Saint Joseph Valley Project - A Coalition of Community, Faith and Labor

I just received another call about wage theft at the Workers' Center.  In light of that, this story seemed appropriate.

We Are One - Respect Our Rights!

On April 4, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life.
Today, that same demand is electrifying people across Indiana and all of America. It’s the demand of all people – black, white, Latino and Asian American: The right to join together for our common dreams.
 

From Jobs with Justice:

The attacks in Indiana are not just labor's fight; not just an attack on women; not just gays' and queers' fight, or immigrants standing alone. We are all standing together in seven days of solidarity, from the first fight to the last, against the hateful attack on Hoosier families and workers.

Attend as many of these Statehouse events as you can. Check out Central Indiana JwJ’s facebook page for more info

Indiana's Chamber of Commerce Report on "Right to Work" Shown for the Lie It Is

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce claims that "Right to Work" legislation is what is needed for Indiana families to enjoy a rising standard of living, but their study is based in politics, not reality.  Click here for a good discussion of what the data really says about "Right to Work" (here is a hint: it does not make our lives better).

Wisconsin Workers are Under Paid

I am sure that you all know that the evidence is against the claim that Wisconsin workers are paid too much.  Click here for a great report which details how state workers are, in fact, underpaid in Wisconsin (and most other places, I would hazard a guess).

Across the country, politicians are pushing laws to limit worker rights and curtail union power.  Click here for a map of what is happening across the country.

Majority in Poll Back Employees in Public Sector Unions

As labor battles erupt in state capitals around the nation, a majority of Americans say they oppose efforts to weaken the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions and are also against cutting the pay or benefits of public workers to reduce state budget deficits, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.  Click here for the full story.

GOP Anti-Union Strategy Won’t Solve Economic Woes

by Jackie Smith

After three decades of stagnant wages, declining opportunities to join unions, and rising income inequality, American workers are being bullied into making even more sacrifices to their health and well-being so that the super-rich and corporations can continue to enjoy large profit margins.

Click here to read the full piece.

See this articles about the facts about public sector workers in Wisconsin.  Breaking unions will not solve the problems of the deficit.  What it does to is degrade our democracy and hurt the most vulnerable.

Public Employees - Low-wage Workers would be Hardest Hit

Local Union and Community Leaders Hold Press Conference Highlighting Wage Theft

The national network Interfaith Worker Justice has declared November 18 a National Day of Action Against Wage Theft to call attention to this pernicious epidemic and mobilize support for the various efforts to combat it, from national legislation to creative local initiatives.