check out the recent report from the Center for American Prog- Moving Forward to ress: The Economic Effects of Grant- We’ve Got the ing Legal Status and Citizenship to End Wage Theft Undocumented Immigrants) Goods The time to overhaul our broken ur affiliate network is knee deep in work to end wage theft, pushing and inhumane immigration system Thanks to the good work of IWJ board members, interns, faith Ofor state and local legislation that is tough on employers who steal is now. As people of faith who rec- from their workers. ognize and honor the social and leaders and allies on the ground, economic contributions made by our we continue to broaden our Great News in Chicago! resource offerings that highlight In January, the City Council in Chicago unanimously passed an anti-wage the sacred intersection of faith theft ordinance (one of strongest in the country.) ARISE Chicago, an IWJ /interfaithworkerjustice and labor. In the last six months, affiliate, worked with Alderman Pawar (47th Ward) to develop the ordinance. we’ve introduced a series of sea- Chicago is now the largest city in the country with such an ordinance. sonal reflections that we hope The new ordinance could revoke business licenses for employers found @iwjnational you found useful. We’ve also guilty of wage theft. Worker advocates say the new ordinance will protect developed toolkits and guides to vulnerable workers and promote ethical business practices across the city. help congregations and individu- /iwjnational “Now we have to work on enforcement,” ARISE organizer Jorge Mujica als understand important issues told IWJ staff after the ordinance passed. that impact working families. According to a report from the University of Illinois-Chicago’s Center Issues like immigration reform, for Urban Economic Development, employers steal an estimated $7.3 mil- Interfaith wage theft and minimum wage. lion of workers’ wages every week in Cook County alone. For prayers, bulletin inserts, bible Winning campaigns like those in Chicago, Broward and Miami-Dade studies, organizing toolkits, visit counties in Florida, and the state of Texas, pave the way for ordinances www.iwj.org/resources. If you in other communities that are working toward building awareness and would like to see a particular urgency around solving a problem that affects so many people. Worker Justice resource developed, please 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl. email [email protected]. Working hard to push for strong laws across the country Chicago, IL 60660 After spending the year researching data and gathering worker stories, the (773) 728-8400 • www.iwj.org Continued on p. 4 IWJ Board Justice for Retired Miners President: The Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry Vice-President: Ms. Ros Pelles nterfaith Worker Justice joins faith most dangerous jobs in the country, Board Development Chair: Ms. Kathy Saile communities across the country in and they rely on the good healthcare Communications Chair: Mr. Naeem Baig Icalling on Patriot Coal executives benefits in their union contract. Min- Finance Chair: Mr. John Howard to protect the healthcare benefits and ers like William Rogers, who needs a Fundraising Chair: Mr. Jules Bernstein pensions of retired Peabody Energy constant stream of oxygen to survive Organizing Chair: The Rev. Troy Jackson union coal miners. after contracting black lung working Public Policy Chair: Dr. Edith Rasell In 2007, Peabody Energy cre- for Peabody, are at risk. Dr. Charles Amjad-Ali ated Patriot Coal to take over most People of faith and labor advo- Ms. Arlene Holt Baker of Peabody’s healthcare and pension cates are organizing to support these Mr. Steven Birnbaum obligations. workers. Rabbi Laurie Coskey Now, Patriot is seeking to reor- More than 90 faith leaders and Mr. Tom Costanza ganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. people of faith signed an open letter Mr. Phil Cubeta The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel As a part of their restructuring, lead- urging the corporation’s leaders to Imam Taha Hassane ers from Patriot seek to terminate protect the pensions and healthcare Mr. John Hill benefits in the union contract for benefits promised in the Peabody The Rev. Daryl Ingram more than 20,000 retired Peabody contract. Rabbi Jill Jacobs mineworkers who never worked a Over the last couple of months, IWJ Executive Director Kim Bobo was The Rev. Chris Johnson day at Patriot Coal. mineworkers, labor activists and arrested, March 19, along with retired The Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston “It’s awful that these workers people of faith in St. Louis (where and active mineworkers who took Ms. Susan Leslie might lose their healthcare benefits Peabody and Patriot are headquar- over the street outside the St. Louis Federal Courthouse where Patriot’s The Rev. Dr. Leonard Lovett after working all their life for Pea- tered) have supported retired miners Dr. Joseph A. McCartin bankruptcy case was being heard. The Rev. Aaron McEmrys body,” said IWJ’s Kim Bobo. “It’s real- at actions and marches during the Mr. Todd O’Malley ly unimaginable the suffering some bankruptcy proceedings. Many min- Patriot campaign on the web! Sign The Rev. Doug Mork of these miners would experience ers have been arrested at peaceful an open letter to Peabody executives Sr. Mary Priniski, OP without their healthcare.” demonstrations in St. Louis. (http://bit.ly/MinersJustice) and keep The Rev. Frank Raines III Mineworkers have one of the Learn more about the Fairness at the workers in your prayers. Rabbi Elizabeth Richman Ms. Elena Segura The Rev. Jim Sessions The Rev. Bill Somplatsky-Jarman Testing...1,2,3 The Rev. Bennie Whiten Jr. IWJ recently launched a new pilot program, the The Rev. David Wildman VITA Wage Theft project. It is a joint initiative with Special Advisors the Center for Economic Progress, which coordi- Bishop Jesse DeWitt* nates the Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) pro- The Rev. Jim Lawson gram in Chicago, the Illinois Department of Labor, The Rev. Joseph Echols Lowery the National Lawyers Guild and Interfaith Worker Rabbi Robert Marx* Justice. Volunteers interview tax filers to identify * Former Board President cases of wage theft and help them file Department

