INTERFAITH LEADERS STRIVE TO HELP LOW WAGE WORKERS

Photo:  Elizabeth Maldonado Robinson, left, and Sister Justine Church,  right, from the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice

By Jordan Schaffner

January 12, 2014 (La Mesa) -- With the church choir wearing Charger blue and gold in the background, Elizabeth Maldonado Robinson, Program Coordinator of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and Sister Justine Church, Interfaith Committee treasurer, spoke about worker inequality  last Sunday, January 6 at the United Church of Christ of La Mesa. 

Maldonado Robinson said hotel workers earning minimum wage at the Hyatt in La Jolla are pressured to clean rooms within a certain time frame and often don’t receive breaks. When workers asked to speak to management collectively, they were refused. After objecting to this, a worker spoke to the manager in private. The worker was told she could have a break--but must take it in a closet filled with linens and toxic cleaning supplies. After many sanctions against workers, the manager finally agreed to let hotel workers organize--due to protests from the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice of San Diego County.

These are the kind of struggles, that the ICWJ, (Interfaith Committee for Worker  Justice of San Diego County) is working to transform. Maldonado Robinson has said that wages are currently being depressed for fast food workers, workers at Walmart (the world’s largest retailer), and even  for professionals in some careers requiring college degrees, partly because of ethnic immigrant prejudice, as well as a recovering economy.  Sister Justine Church asked the congregation to use their "presence in the marketplace as their present" to the community.  In other words, she asked the community to vote with their feet regarding these business practices..

 The Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice was started by Rabbi Laurie Coskey.  Rabbi Coskey conducts classes in faith, social justice and Labor 101.  Her activities include working to  abolish labor trafficking, being a witness to workers stories of abuse, holding an annual breakfast about Voices for Justice, and holding monthly meetings at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Diego on the first Friday of every month at 10:00 AM.  Her approach is gently persuasive toward management.



The Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice of San Diego County is a multi-faith coalition advocating for living wages, safe working conditions, a voice on the job, access to quality healthcare and ending slave-like labor conditions.  The Committee represents a wide spectrum of spiritual traditions and its members are deeply committed to worker justice. 

They have conducted solidarity campaigns at such well known businesses as the La Jolla Marriot, Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn, Casino Pauma ,Walmart, UCSD Patient Care, security officer firms, fast food restaurants, taxi companies  and other locations. The organization strives to have religious and business leaders work toward a state where all low wage workers, including employees and independent contractors will be paid a living wage that meets the basic needs of their families and receive full healthcare benefits, and to have all companies follow applicable laws, including the right to organize.



Hotel workers have been told by management to be thankful they have a job. But Interfaith workers have told them that they are not being ungrateful by asking for these improvements in their working conditions.  Many of the workers are undocumented immigrants who feel they have little or no power to oppose harsh management practices, since they have little or no money or seniority. f they aren't part of a union, when they protest and go on strike, there are no strike funds for them to depend on.  They must go on faith alone to make it.  Perhaps that is why interfaith workers have gotten involved. 

Sister Justine Church stated that interfaith workers of all kinds are in their organization, including Catholics, Christians, Jews, Moslems and others. Maldonado Robinson said that everyone is made in the image of God, which includes both low wage workers and management. 

Fast food workers nationwide have been seen on TV news, protesting in hopes of having their wages raised to $15.00 an hour.  Elizabeth stated that one manager “puffed at this because he doesn't even earn $15.00 an hour himself, yet that is about what it takes just to get by in San Diego.” 

The Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice was established in 1998. Its first action was to attempt to negotiate fair wages and working conditions with the San Diego Union Tribune for journalists and others.  The group is now starting a campaign to help security guards receive proper training, fair wages and benefits.  Maldonado Robinson stated that even if security guards are licensed and tested with exams, many currently don't feel confident that they have been properly trained to actually do the job with regard to the weaponry they are carrying.  



Worker inequality is becoming a major issue in politics today.  Consequently, last week was the 50th anniversary of the war on poverty.  President Obama addressed the issue by speaking about reinstating federal unemployment extension benefits and he desires to raise the minimum wage. Some may consider the issues of a fair wage, fair working conditions, and affordable healthcare as creeping socialism or tax and spend liberalism.  Others just see it as common sense.  

 Sister Justine Church said that “There is a level of wealth in this country that is really dysfunctional. “  She added that in order to help out these abused workers, they need to do fund raising and if everyone were paid better, everyone could donate to many worthwhile charities. The ICWJ is working on it's own creative fund raising efforts now, so donations and volunteers are welcome.   



 The Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice office is located at 3758 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104. The phone number is  619-584-5740. On the web, they  are at www.icwj.org. You can email Lori Coskey at rabbiLori@ICWJ.org.  Elizabeth Maldonado Robinson’s email address is Elizabeth@ICWJ.org.  ICJW's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/ ICWJ.sandiego.  on Twitter, you can reach them at twitter.com/ ICWJ of SD County and on YouTube, you can reach them at ICW J of San Diego County.