Interfaith Worker Justice Denounces Supreme Court Anti-Immigrant Worker Decision
Says Ruling Sets Stage for Massive Abuse of Immigrant Workers; Calls on Congress to Toughen Labor Standards

Chicago – The Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) denounced yesterday’s Supreme Court decision barring illegal immigrant workers, fired for union organizing, from collecting back-pay. The IWJ said the decision amounts to legalized exploitation and gives the green light to anti-union, anti-worker employers to violate national labor law and basic human rights with impunity.

“This immoral decision is a giant step backwards for worker rights and human rights,” said Rabbi Robert Marx, Board President of the Interfaith Worker Justice. “Legalized oppression and exploitation cut against the very purpose of national labor law protections. Congress must act to protect these and all workers from employer abuses.”

Marx said the 5 to 4 ruling in Hoffman Plastic Company v. NLRB weakens worker protections that have been in place for over 70 years, and arms employers with a new weapon to intimidate immigrant workers trying to form unions. Without penalties to enforce the nation’s labor laws, such as back-pay provisions, employers will be able to dictate illegal wage and working conditions without repercussions.

Marx added, “At a time when Jews observe Passover recalling the oppressive treatment they endured as foreigners, and as Christians prepare to remember the resurrection of Jesus who brought good news to the poor, it is terrible that the Supreme Court would approve of the U.S. accepting taxes and benefits from the productivity these workers generate, but deny them protection under U.S. labor laws.”

The Interfaith Worker Justice is a network of faith-based organizations that works to educate, organize and mobilize the religious community in the United States on issues and campaigns to improve the wages, benefits and working conditions for workers, especially low-wage workers.