WRB HEARING INVESTIGATES UNEMPLOYMENT IMPACT AND SOLUTIONS – FINDS REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHOLE COMMUNITY

With the unemployment rate at 9.6%, the Worker Rights Board in Dallas held a second annual Labor Day hearing that was as much about responding to the jobs crisis as it was about improving working conditions for laborers. The hearing explored how unemployment and labor issues are a community wide issue that affects everyone. The co-convener of the Worker Rights Board, Rev. Dr. Joerg Rieger, identified the objectives of the hearing, saying “We want to know what is actually happening, what is happening to [unemployed] individuals”, but we also want to know “what is this doing to the community”, and what are some solutions that we can be part of. After hearing testimony, it became clear that the economic situation for the unemployed, laborers, and the whole community is under a lot of pressure, but it could get much worse for everyone if alternative options are not enacted soon.

The hearings on September 4th, held in the courtroom of the honorable judge Luis Sepulveda, were attended by leaders from religion, labor, and community organizations around Dallas, along with concerned citizens. Those in attendance represented a blossoming coalition between religion and labor, many of whom share pews with one another and all who share a concern for promoting just working conditions for everyone in Dallas. Religious groups represented included the Perkins School of Theology, the Dallas Area Christian Progressive Alliance, the D. L. Dykes Foundation, Progressive Christian Center of the South, Jobs with Justice, and several local pastors.

Co-convener of the Worker Rights Board, Isabel Docampo, set the hearings in the context of the economic facts of the situation of laborers and the unemployed today: 15 million are looking for jobs of which 6.2 million have experienced extended unemployment and who average 33.6 weeks unemployment on the average. But Docampo was clear that this is not just a problem for the unemployed, because even those who have kept their jobs are experiences losses in wage growth.

The Worker Rights Board heard testimony from three individuals connected with labor and issues of unemployment: Mickey Morris, Gene Lantz, and Perry Forshee.

Mickey Morris, the president of the Texas Letter Carriers and a retired postal carrier himself, expressed concern about the plan to cut between 600 and 700 jobs from the postal service in Dallas County. Morris testified that large scale job loss in the postal service will not just hurt letter carries, but will “bring down wages everywhere and affect community livelihood” because more kids will not be able to go to college and more families won’t be able to put dinner on the table. Morris proposed that a solution to the problem cannot come from unions alone that it would have to come through community coalitions, emphasizing the importance of bring unions together with religious communities. Morris said how proud he has been of the Dallas community that has supported decent wages for postal employees in the past and proud to be part of the postal service who has a strong record for employing a diverse workforce, but worries about the future of Dallas if the trend of cutting jobs to cut spending continues.

Gene Lantz, the head of Jobs with Justice in Dallas, spoke on behalf of the UAW 848 (United Auto Workers) in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who are currently in the process of contract negotiations. The UAW 848 contract expires October 3rd and sets the terms for some of the highest paying production jobs in the area, many of which are in the aerospace industry. Lantz emphasized that the situations of those with jobs is closely tied with the situation of those who are unemployed or underemployed, because those with jobs “can’t have a better working environment when there are many people unemployed or [underemployed].” Lantz said that restoring employment through political action like the Local Jobs for America Act currently before congress or returning to proven job creation programs likes the Works Progress Administration (WPA) will benefit the working conditions of employees across the board.

Forshee is the head of the Fair Budget Campaign which is concerned to ensure that the current budget hearings in Dallas serve to benefit the whole community. In the budget hearings, Forshee testified that “overwhelmingly we hear people talk about the quality of life.” The outcome of the budget hearings will have a major impact on life, work, and community well being in Dallas. Facing a budget shortfall, the city council is deciding between raising property taxes and cutting jobs and reducing services likes public pools, libraries, youth recreation facilities, and senior citizen services. Forshee emphasized that the decision to cut jobs and services would not just increase the already high unemployment in the short term, but would be detrimental for job creation, working conditions, and community well being long term. Forshee said “People want to know who’s going to create jobs . . . Companies that are considering coming in [to the community] want to know about education, public facilities, and want to see people working.” Forshee’s point was that cutting jobs and services now will make the community undesirable for new companies that could create jobs while putting our youth under increased pressure that will reduce the long term quality of life in Dallas. The Fair Budget Campaign, with the support of many local community organizations, is advocating a minimal 1¢-5¢ raise on property taxes to offset the budget shortfall. Forshee said, “citizens are saying they wouldn’t mind paying a little more to restore our city.”

While the testimony painted the economic situation in stark terms, the witnesses were each clear that there are solutions and there is hope if the community can organize together to enact the solutions. The witnesses and the conveners emphasize the important role religious communities can play in educating the community about economic injustice and collaborating with labor to make the community’s voices hear. In response to the testimony, the Worker Rights Board adopted a resolution calling on the state and federal government to acknowledge the current unemployment situation as a crisis and act accordingly by passing the Local Jobs for America Act currently before congress and by creating federal programs like the proven WPA to put the unemployed back to work at a fair wage, improve the working conditions of those with jobs, and secure the livelihood of our communities.

Area Leaders Speak Out About the Jobs Crisis

Hear local Dallas leaders and workers speak out about unemployment in their own words. Hear how they are getting involved in the jobs crisis and some ways that we can all get involved.

