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October 2010
Some recent highlights from IWJ's campaigns and projects.
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![]() Major New Federal Wage Theft Legislation Introduced!
Last week, Rep. Phil Hare of Illinois introduced the Wage Theft Prevention and Community Partnership Act (H.R. 6268), which would authorize the U.S. Department of Labor to establish a grant program to expand the efforts of enforcement agencies and community organizations to educate workers about their rights and the remedies available to them. The law would direct badly needed funds to worker centers to do their vital work. "Even with the welcome increases Secretary Solis has implemented, there remain only a thousand Wage and Hour investigators to protect 135 million workers across the country -- clearly the DOL can't educate and protect 135 million workers all by itself," said IWJ Executive Director Kim Bobo. "There's a vibrant network of worker centers and legal clinics on the ground level helping to fill in the gaps, but they are woefully under-resourced," said Dianne Enriquez, Coordinator of IWJ's Worker Center Network. This legislation would go a long way in strengthening worker centers to do that.
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November 18 -- IWJ's Second Annual Wage Theft National Day of Action![]()
IWJ is organizing another Wage Theft National Day of Action in cities across the country to highlight the ongoing crisis and the need for vigorous local, county, state, and federal initiatives to stop it. We're urging worker centers, religion-labor groups, labor unions, worker advocates, congregations, and groups throughout the country to organize an event on November 18 and to coordinate with IWJ. To do so, please e-mail IWJ's Public Policy Director Ted Smukler at tsmukler@iwj.org.
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Join Us in Standing Up Against Anti-Muslim Vitriol
![]() With the wave of anti-Muslim vitriol permeating our culture, it is imperative that people of conscience take a stand. Please join us in showing solidarity with our Muslim sisters and brothers. You can do so by downloading this sign and spreading the word! How? Print it out and post it in your window, your car, or your office. Take a photo of you holding the sign and post it on Facebook (and on IWJ's Facebook page) and share it with your friends. Encourage your friends to download the sign and spread the message of tolerance and peace. This is your chance to be creative. Please e-mail us to let us know what you decided to do. Let's oppose the bigotry we've seen in recent weeks.
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![]() National Immigration Update!
Last week, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010. The bill retains several elements of former immigration reform bills, including the DREAM Act and AgJOBS in their entirety, increased worker protections, and a pathway to legalization. Save the Date! IWJ will again be joining with the national New Sanctuary Movement and other organizations and congregations during the December holiday season to host a National Week of Interfaith Prayer and Action in support of just and humane immigration reform. We invite local congregations and organizations to start thinking about hosting prayer vigils, posadas, or other public events during that time. For more information or resources, or to be involved in any part of IWJ's immigration campaign, contact Kristin Kumpf, at kkumpf@iwj.org.
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IWJ's New DC Office
IWJ's presence in the national policy arena is about to see dramatic growth. As of October, IWJ now has a new DC office headed up by two veterans of religion and justice work. The Rev. Paul Sherry is Director of IWJ's DC Public Policy Office and Thom Shellabarger is IWJ's Public Policy Associate. See here for more on Paul and Thom and IWJ's new DC office.
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New Staff
IWJ welcomes several new members to its national staff: Claudia Henriquez is our new National Health and Safety Training Coordinator (a new position at IWJ). Honna Eichler is the new Assistant to the Executive Director. Joe Hopkins is our new Workers' Center Network Assistant. And Keron Blair is our new Student Programs and Campus Alliance Coordinator.
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IWJ on Facebook
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Have you become a Fan of IWJ on Facebook? If not, please visit us on Facebook to follow the latest developments on the organization's campaigns and to join the discussion!
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Interfaith Worker Justice - 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60660. ph (773) 728-8400
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