Labor Advisory Board of Labor claims or connect them to a lawyer to Tim Beaty, Teamsters recover their stolen wages. IWJ hopes to expand Tom Chabolla, SEIU the program to the thousands of VITA sites across the nation. To learn more about the program, Alan Freeman, IBEW Volunteers like Nieves Bolanos of Robin Potter & Associates and James Gibbs, UMWA email [email protected]. Gia Arizpe a Kent Law School student interview tax filers. The Rev. Clete Kiley, UNITE HERE Charles Lester, ATU Esther Lopez, UFCW Donna McDaniel, LIUNA Onward & Upward! Building Rosalyn Pelles, AFL-CIO Fred Redmond, United Steelworkers Power for Today’s Workers Foster Stringer, AFT Kenneth Zinn, National Nurses United The IWJ Worker Center Network is proud to welcome its 27th member, the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa (CWJEI). For detailed Board and Staff information CWJEI aims to unite low-wage workers in Eastern Iowa across Raise your voice visit: www.iwj.org/about/board or race and immigration status to achieve social and economic www.iwj.org/about/staff justice through education, organizing, direct services and com- for a Living Wage! munity alliances. Like a majority of WCN members, CWJEI Faith Works is produced by IWJ’s will work on pushing for better wage and hour enforcement in IWJ joins faith communities in supporting Communications Department. For Iowa. The Center is an offshoot of the Immigrant Voices Project, proposed legislation that would raise the questions, corrections and story sug- which brought together area immigrants and activists to address minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. The bill, gestions contact Communications community concerns. To learn more about the WCN, visit introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Director, Cathy Junia, at 773-728-8400 www.iwj.org/worker-center-network. and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) also x 40 or email [email protected]. includes a crucial proposal to index the federal minimum wage according to infla- Stay Updated – Scan the code below tion on a regular basis. This would assure or sign up here http://bit.ly/iwjupdates that as the cost of living increases over time, the minimum wage would increase so as to keep pace with those costs. We invite you to join IWJ and its affiliates in pushing for this long-overdue increase in wages. Though $10.10 falls well below a genuine living wage, it’s a step in the right direction, and the indexing provision would be a great victory. To learn more about the minimum wage campaign, visit www.iwj.org. Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa leaders. Dear Reader,

s we go deeper into the campaign for comprehensive immigration reform, I often think about the massive Aimmigration raid that tore the small town of Postville, Iowa apart. In 2008, nearly 400 workers at Agriprocessors’ meatpacking plant were picked up by heavily armed ICE agents,

detained in makeshift holding facilities and denied a fair judicial process. It was one of the largest single-worksite raids in history.

But even before the raid, many, if not all, workers and their families were already living on the edge of survival. They were abused, exploited and robbed of their wages by an employer who took advantage of their vulnerability.