Another Concerning Report About Working Conditions At Great Western Erectors - This Time in Arizona

The Coalition for Justice at Great Western Erectors and Arizona Interfaith Worker Justice released more concerning result about the operating practices of Great Western Erectors in Arizona. The Dallas Workers’ Rights Board has been a vocal witness concerning unjust working conditions at Great Western Erector worksites in Texas and advocates for a local group of striking iron workers employed by Great Western Erectors. This report confirms the findings of hearings held last Labor Day by the Dallas Workers’ Rights Board with a current Great Western Erectors employ here in Texas. The report also supports the conclusion that unjust working conditions are widespread and systemic within Great Western Erectors standard operating practices.

The Coalition for Justice at Great Western Erectors and Arizona Interfaith Worker Justice published the following findings from interviews with current employees of Great Western Erectors in Arizona:

“From these workers’ reports, the investigative delegation quickly discovered a disturbing pattern of injustice and abuse at Great Western Erectors. The workers discussed a number of problems, including lack of vocational or safety training, irregular hours, favoritism, low wages, a lack of affordable health care or other benefits, and insufficient drinking water on the job site.”

In light of the fact finding delegations interviews, the report recommends two steps necessary to promote just working conditions for workers at Great Western Erectors and, by extension, all their industry competitors:
”1. Phoenix area developers and general contractors should develop and enforce ethical policies in order to ensure contractors and subcontractors working on their sites provide all workers living wages, affordable benefits for the whole family, safe and healthy working conditions, adequate vocational and safety training, adequate drinking water, and the freedom to organize. These agents should be monitored on a regular basis for compliance.”

“2. Great Western Erectors, as an industry leader, should increase wages, provide affordable health insurance, adequate safety training, and respect workers’ rights to organize.”

Read the full report by clicking on this link: http://www.joergrieger.com/GWE%20Fact%20Finding%20Report%20Interfaith%20worker%20justice.pdf

Concerned UMs show support for 'Jobs with Justice' 3/26/2010

From the North Texas Conference United Methodist Reporter (http://www.ntcumc.org/news/detail/1510)

From left, event moderator, Dr. Joerg Rieger, Perkins School of Theology, SMU; Rev. Gerald Britt, Central Dallas Ministries; community members Jorge Ortega, Eddie Ortega and Katherain Magdalena; and Gene Lantz, "Jobs with Justice," listen to personal testimonies at the Feb. 26 session.

BY DENISE JOHNSON STOVALL
Special Correspondent

Though unemployment is on the rise in the United States and economic recovery fails to materialize for millions of citizens, members of the North Texas Annual Conference are investigating its causes and challenges.

The Workers’ Rights Board of North Texas Jobs with Justice listened to testimony of the unemployed on Feb. 26 at the Dallas County Beckley Courthouse, in the courtroom of the Hon. Judge Luis Sepulveda.

The Workers’ Rights Board addresses the violations of workers’ rights by writing letters to employers demanding fair treatment; making delegation visits to management or public officials; speaking out through the media when necessary; and demonstrating solidarity with workers in various other ways.

The co-conveners of the local Workers’ Rights Board are Dr. Isabel Docampo, coordinator of the intern program, Perkins School of Theology, SMU; Dr. Joerg Rieger, Wendland-Cook Professor of Constructive Theology, Perkins; and Gene Lanz, organizer, North Texas Jobs with Justice.

About a dozen of these boards exist in other cities across the U.S. Their goal is to bring together community leaders from all sectors who understand that workers’ rights are an important pillar of the community.

At the Dallas hearing, three workers spoke to 40 persons about their struggles with getting hired and the difficulties keeping a job. The persons were Jorge Eduardo Ortega, Kathairein Magdalena, and Jorge Cruz Ortega.

Jorge Eduardo Ortega told the group about three generations of Latinos living under one roof due to unemployment. A forklift operator, he has experienced discrimination when applying for jobs because he is Latino and an ex-convict.

“My family tried to apply for food stamps and they said I made too much money,” he said. “And when I try to apply for a better job to support my family I can’t get hired because I served time.”

“I’m tired of going through the revolving door of the state. I just made a mistake when I was young and dumb. I’m just trying to change. I ask God every day to help me survive.”

Dr. Rieger said, “Communities and churches need to learn again that issues of labor and unemployment affect not just individuals but all of us. The Workers’ Rights Board assumes our shared responsibility for these issues, by listening to workers and the unemployed and by involving our communities in the solutions”

The board plans to organize the unemployed so that their voices will be heard. They also planned an event with the AFL-CIO, at which young people were invited to speak out in protest.

“Many jobs that were lost as a result of the economic crisis are projected not to come back,” the theology professor explained. “Disgracefully high unemployment is projected by virtually all economists to drag on for several more years. The jobs crisis affects persons fromvaried backgrounds, both blue collar and white collar. It appears to be especially hard on African-Americans, Latinas/os, and female heads of household.”

Lanz contends that millions of Americans are surviving on unemployment insurance and simply can’t find jobs.

“It would be irresponsible for Congress to allow benefits to lapse due to inaction,” he said. “The Senate must extend unemployment insurance through the end of the year.”

The Workers’ Rights Board also plans to lobby Congress and other politicians to become active in the jobs crisis. They say large-scale political action is needed in this case because individual employers either cannot or will not act without this broader framework.

“Jobs with Justice” has a long history of bringing together a broad range of community leaders, including faith communities and other organizations that care about the common good. For further information about Workers’ Rights Boards see http://www.jwj.org/projects/wrb/history.html.