All major religious traditions share a belief in the sacred worth of human beings and the dignity of work.  In the United States, we face a deepening crisis of working poverty, where families – even those working multiple jobs - are unable to make ends meet.  In this climate, faith communities play a powerful role in worker justice struggles, leading innovative strategies to reduce working poverty.  The East Bay Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (ICWJ) builds upon the shared commitment between faith communities and the labor movement to preserve human dignity and the sanctity of work.  Mobilizing faith communities to stand in solidarity with workers in their struggles, the ICWJ employs the power and moral authority of clergy and lay leaders to advance economic justice and forge lasting partnerships among labor, low-wage workers, and people of faith.

The ICWJ is an integral piece of EBASE’s work and the campaigns of our labor union partners.  Its far-reaching effects celebrate the link between faith and labor by building power and raising standards for working families throughout the East Bay.  In 2007, we celebrated many accomplishments, including significant victories with our partners at SEIU 24/7 (who won the ABC Security Service bargaining agreement) and our partners at SEIU 1877 (who won card check neutrality for Aviation Safeguards airport workers).  And our work hasn’t stopped there!

Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports
The ICWJ is also continuing our work as an important member of the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports - a groundbreaking alliance of faith, labor, environmental, and community organizations with over 65 partner organizations.  This means that the coalition represents thousands of East Bay residents, fighting for worker and environmental justice at the Port of Oakland.  The ICWJ is involving clergy and congregations in the campaign to push the Port to make impoverished truck drivers employees, overhaul and improve the Port’s environmental standards in the truck driving industry, and offer local hire employment opportunities to the communities most harmfully affected by the Port’s pollution.

Justice for UC Workers
Recently, the ICWJ has entered into an exciting partnership with AFSCME Local 3299 to support the contract campaign for 21,000 University of California workers.  We’ve learned that UC workers, many who work at the UC system’s hospitals, often earn considerably less than their industrial counterparts who work for other hospitals.  Such injustice not only affects UC workers and their families, but also the communities in which they live.  The ICWJ board recently met with six workers from AFSCME, and our hearts were touched as we heard about their struggles to make ends meet and provide for their families.  To begin our support, the ICWJ is holding a Holy Week gathering on Thursday, March 20, to pray and connect with workers.

New ICWJ Board Members!
The ICWJ also recently appointed seven new members to our Board of Directors!  Outgoing board members moving on to pursue other ministries are Rev. Lucy Kolin, Rev. Dr. Steve Churchill, and Rev. Richard Rubio-Bowley - three leaders who have made significant contributions in the course of their service.  We’re excited to welcome the following new board members; Bishop James Watkins (Jack London Square Chapel COGIC), Bishop Aurea Lewis (International African Methodist), Rev. Israel Alvaran (United Methodist Church), Alli Mark (Buena Vista UMC), Bella Comelo (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance), Rev. Jeff Johnson (University Lutheran Chapel), and Rev. Kurt Kuhwald (Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists).  The new board is already busy piloting various projects and offering creative insight into the future of our committee.  We’re glad to have them a-board- (okay, that pun was intended)!

Annual Clergy Breakfast
Every year, our network of clergy and laity celebrate the partnership between faith and labor communities by attending the ICWJ’s annual breakfast. The breakfast is one of the biggest events we hold for the ICWJ, bringing together clergy, laity, labor leaders, workers, elected officials, and community leaders to talk about our work, celebrate our victories, and engage new leaders Entitled “Welcome to the Table:  Justice is Served!,” the breakfast will be an opportunity for faith leaders to get involved with ICWJ campaigns and hear the stories of valiant workers fighting for dignity in the workplace.

Three awards will be given at the breakfast this year.  First, Rev. Ron Swisher of Taylor Memorial Church (UMC) will receive the Prophetic Voice Award (given to outstanding faith leaders in the ICWJ).  Second, the Movement Voice Award will be given to Mr. Amaha Kassa, Executive Director of EBASE, for his exemplary leadership as a labor movement activist.  Finally, the Courageous Voice Award will be given to a special worker leader who has made a significant difference in a campaign of which they have been part.  Don’t miss this year’s breakfast!  It will be held at Hs. Lordships Restaurant in Berkeley, CA, on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, from 8AM–10AM.  Click here to reserve your tickets now. The ICWJ has much to celebrate – we look forward to seeing you there!