Comments on: The RRA Endorses the Employee Free Choice Act!

By: Erin Weinstein

Erin Weinstein — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:06:35 +0000

I’m proud to see this happening. I agree with Shirley about the way Resurrection Health Care, who owns Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, treats their employees with animosity when they talk about forming a union. Some of our best union activists and reasons for the Employee Free Choice Act to pass are in our own backyard. I am proud to see our community stand up and take the right side on this issue! Yashe Koach, Brant!

By: Arieh Lebowitz

Arieh Lebowitz — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:55:49 +0000

Rabbi Rosen:

The news of the RRA’s adoption of this resolution is indeed terrific. Yashe’ Koyakh!
I’ve shared the resolution with many within national leadership of the U.S. labor movement, and their unions’ media folks, etc., and will follow up Friday morning by sharing it with state labor federations and city/county central labor councils across the United States – and beyond.
Congratulations to you and your colleagues who crafted, submitted, deliberated on and ultimately secured passage of this important statement in support of workers’ rights, and the dignity of all labor.

Arieh Lebowitz
Communications Director
Jewish Labor Committee

By: Shirley Gould

Shirley Gould — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:58:17 +0000

In our area, St. Francis Hospital of Evanston has published large ads in which they articulate that the people who are saying things about them do not represent their employees. Of course not: The Hospital has barred their employees from joining. This is one of the despicable ways that employers bar unions.

By: Ross

Ross — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:57:49 +0000

Congratulations on a powerful resolution!
I believe that the Jewish Labor Committee and UniteHere can help provide language to be placed in contracts with hotels for conventions that will allow pulling out without penalty should a labor dispute arise.

By: Rabbi Barbara Penzner

Rabbi Barbara Penzner — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:55:42 +0000

I am thrilled to hear that the resolution passed. This is an important statement that workers’ rights are a moral issue.

To respond to Sarah’s question about the JRF convention. As a leader in the campaign to save the Hyatt 100′s jobs in Boston, I want to clarify the extent of the boycott. Not all Hyatt hotels are unfriendly to workers. Many of them are unionized and are fulfilling their contracts. I have been in touch with JRF about the Hyatt hotel for the November convention. This hotel is not one that has been targeted by the workers. We want to support those hotels that are treating workers fairly.

If you going to Boston, Chicago, LA or San Francisco, these are the cities where workers have not been treated fairly. We have called for a boycott of all 3 Boston Hyatt hotels and recommend checking with hotelworkersrising.org for updates on all other hotels.

kol hakavod!
Rabbi Barbara Penzner

By: Reconstructionist Rabbis Resolve to Reaffirm Workers’ Rights | Save Self

Reconstructionist Rabbis Resolve to Reaffirm Workers’ Rights | Save Self — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:27:31 +0000

[...] The text of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association resolution is available at Rabbi Brant Rosen’s blog. [...]

By: Rabbi Jonathan Klein

Rabbi Jonathan Klein — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:14:19 +0000

I am not a Reconstructionist Rabbi, but I am involved in organizing through my org, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, in Los Angeles. I am part of a nationwide campaign to demand that hotels and other industries employing low-wage workers act justly and closer to halakhic parameters.

Thanks! And congrats to my colleagues in the RRA!

Blessings,
Rabbi Jonathan Klein
CLUE-LA
http://www.facebook.com/ravklein

By: Rabbi Brant Rosen

Rabbi Brant Rosen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:09:50 +0000

Awesome idea Sarah. (The JRF convention this November will be at the Hyatt in Newport Beach, CA.)

By: sarah

sarah — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:58:05 +0000

So…speaking of unionizing workers…in light of the recent issues with the Boston Hyatt (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/09/25/firing_housekeepers_creates_pr_mess_for_hyatt), what about those of us planning to go to the November JRF Biennial at another Hyatt (http://jrf.org/convention/hotel)?

Since JRF is probably already contracted with that particular Hyatt, instead of dumping on them, why not use it as an opportunity to put pressure on Hyatt to hire back those Boston workers (and support other hyatt folks trying to unionize)?

http://www.hotelworkersrising.org/