What happened in Postville strongly symbolizes the unresolved and interconnected issues of immigration and justice for workers.

Five years after Postville, we now have an incredible opportunity to pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects workers’ rights and honors family unity.

We have a real shot at winning meaningful reform this time. BUT every person who stands on the side of justice must first get onboard! Will you support the work of interfaith worker justice with a gift today? Donate at http://bit.ly/InvestInJustice or use the enclosed envelope to mail in your gift.

As people of faith, we recognize and honor the social and economic contributions made by immigrant workers. When we allow immigrant workers to be exploited, we lower the standards for all workers. When workers and their families are exploited and torn apart, we all suffer as a result.

At this point in history, when worker rights and immigrant rights are one and the same, your gift to IWJ is an Will help pay for: investment in the future of ALL workers. It’s an investmentYour gift in your of: future and the future of your family. Development and distributon of immigra- 2013 is a year of great potential. Aside from the $50 tion reform and wage theft resources to 10 growing momentum behind passing compre- congregations hensive immigration reform, we’re also seeing One hour of online advocacy bringing strong support for an increase in the federal $150 minimum wage. On the local and state level, national support to local fights IWJ affiliates and allied groups are ratcheting Production of free online resource materi- up work around paid sick days and wage theft! $250 als on immigration reform and wage theft (Please take time to read the articles in this issue prevention for congregations and worker of Faith Works to see how your support impacts centers. the work of IWJ and its affiliate network Materials to train two seminary, rabbinical Can we count on your support this year? Use $500 student, or undergraduate interns the enclosed envelope or donate online at Issue-specific training sessions for worker http://bit.ly/InvestInJustice. $1,000 justice organizers in 28 states. Contributions from individuals enable IWJ to win victories for workers and their families.

Sincerely,

Kim Bobo Executive Director

P.S. You can have an even bigger impact. Please consider joining our monthly giving program, the Faithful Givers Club! Sign up here http://bit.ly/InvestInJustice.

For questions and additional information, please email [email protected] or contact Cathy Junia at 773-728-8400 ext. 40 Say...

We need your help on something. 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Check inside for more details. Chicago, IL 60660 (773) 728-8400 Thanks a lot in advance! www.iwj.org Kim

You Rocked Black Friday! Wage Theft he discounts were deep as ever; checkout lines, as Walmart) – the organization of Walmart associates – Campaigns from p.1 long as you’d expect for the biggest shopping day continue to fight for improvements in specific stores of the year; and the droves of shoppers, massive around the country. Can they count on you for the long Northwest Arkansas Workers’ T Justice Center staff are hopeful as always. But there was also something starkly different haul? Go to http://bit.ly/WalmartGroup to stay involved about Black Friday 2012. in the campaign. two state legislators will reintro- Outside more than a thousand Walmart stores across Actions are planned throughout the year. We’ll duce a strong anti-wage theft bill the country, communities of people of faith, workers, stu- keep you posted. One thing’s for sure: we’ll make Black for the 2013 legislative session. dents, activists, neighbors gathered in support of striking Friday 2013 even bigger, with actions at every Walmart State Representatives Jon Walmart store and supply chain workers. That’s more than store in the country. So start looking for a store near Woods and Greg Leding from 1,200 actions at Walmart stores in 47 states that YOU and you! For more info, contact Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow at Northwest Arkansas are work- others like you made happen! [email protected] or 312.513.2289 ing with the worker center to IWJ affiliates and supporters led and participated in push the bill that would require more than 100 of these actions around the country. We employers to pay a penalty to held prayer vigils, delegations to the management and former employees if wages are flash mobs to bring attention to the plight of Walmart not paid and that would limit store and supply chain workers who are demanding better the wage deductions an employ- wages and safe working conditions. er can make without written Shortly after that Friday, Walmart announced plans authorization from the employ- to address scheduling issues, giving part-time workers ee. It also requires workers be enough hours to make them full-time, and in some stores, paid the next regular payday fol- provide workers their schedules a week in advance. Those lowing termination or departure. are major victories owed to the courage of Walmart work- Arizona Interfaith Alliance for ers and the support of community allies like you. Worker Justice is also working

Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart Making Change at Photo credit: on a wage theft ordinance in Phoenix. St. Joseph Valley Project – South Bend, IN Religious Outreach Committee/Portland Jobs Visit IWJ on the web for more IWJ Affiliates Interfaith Worker Justice of Kansas – Wichita, KS with Justice – Portland, OR information about wage theft, Interfaith Worker Justice—NOLA – Springfield Solidarity Network/Jobs with Justice Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- New Orleans, LA – Eugene, OR our affiliates or their local cam- tice – Little Rock, AR Interfaith Worker Justice Southern Maine – Labor-Religion Coalition of Western Pennsylva- paigns to stop wage theft in Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice Portland, ME nia – Pittsburgh, PA communities across the country. (CLUE)—California – Oakland, CA IWJ of Maryland – Baltimore, MD Philadelphia Area Jobs with Justice – CLUE—LA – Los Angeles, CA Massachusetts Interfaith Committee for Worker Philadelphia, PA East Bay Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- Justice – Boston, MA Interfaith Worker Justice of East Tennessee – tice – Oakland, CA Interfaith Worker Justice—Metro Detroit – Knoxville, TN Southern Maine Worker Center – Portland, ME Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice in San Oak Park, MI Middle Tennessee Jobs with Justice – MassCOSH – Dorchester, MA Diego – San Diego, CA Workers Interfaith Network – Minneapolis, MN Murfreesboro, TN Michigan Organizing Project (Kalamazoo) – Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice – Interfaith Worker Justice of Nebraska – Workers Interfaith Network – Memphis, TN Kalamazoo, MI San Jose, CA Omaha, NE O.U.R. Vanderbilt – Nashville, TN Centro de Trabajadores Unidoes en la Lucha – Sonoma Interfaith Committee for Worker Jus- Interfaith Worker Justice—New Mexico – Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy – Minneapolis, MN tice – Santa Rosa , CA Santa Fe, NM Richmond, VA New Labor – New Brunswick, NJ IWJ-Colorado/FRESC for Good Jobs and Strong Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition – Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Tompkins County Workers’ Center – Ithaca, NY Communities – Denver, CO New York, NY Central Wisconsin – Madison, WI Damayan Migrant Workers Center – Connecticut Center for a New Economy-Hart- Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition – New York, NY ford – Hartford, CT Albany, NY Worker Centers Restaurant Opportunity Center (ROC) of New D.C. Jobs with Justice—Interfaith Worker Justice Central New York Labor-Religion Coalition – Arizona Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice – York – New York, NY of Greater Washington – Washington, DC East Syracuse, NY Phoenix, AZ Workers’ Center of Central New York – Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida – Labor-Religion Coalition – Latham, NY Southside Workers Center – Tucson, AZ Syracuse, NY Immokalee, FL Labor-Religion Coalition of Binghamton – Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center – Western North Carolina Workers’ Center – South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice – Binghamton, NY Springdale, AR Morganton, NC Miami, FL Beloved Community Center – Greensboro, NC Pilipino Workers Center – Los Angeles, CA Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center – Georgia Poultry Alliance – Atlanta, GA Cincinnati Interfaith Committee on Worker Jus- Young Workers United – San Francisco, CA Cincinnati, OH Interfaith Worker Justice, Atlanta – Atlanta, GA tice – Cincinnati, OH South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice – Workers’ Interfaith Network – Memphis, TN DuPage Interfaith Worker Justice – Naperville, IL Greater Columbus Jobs with Justice – Miami, FL Workers’ Dignity Project – Nashville, TN Arise Chicago – Chicago, IL Columbus, OH Economic Justice Coalition – Athens, GA Workers’ Defense Project/Proyecta Defensa Community, Faith and Labor Coalition – Toledo Area Jobs with Justice – Toledo, OH ARISE Chicago – Chicago, IL Laboral – Austin, TX Indianapolis, IN Central Oklahoma Community Forum – Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa – Fe Y Justicia (formerly Houston Interfaith Worker Interfaith Committee on Work & Community – Oklahoma City, OK Coralville, IA Justice Center) – Houston, TX Bloomington, IN Eastern Oklahoma Labor Religion Council – Easter Maine Workers’ Center/Food AND Medi- Madison Workers’ Right Center – Madison, WI Calumet Project – Hammond, IN Tulsa, OK cine – Brewer, ME Voces de la Frontera – Milwaukee, WI