New Day, New Challenges

From Kim Bobo Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice

Dear friend,
 
 The elections are over and the nation has elected Barack Obama. Regardless of whom you voted for, the willingness of the American public to elect its first African American president is an historic breakthrough in a nation still struggling with racism and the remnants of slavery. We also saw unprecedented engagement of Americans in the electoral process, demonstrating the vitality of our democracy. These are signs of such hope in the society.
 
 Nonetheless, the challenges facing our new president and his team are enormous. Employment figures that came out last week show that employers cut 240,000 jobs in October. More than ten million Americans are looking for jobs and can't find them, giving us an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent, the highest in 14 years. Working families are scared knowing they have few reserves and supports in times of economic crisis.
 
 But given the working families platform outlined by the president-elect and Interfaith Worker Justice's mission to involve the religious community in these critical issues, the election offers opportunities for Interfaith Worker Justice to move forward an agenda that can help workers now and put in place structures that can support workers in coming decades.
 
 With your help, we will:
 
 1) Pass the Employee Free Choice Act. We have an opportunity early in the new Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. This important, although strikingly simple, bill would make it easier for workers to join unions and get first contracts. We will be asking you to contact your Senators in the New Year.
 
 2) Stop Wage Theft. Interfaith Worker Justice is putting the issue of wage theft on the national agenda, both through the incredible work done by workers centers, the policy work in Washington, D.C. and my new book, Wage Theft in America. We'll send order information about the book next week, but you can begin talking with your congregation about a Spring congregational study using the book.
 
 3) Stop the Workplace Raids. We are calling upon the Bush administration to stop the workplace immigration raids - immediately. Send a letter to Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and cc Nicolas J. Smith, Chief of Staff of Immigration and Customs Enforcement: 245 Murray Lane Building, Washington DC 20528; Fax # 202-282-8401. When President-elect Obama has chosen his team, we will ask you to contact them as well.
 
 4) Create and support Living Wage Jobs. It has been so long since the federal government played a visible role in helping create and support living wage jobs that we've almost forgotten that this is an appropriate role for the federal government - to support, encourage and enable job creation and a raising of standards throughout the society.

Editor’s Note:  You can learn more about the Interfaith Workers Justice and more about the issues in their letter by visiting their web site.  It is located at:

http://www.iwj.org/template/index.cfm