National Interfaith Committee, Produces “First Ever” Worker Rights CD
Aim is to Stop Industries Who Repeatedly Violate U.S. Labor Laws by Empowering Workers

Chicago – The Interfaith Worker Justice in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has produced “Worker Rights Bulletin Inserts” on CD ROM to educate people, especially low wage workers and immigrants, about workplace rights.

The CD provides the bulletin inserts in English, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Haitian/Creole, Russian, and Hmong. The CD helps vulnerable workers both understand and advocate for their rights and are being distributed through the National Interfaith Committee’s network.

Designed to be included in congregations’ bulletins, topics include Immigration Related Discrimination; A Fair Workplace; Teen Workers; and Know Your Rights. The CD includes contact information for 60 interfaith groups that support workers’ rights and the U.S. DOL state offices.

There is also a section dedicated to Your Rights to Safety and Health in the Workplace, because each year 60,000 workers die from job injuries or illnesses and another 6 million are injured, according to the Department of Labor.

“Unfortunately, America is becoming a nation of sweatshops,” said retired Bishop Jesse DeWitt, president of the National Interfaith Committee. “All religious traditions call for workers to be treated with justice and dignity. When workers understand their rights under the law, it helps them advocate for just treatment.”

The National Interfaith Committee also works with the Department of Labor to train faith and community-based advocacy organizations on worker rights. Local partnerships are already underway in Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Diego.

“People of faith are happy to work with the Department of Labor. This partnership marks a new era of religious, labor, community and government working together to stop industries from taking advantage of poor and uninformed people,” added Bishop DeWitt.

The Interfaith Worker Justice works to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers, especially low-wage workers. To order a free CD, email toure@iwj.org. The bulletin inserts are also available online at www.nationalinterfaith.org.