act now > december 10, 2005

December 10, 2005
International Human Rights Day

U.S. laws supposedly guarantee the right of America’s workers to choose for themselves whether to have a union—but in reality, the eroded and poorly enforced laws no longer protect workers. Employers routinely take advantage of the situation to violate the rights of workers trying to form unions—by lying to them, intimidating them, spying on them and even firing them.

Human Rights Watch—an internationally recognized organization that monitors basic human rights—calls the routine violation of workers’ rights in the United States a fundamental human rights issue. See their latest report on workers' rights here in America.

The AFL-CIO is calling for a day of action to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain collectively. this day will be December 10, 2005 to coincide with International Human Rights Day.

In support of this effort, IWJ has assembled these resources for you and your congregation to get involved in this day of action:

• December 10 Chapel Service–Workers' Rights are Human Rights
• December 10 Reflection for International Human Rights Day
• December 10 Responsive Reading (Inspired by Exodus Chapters 5 and 6)
• December 10 Bulletin Insert on Workers' Rights and the Employee Free Choice Act
• "The Right to Organize – A Basic Human Right"–a special December 10 reflection by Rabbi Robert Marx.

Get your December 10 Toolkit from the AFL-CIO. Here is an excerpt from that resource:

ON DEC. 10, 2003, International Human Rights Day, workers gathered in nearly 100 events in 72 cities in 37 states to deliver a vitally important message: The working men and women of America want the freedom to form unions without interference from employers, and they want the U.S. government to support this basic human right. More than 37,000 workers turned out—and 163 workers told their stories at Dec. 10 events across the country. Workers were joined by international union presidents, elected officials and leadersof allied organizations. The events were covered by such major media outlets as TheNew York Times and the Los Angeles Times,and even were noted by an editorial in The Boston Globe endorsing the Employee Free Choice Act.

On Dec. 10, 2005, we want to top thoseachievements by organizing even greater events and mobilizing even more workers to tell the public and our elected officials that workers’ rights are human rights.On International Human Rights Day, we look at the basic rights of America’s working people and the important role unions play in defending those rights, raising the standard of living for all of us and making our communities better places to live and work. We seek to remedy the ongoing abuse of workers’ rights at the hands of unscrupulous employers—and the system that allows this abuse to continue.

Please check back for more resources between now and December 10. For more information about events in your area or the Employee Free Choice Act, please contact Elisabeth Solomon here at IWJ, (773) 728-8400 x42.